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Summary

An extensive catch meadow of probable post-medieval to 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as narrow and roughly parallel curvilinear earthwork ditches on the south to south-east and north-west facing combe slopes east of Modbury village. The ditches remain identifiable as subtle earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2019.

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.

Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-2010 ACCESSED 21-APR-2020 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363088.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as very subtle earthworks.

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

Curvilinear ditches are 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 narrow and roughly parallel linear ditches are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as earthworks measuring from circa 3m to 5m wide and up to 400m long, extending over approximately 5ha of the south to south-east and north-west facing combe slopes east of Modbury village.
The channels are interpreted as the remains of catch meadow gutters. They can be seen to cut former field boundaries of probable medieval origin and are interpreted as of post-medieval to 19th century date.
Catch meadows diverted water from springs or streams along 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.
The ditches remain identifiable as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2019.

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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