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Summary

Catch meadows of probable post-medieval to 19th century date are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as curvilinear earthwork ditches following the contours of the south-west facing combe slope to east of Middle Fillham. The ditches have probably since been levelled or destroyed.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 RP 3166-3167 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 1999-2017, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX6655 01-JUN-2002 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363087.

The ditches are not identifiable 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.

Roughly parallel curvilinear ditches are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as earthworks spaced circa closely following the contours of the south-west facing combe slope to the east of Middle Fillham.
The channels are interpreted as the remains of a catch meadow potentially of post-medieval to 19th century date.
Catch meadows diverted water from springs or streams and redistributed it along channels or gutters to irrigate combe slopes. Probably originating in the medieval period, they were in widespread use in Devon from the 19th to early 20th century.
The visible earthworks do not correspond with any ditches depicted on the 19th or early 20th century maps available to the survey. This might support the interpretation that the water meadows had fallen out of regular use by the late-19th century.
The gutters are not visible as earthworks on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2015 and have probably been levelled, those south of Middle Fillham probably destroyed by the construction of the A38.

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)
• EDV4375 - Fishacre to Lyneham Pipeline Assessment

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