See important
guidance on the use of this record.
If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.
HER Number: | MDV128198 |
---|
Name: | Catch meadow at Stidson Cross, South Brent |
---|
Summary
Narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches interpreted as the gutters of a possible 19th century catch meadow irrigation system are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1951. The system had presumably fallen out of use by the late 19th century.
Location
Grid Reference: | SX 714 602 |
---|
Map Sheet: | SX76SW |
---|
Admin Area | Dartmoor National Park |
---|
Civil Parish | South Brent |
---|
District | South Hams |
---|
Ecclesiastical Parish | SOUTH BRENT |
---|
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 do not correspond with any features in this location.
Royal Air Force, 1951, RAF/540/483, RAF/540/483 RS 4433-4434 24-APR-1951 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352103.
Earthworks of two narrow curvilinear channels 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 and parallel to the southwest facing combe slope, are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1951. They are interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system possibly associated with one of the farmsteads at Stidston and which tapped a stream that rises circa 30m to the east.
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 do not correspond with any watercourses depicted on the late 19th century Ordnance Survey map, suggesting that the system had fallen out of use by this time. The earthworks are not visible on the available imagery after 1951 and have possibly since been levelled.
Sources / Further Reading
SDV336179 | Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital). |
|
| |
SDV352103 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1951. RAF/540/483. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/540/483 RS 4433-4434 24-APR-1951. [Mapped feature: #125466 ] |
|
| |
SDV362982 | Interpretation: 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). Historic England Research Report. Digital. |
|
| |
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)
Date Last Edited: | May 4 2020 12:02PM |
---|
Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.