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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 following the contours of the combe slopes to the north-east of Ilton Castle Farm. The ditches remain identifiable as subtle earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017 and digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2020.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019947: Medieval settlement, site of quadrangular castle and relict garden between Ilton Farm and Ilton Castle Farm
• SHINE: Earthworks of a deserted medieval settlement and former post medieval catch watermeadows and quarry to north-east and south-east of Ilton Castle Farm

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (Post Medieval to Mid 20th Century - 1540 AD (Between) to 1946 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 4019-4020 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX7240-SX7340 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Curvilinear ditches are identifiable as earthworks.

Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 24-MAR-2020 ACCESSED 10-AUG-2020 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363088.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2021, 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 up to circa 3m wide and up to 140m long, closely following the contours of the combe to the north-east of Ilton Castle 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 ditches remain identifiable as subtle earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2013 and digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2020.

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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