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Summary

The remains of probable post-medieval to 20th century ridges, possibly made for tree planting or improved drainage, were visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s as low and narrow parallel earthwork banks on the steep north-east facing slopes of a combe to the east of South Wood Farm, Cotleigh.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• NARROW RIDGE AND FURROW (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1947 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2438-2439 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

Narrow ridges were visible as earthworks.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2016-2018, The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV359463.

The remains of probable post-medieval to 20th century ridges, possibly made for tree planting or improved drainage, were visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s as low and narrow parallel earthwork banks on the steep north-east facing slopes of a combe to the east of South Wood Farm, Cotleigh.
The banks extended over a small area of approximately 0.5 hectares and were spaced up approximately 3 metres apart. They were aligned obliquely to the contours, presumably to aid drainage towards a stream to the east.
The banks were visible in a small clearing of Wood Copse. Although they resemble ridges or banks interpreted elsewhere as orchard tree planting banks, at circa 3 metres the spacing is a little narrow for traditional orchard cultivation and it is more likely that the banks were made for commercial plantation planting. It is probable that the ridges extend throughout much of Wood Copse.
The banks were obscured by new tree growth on more recent images available to the survey but could survive as earthworks

Sources / Further Reading

SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2438-2439 11-APR-1947. [Mapped feature: #74658 ]
SDV359463	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2016-2018. The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:2

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7508 - The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Ref: ACD1228)

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