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Summary

A series of narrow curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016 and are interpreted as gutters of a 19th-20th century catch meadow system.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (XIX to Early 20th Century - 1801 AD to 1932 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946 - 1949, Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV342938.

The ditches are clearly visible.

Bluesky International, 2016, LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects, LIDAR SY1692 Bluesky International DTM 30-APR-2016 (Cartographic). SDV359714.

Narrow curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Sims, R., Knight, S. & Houghton, E., 2020-2021, East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV363914.

A series of narrow curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2016 east of Higher Sweetcombe. The ditches do not correspond to any features depicted on historic maps, but are clearly visible on 1940's aerial photographs. They follow the topographic contours of the hillside and are interpreted as gutters of a 19th to early 20th century catch meadow system.
Catch meadows abstracted from springs or streams and redistributed it along channels or gutters to irrigate combe slopes rather than valley floors. Originating in the medieval period they were in widespread use in Devon in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8340 - East Devon AONB Lidar Assessment and Desk based Assessment

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