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Summary

A possible former orchard of post-medieval to 19th century origin was visible on the north-east-facing slopes east of Beacon Down Lodge, Beacon Hill. The possible orchard had been cleared of trees leaving visible on aerial photographs of 1945 the distinctive remains of earthworks ridges or banks, made to provide increased soil depth and improved drainage for fruit tree planting.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to World War II - 1540 AD? to 1945 AD)

Full description

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

No orchard is depicted in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/996, RAF/106G/UK/996 RVp4 6318-6319 12-NOV-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV358938.

Linear earthwork banks were visible.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX9594-SX9595 22-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356259.

The earthwork banks were not visible.

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

A possible former orchard of post-medieval to 19th century origin was visible on the north-east-facing slopes east of Beacon Down Lodge, Beacon Hill. The orchard had been cleared of trees leaving the distinctive remains of earthworks ridges or banks, made to provide increased soil depth and improved drainage for fruit tree planting visible on aerial photographs of 1945.
The banks were arranged diagonally across the contours of the hill, probably to improve drainage. They did not corresponded with any area symbolised as an orchard on the Ordnance Survey 25inch First Edition Map of the 1880s-1890s. The earthwork banks could therefore be interpreted as evidence of an orchard of post-medieval or 19th century origin that had passed out of use prior to the 1880s. The banks were also visible only towards the edge of the aerial photograph and might have been greater than extent than was visible.
The banks were not visible as earthworks on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010 and have therefore probably been levelled.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV356259	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX9594-SX9595 22-MAY-2010.
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
SDV358938	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/UK/996. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/996 RVp4 6318-6319 12-NOV-1945. [Mapped feature: #72395 ]

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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