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| HER Number: | MDV135647 |
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| Name: | Water meadow west of Coulsworthy farm, Combe Martin |
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Summary
A post medieval water meadow, known locally as a catchwater meadow system, is visible on images derived from lidar data earthwork ditches to the west of Coulsworthy farm, Combe Martin. The system was possibly connected to the farmyard at Coulsworthy Farm to incorporate manure as a fertiliser.
Location
| Grid Reference: | SS 619 449 |
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| Map Sheet: | SS64SW |
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| Admin Area | Devon |
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| Civil Parish | Combe Martin |
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| District | North Devon |
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| Ecclesiastical Parish | COMBE MARTIN |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- WATER MEADOW (Post Medieval to Mid 20th Century - 1540 AD (Between) to 1966 AD (Between))
Full description
Environment Agency, 2021, University of Exeter Understanding Landscapes Project - Lidar visualisation (Cartographic). SDV366001.
Curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.
Hegarty, C., 2025, Comment on Unlocking Landscapes project and related lidar and aerial photograph interpretations (Interpretation). SDV366411.
A post medieval water meadow, known locally as a catchwater meadow system, is visible on images derived from lidar data earthwork ditches to the west of Coulsworthy farm. Catchwater systems used a series of approximately parallel gutters to distribute flowing water evenly over the surface of the meadow in order to prevent freezing in winter and encourage early growth in spring, thereby providing extra feed for livestock. Most catchwater systems are believed to date to the post medieval period, although it is possible that they were first developed in the medieval period.
Centred at approximately SS61974491 two curvilinear ditches, or gutters, are visible following the contours of the west-facing slopes below Coulsworthy Farm. The gutters appear to be connected to the farmyard at Coulsworthy Farm, suggesting the may represent an ‘attached’ system that incorporated manure as an additional fertiliser.
Further ‘detached’ catchmeadows are recorded to the south-west of the farm.
Horner, B., 2025, Lidar interpretation (Personal Comment). SDV366415.
Probable catch meadow (farmyard fed?) at Coulsworthy Farm.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV366001 | Cartographic: Environment Agency. 2021. University of Exeter Understanding Landscapes Project - Lidar visualisation. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. [Mapped feature: #143810 ] |
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| SDV366411 | Interpretation: Hegarty, C.. 2025. Comment on Unlocking Landscapes project and related lidar and aerial photograph interpretations. Not Applicable. |
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| SDV366415 | Personal Comment: Horner, B.. 2025. Lidar interpretation. Not Applicable. |
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Associated Monuments
| MDV103283 | Related to: Catch Meadow South West of Coulsworthy Farm (Monument) |
| MDV103284 | Related to: Catch Meadow South West of Coulsworthy Farm (Monument) |
| MDV66682 | Related to: Coulsworthy, Combe Martin (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events: none recorded
| Date Last Edited: | Apr 2 2025 10:49AM |
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