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Summary

Narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1948 onwards and on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2020. The system had largely fallen 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.

One of the earthworks corresponds with a water channel.

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2494, RAF/CPE/UK/2494 RP 3035-3036 11-MAR-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361461.

Narrow curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 24-MAR-2020 ACCESSED 29-APR-2020 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363088.

Narrow 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.

Narrow curvilinear ditches, less than 2m wide, are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken from 1948 onwards and on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2020. The earthwork channels follow the contours of the northeast and southwest facing combe slopes and occupy an area of circa 2.87 hectares. They are interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system which possibly tapped a spring-fed stream that rises circa 230m to the northwest.
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.
One of the earthworks to the southeast corresponds with a water channel depicted on the late 19th century Ordnance Survey map, suggesting that the system had all but fallen out of use by this time.

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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