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Summary

A catch meadow of probable 19th to early 20th century date is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s as narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches on the south-west facing combe slopes
between Bigbury and Ringmore villages. The earthworks have probably been levelled.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (XVIII to World War II - 1800 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/967, RAF/106G/UK/967 RS 4137-4138 01-NOV-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351060.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

Five curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks up to circa 3m wide and up to circa 160m long on aerial photographs of 1945, following the contours of the south-west facing combe slopes south-west of Bigury village.
The channels are probably the gutters of a former catch meadow 19th to early 20th century date.
Such systems irrigated combe slopes rather than valley floors using water abstracted from springs or streams. Originating in the medieval period they were in widespread use in Devon in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The ditches are not identifiable on more recent images available to the survey and have probably been levelled.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)

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