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Summary

The remains of probable post-medieval to 19th century ridges made for fruit tree planting and improved drainage were visible as low, parallel earthwork banks on aerial photographs of 1947 to 2010 on the east-facing combe slopes to the south-east of Fair Oak Farm, Upottery parish.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1947 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The visible earthwork banks correspond to a plot depicted as an orchard, albeit with slightly different extent.

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

The visible earthwork banks correspond to a plot depicted as an orchard.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RP 3303-3304 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

Linear earthwork banks were visible covered with moderate tree planting.

Ordnance Survey, 1996, OS/96570, OS/96570 V 49 08-MAY-1996 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359489.

Linear earthwork banks were visible across the southern half of the plot; the northern half had been levelled by ploughing.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1908 04-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359490.

Linear banks remained visible as slight 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 low, parallel earthwork banks were visible on aerial photographs of 1947 and 2000 on the east-facing combe slopes to the south-east of Fair Oak Farm, Upottery parish.
The banks were spaced up to approximately 6 metres apart and were aligned cross-contour, roughly west-north-west to east-south-east. In 1947 they covered an area of approximately 0.6 hectares and remained moderately covered with trees. This closely matched the area depicted as orchard on the Ordnance Survey 25 inch first edition map. The orchard depicted on the Tithe Map for Upottery has slightly different boundaries. The orchard had been significantly cleared on trees by 1982 although the banks remained visible as earthworks. By 1996 the plot had been partly ploughed resulting in the probable levelling of approximately half of the banks; they remain clearly visible as earthworks in the southern half of the plot on images up to 2010.
The banks are therefore interpreted as the remains of orchard tree planting banks of post-medieval to 19th century date, made to improve soil depth and aid drainage into the stream flowing towards the River Otter, immediately to the south. The orchard passed out of use in the second half of the 20th century but the banks remain visible as slight earthworks on aerial photographs of 2010.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital). [Mapped feature: #75838 ]
SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RP 3303-3304 11-APR-1947.
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
SDV359489	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1996. OS/96570. Ordnance Survey. OS/96570 V 49 08-MAY-1996.
SDV359490	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1908 04-MAY-2010.

Associated Monuments

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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