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Summary

A small catch meadow of probable nineteenth or early twentieth century date is visible on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 2010 as several narrow earthwork ditches and then dark cropmarks, suggesting that below-ground remains survive.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (XVIII to Early 20th Century - 1701 AD to 1932 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Numerous linear features are depicted in this location.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

Numerous linear features are depicted in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1823, RAF/CPE/UK/1823 RP 4323-4324 04-NOV-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV354994.

Several interconnected earthwork ditches are visible. Map object partly based on this source.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Pan Government Agreement, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery ST0614 21-APR-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357039.

Linear dark cropmarks are visible. Map object partly based on this source.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2014-2015, East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV356883.

A series of narrow linear earthwork ditches, aligned approximately along the contour on combe slopes west of Appledore Barton, are visible on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s, and some are just visible as dark cropmarks on infra-red aerial photographs taken in 2010. Their location and orientation indicate that they are gutters of a small catchmeadow system of probable nineteenth or early twentieth century date. Some associated water channels depicted on the late nineteenth century maps have not been transcribed.
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.
This small catch meadow system appears to have been taken off the watercourse west of Appledore Farm. Remains of the gutters may survive below ground.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325644	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV354994	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1823. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1823 RP 4323-4324 04-NOV-1946.
SDV356883	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2014-2015. East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV357039	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Pan Government Agreement. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery ST0614 21-APR-2010.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)

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