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Summary

A catch meadow of probable post-medieval to 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards as narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches following the contours of a south and west-facing combe to the north of Preston Farm, West Alvington. Some remain identifiable as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in. between 1998 and 2017A catch meadow of probable post-medieval to 19th century date is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards as narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches following the contours of a south and west-facing combe to the north of Preston Farm, West Alvington. Some remain identifiable as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in. between 1998 and 2017

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1840 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The visible earthworks correspond in part with water channels depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25inch map.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/967, RAF/106G/UK/967 RP 3135-3136 01-NOV-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351060.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX7043 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Curvilinear ditches are identifiable as earthworks.

GetMapping, 1999, 122/99, Devon County Council GetMapping/122/99 0063-0064 15-NOV-1999 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351205.

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.

Curvilinear narrow ditches are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as subtle earthworks under pasture, measuring 2m to 4m wide and up to 280m long, closely following the contours of the combe to the north and west of Preston Farm.
The channels are probably the remains of catch meadow gutters 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 with many in use into the mid-20th century.
The visible earthworks correspond in part with water channels depicted on the Ordnance Survey 25inch First Edition map. This might support the interpretation that the system had passed out of use by the later-19th century with some elements remaining in use as leats or drains.
Some gutter ditches remain identifiable as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017, but those immediately south of Heddeswell Farm have probably been levelled.

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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