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Summary

A catch meadow of probable post-medieval to 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches on the south-facing combe slopes of her Sheepham Brook, south-east of Higher Sheepham. The ditches are not identifiable as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2019 and have probably been levelled.

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 RS 4097-4098 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Environment Agency, 2019, National Lidar Programme, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM 25-FEB-2019 (Cartographic). SDV363691.

The ditches are partly 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.

Curvilinear linear ditches are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as earthworks, extending over approximately 2ha of the south-facing combe slopes south-east of Higher Sheepham.
The ditches appear to be damaged or partial survivals, but the visible sections measure up to circa 2m wide and 150m long.
The channels are interpreted as the remains of catch meadow gutters, probably of post-medieval to 19th century date.
Catch meadows abstracted from springs or streams used channels, or gutters, to redistribute it to irrigate combe slopes. Originating probably in the medieval period they were in widespread use in Devon in the 19th century and continued in use into the mid-20th century.
To the west of the field boundary at circa SX65935290 the earthworks are not identifiable on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2019 and have probably been levelled. To the east of the boundary they survive as subtle earthworks.

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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