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Summary

Narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system, or systems, are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1946 and 1951. The catch meadow had largely passed out of use by the late 19th century.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

The earthworks partly correspond with a water channel in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 2204-2205 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1951, RAF/540/497, RAF/540/497 RP 3022-3023 12-MAY-1951 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351212.

Narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches are visible.

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.

Narrow curvilinear ditches, less than 2m wide, are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1946 and 1951. The earthwork channels follow the contours of the southwest, southeast and northwest facing combe slopes and occupy an area of circa 2.6 hectares. They are interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system possibly associated with a farmstead at Bearscombe. Two spring-fed streams located at the northeast and northwest extents of the gutters may suggest, however, that two separate systems were, in fact, in operation here, although since the extents of each possible system cannot be clearly defined, they have been recorded as a single monument. Catch meadow systems are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream. The water is carried along the valley sides via one or more channels or gutters and when irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow from gutter to gutter, thereby irrigating the slopes. This film of water prevented the ground freezing during the winter and raised the temperature of the grass in the spring, thereby encouraging early growth, particularly important during the hungry gap of March and April. The earthworks partly correspond with a water channel in this location on the late 19th century First Edition Ordnance Survey map, suggesting that the catch meadow, or catch meadows, here had mostly fallen out of use by the late-19th century.

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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