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Summary

Narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1947 onwards. The system had mostly fallen out of use by the late 19th century.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX75SW/19/2

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV148.

Series of leats shown on os 25" (1880s) map to the southeast of 'colmer' (os).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV170205.

Des=os 25"(1880s) map.

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

Water channels are shown in this location either side of Colmer Brook.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2105, RAF/CPE/UK/2105 RP 3088-3089 28-MAY-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351151.

Narrow curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Ordnance Survey, 1995, OS/95080, OS/95080 V 226-227 12-APR-1995 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352110.

Narrow curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 09-OCT-2018 ACCESSED 25-MAR-2020 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363088.

Narrow 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.

Narrow curvilinear ditches, less than 2m wide, are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken from 1947 onwards. The earthwork channels follow the contours of the southeast and north facing combe slopes and occupy an area of circa 3 hectares. They are interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system possibly associated with Colmer farmstead and which tapped Colmer Brook. Catch meadow systems are designed to irrigate pasture by diverting water from a spring or stream. The water is carried along the valley sides via one or more channels or gutters and when irrigation was required the gutters were blocked, causing water to overflow from gutter to gutter, thereby irrigating the slopes. This film of water prevented the ground freezing during the winter and raised the temperature of the grass in the spring, thereby encouraging early growth, particularly important during the hungry gap of March and April. The earthworks do not correspond with any features in this location on the late 19th century First Edition Ordnance Survey map, although two water channels probably associated with this system are shown to the west, either side of Colmer Brook. This catch meadow has been made the same as MDV67353, which relates to the southern of the two water channels shown on this map. The water meadow system had mostly fallen out of use by the late 19th century.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

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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