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: | MDV128223 |
---|
Name: | Catch meadow east of Higher Bulkamore Cross, Rattery |
---|
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, visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2015 and on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2020.
Location
Grid Reference: | SX 744 622 |
---|
Map Sheet: | SX76SW |
---|
Admin Area | Devon |
---|
Civil Parish | Rattery |
---|
District | South Hams |
---|
Ecclesiastical Parish | RATTERY |
---|
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 curvilinear features in this location.
Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2494, RAF/CPE/UK/2494 RS 4033-4034 11-MAR-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361461.
Narrow curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.
Ordnance Survey, 1995, OS/95080, OS/95080 V 147-148 12-APR-1995 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352110.
Narrow curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.
Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM 19-JAN-2015 to 20-ARR-2015 (Cartographic). SDV361470.
Narrow curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.
Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 24-MAR-2020 ACCESSED 30-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, visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2015 and on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2020. The earthwork channels follow the contours of the southeast facing combe slope and occupy an area of circa 0.54 hectares. They are interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system which tapped a spring-fed stream that rises circa 20m to the northeast.
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.
No features are depicted in this exact location on the available historic mapping, and any catch meadow here presumably fell out of use by the late-19th century.
Sources / Further Reading
SDV336179 | Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital). |
|
| |
SDV352110 | Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1995. OS/95080. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/95080 V 147-148 12-APR-1995. |
|
| |
SDV361461 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2494. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/2494 RS 4033-4034 11-MAR-1948. |
|
| |
SDV361470 | Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2017. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR Environment Agency DTM 19-JAN-2015 to 20-ARR-2015. [Mapped feature: #125522 ] |
|
| |
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. |
|
| |
SDV363088 | Aerial Photograph: Google. 2019. Google Earth Pro. Various. Digital. EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 24-MAR-2020 ACCESSED 30-APR-2020. |
|
| |
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 5 2020 1:49PM |
---|
Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.