See important
guidance on the use of this record.
If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.
HER Number: | MDV128517 |
---|
Name: | Catch meadow south of Bradridge Farm, Dipford |
---|
Summary
Narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches, interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system, are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1946 and 1947. The system had likely passed out of use by the late-19th century.
Location
Grid Reference: | SX 738 573 |
---|
Map Sheet: | SX75NW |
---|
Admin Area | Devon |
---|
Civil Parish | Diptford |
---|
District | South Hams |
---|
Ecclesiastical Parish | DIPTFORD |
---|
Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- CATCH MEADOW (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))
Full description
Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 1151-1152 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.
Narrow curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.
Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2105, RAF/CPE/UK/2105 RP 3043-3044 28-MAY-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351151.
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 in 1946 and 1947.
The earthwork channels follow the contours of the northeast and southwest facing combe slopes and occupy an area of circa 2.8 hectares. They are interpreted as the gutters of a 19th century catch meadow irrigation system possibly associated with Bradridge Farm and which tapped a spring-fed stream that rises circa 60m to the southwest.
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.
No features are depicted in this exact location on the available historic mapping, and any catch meadow here presumably fell out of use by the late-19th century. The earthworks are not visible on the available aerial imagery after 1947, suggesting that they have since been levelled.
Sources / Further Reading
SDV169268 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 1151-1152 10-DEC-1946. |
|
| |
SDV351151 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/2105. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/2105 RP 3043-3044 28-MAY-1947. |
|
| |
SDV362982 | Interpretation: 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). Historic England Research Report. Digital. |
|
| |
Associated Monuments: none recorded
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)
Date Last Edited: | Jun 15 2020 1:04PM |
---|
Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.