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Summary

A catch meadow of probable post-medieval to 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as parallel narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches on the north and west facing combe slopes north-west of Dunwell Farm. The ditches remain identifiable as 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 FS 2193-2194 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Roughly parallel ditches are visible as earthworks.

Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 09-OCT-2018 ACCESSED 22-APR-2020 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363088.

Roughly parallel ditches are visible as earthworks.

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

Roughly parallel 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 ditches circa 3m wide and between 55 to 170m long are visible as roughly parallel earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946 closely following the contours of the north and west facing combe slopes north-west of Dunwell Farm.
The channels are interpreted as the remains of a catch meadow irrigation system of probable post-medieval to 19th century date.
Catch meadows diverted water from springs or streams and used the channels, or gutters, to redistribute it to irrigate combe slopes. Originating probably in the medieval period catch meadows were in widespread use in Devon in the 19th century with many continuing in use into the mid-20th century.
In this instance the catch meadows probably diverted water directly from the stream that rises at Dunwell, flowing north-west as a tributary to the Ludbrooke.
The ditches remain identifiable as earthworks on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2018 and 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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