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Summary

A possible small catch meadow of probable 19th or twentieth century date is visible on aerial photographs as two parallel earthwork ditches roughly following the contours along the south-west facing combe to the south of Wembury. 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: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (XIX to World War II - 1801 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1983, OS/83124, OS/88124 V 338-339 04-JUL-1983 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351063.

Two curvilinear narrow earthwork ditches are visible.

Next Perspectives, 2007, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX5148-SX5248 03-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV350196.

The earthwork ditches remain visible but appear somewhat eroded in condition.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

A possible small catch meadow of probable 19th or twentieth century date is visible on aerial photographs as two of parallel earthwork ditches roughly following the contours along the south-west facing combe to the south of Wembury. Most 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 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 catch meadow gutters are most clearly visible on aerial photographs of 1988. The gutters remain visible as slight earthworks on digital images derived from aerial photographs taken in 2007 but field investigation is needed to ascertain the current condition of the earthworks.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV350196	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2007. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX5148-SX5248 03-MAY-2007.
SDV351063	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1983. OS/83124. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/88124 V 338-339 04-JUL-1983.
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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