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Summary

A possible catch meadow of probable post-medieval to 20th century date was visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s as two narrow curvillinear and roughly parallel earthwork ditches on the north-east-facing slopes east of Combeshead Farm, Luppitt.
Catch meadows are usually found on combe or hill slopes and are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream and passing it along the slope via a series of roughly parallel channels or gutters. When irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow from gutter to gutter, thereby irrigating the slopes below.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST10NE/122

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) CULTIVATION TERRACE (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))
• (Former Type) LYNCHET (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))
• CATCH MEADOW (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1947 AD (Between))

Full description

RAF, CPE/UK/1974:2303 (Aerial Photograph). SDV110114.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RS 4300-4301 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

Two curvilinear earthwork ditches were visible. Map object based on this source.

Palmer, R., 1992, Blackdown Hills AONB Aerial Photographic Assessment (Report - Assessment). SDV56044.

Cultivation terraces visible on aerial photograph.

Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit, 1992 - 1993, Blackdown Hills Survey Archive (Archive - Survey). SDV324187.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, 13, Part 1; 99, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 513 (Report - Survey). SDV101648.

Cultivation terraces, or lynchets, visible on an aerial photograph in a field just outside the survey area boundary. Map object based on this source.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 513 (Archive - Survey). SDV358490.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 513 (Report - Survey). SDV359019.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1606 4-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359490.

Very slight earthwork ditches were visible under pasture.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2016-2018, The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV359463.

Two narrow curvillinear and roughly parallel earthwork ditches or channels were visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s on the north-east-facing slopes east of Combeshead Farm, Luppitt. Previously interpreted as possible lynchets, the ditches are interpreted here as evidence of a former catch meadow of probable post-medieval to 20th century date.
Many catch meadow systems are believed to date to the post medieval period, although it is likely that they were first developed in the medieval period and often continued in use into the twentieth century. Catch meadows provided a simple, inexpensive and effective form of irrigation. When irrigation was required water was diverted from a source such as a pond, river, spring or spring-fed stream and passed along the meadow slopes via one or more of the gutters, which was then caused to overflow. The lower, roughly parallel gutters then ‘caught’ and redistributed water passing it evenly over the surface of a meadow below. The gently flowing water prevented the ground freezing in winter and encouraged early growth in spring, thereby providing extra feed for livestock, particularly important during the hungry gap of the March and April.
The system probably tapped the stream that rises east of the farm for water, but there is no evidence of water having recently flowed down the slopes from the gutters on aerial photographs of April 1947. However, the earthworks appeared at this time to be in reasonable condition, supporting the interpretation that the system remained in use into the 20th century.
Catch meadow gutters typically closely follow the contours in an almost level course to ensure control over where the water is made to overflow. In this instance the ditches cross the contours obliquely, some at almost 45 degrees. This might indicate a local variation or non-specialist construction.
The earthworks could be seen as extremely slight earthworks on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV101648	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. A4 Unbound + Digital. 13, Part 1; 99, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 513.
SDV110114	Aerial Photograph: RAF. CPE/UK/1974:2303. Aerial Photograph.
SDV324187	Archive - Survey: Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit. 1992 - 1993. Blackdown Hills Survey Archive. Blackdown Hills Survey Archive. A4 Unbound.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RS 4300-4301 11-APR-1947.
SDV358490	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 513.
SDV359019	Report - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003. East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey. Exeter Archaeology Report. 03.26. Site No. 513.
SDV359463	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2016-2018. The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:2
SDV359490	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1606 4-MAY-2010.
SDV56044	Report - Assessment: Palmer, R.. 1992. Blackdown Hills AONB Aerial Photographic Assessment. Unknown.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV3117 - Blackdown Hills Survey Archive
• EDV3118 - East Devon heathlands archaeological survey
• EDV7508 - The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Ref: ACD1228)

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