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Summary

A linear bank flanked at either end by two roughly circular mounds is visible as a low earthwork at East Soar on aerial photographs of 1954. The date and function of the earthwork are unknown but its location overlooking The Bar at the mouth of the Kingsbridge Estuary might support an interpretation of a beacon mound or defensive function, possibly as a gun battery of post-medieval to nineteenth century date.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BEACON? (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1850 AD (Between))
• GUN EMPLACEMENT? (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1840 AD)

Full description

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

The earthworks do not correspond with any depicted features. However, the earthworks are partly situated in a field named East Beacon in the apportionment, which might support the interpretation that the earthworks are the remains of a Beacon of Post-medieval date.

Royal Air Force, 1954, RAF/540/1278, RAF/540/1278 V 0025-0026 5-APR-1954 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351148.

A linear bank flanked at either end by two roughly circular mounds is visible as a cropmark and low earthwork.

Environment Agency, 1998-2012, Lidar data JPEG SX73NW DSM, LIDAR SX73NW DSM Environment Agency 1998 -2012 (Cartographic). SDV351149.

A low earthwork mound is visible in a location corresponding approximately with the northernmost circular feature.

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

A linear bank flanked at either end by two roughly circular mounds is visible as a cropmark and low earthwork at East Soar on aerial photographs of 1954. The date and function of the earthwork are unknown but its prominent location on the east-facing cliffs overlooking The Bar, at the mouth of the Kingsbridge Estuary might support an interpretation of a military or defensive purpose, perhaps a gun battery of post-medieval date. It might be associated with the Civil War seige of Fort Charles. An alternative interpretation might be indicated by the field name ‘East Beacon’ listed in the Tithe Apportionments for Malborough, in which the southern end of the earthwork is located.
The earthworks are not clearly visible on more recent aerial photographs but the northernmost circular earthwork mound is possibly visible as a subtle earthwork on images derived from Lidar data acquired between 1998 and 2012.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
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
SDV351148	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1954. RAF/540/1278. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/540/1278 V 0025-0026 5-APR-1954.
SDV351149	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2012. Lidar data JPEG SX73NW DSM. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR SX73NW DSM Environment Agency 1998 -2012.

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)
• EDV4935 - Archaeological Survey from Bolt Head to Bolt Tail and Snapes Point
• EDV6587 - Archaeological Assessment of Land between Bolt Heat and Bolt Tail

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