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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 roughly parallel curvilinear earthwork ditches on the south-west facing combe slopes south of Higher Spriddlescombe 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 1880 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

A gutter corresponds with a depicted water channel.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 2194-2195 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.

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 ditches circa 2m to 5m wide and between 70m to 190m long are visible as roughly parallel earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946 closely following the contours of the south-west facing combe slopes south of Higher Spriddlescombe 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.
The visible gutter earthworks correspond in part with water channels depicted on the Ordnance Survey 1880s 25inch First Edition map. This partial depiction might support the interpretation that the wider catch meadow had passed out of use by this time with a single gutter retained as a drain into the 1880s.
The ditches are not clearly visible on more recent aerial photographs available to the survey but remain identifiable as subtle 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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