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Summary

The remains of ridges possibly made for fruit tree planting and improved orchard drainage from the post-medieval period to the mid-19th century, were visible as low parallel earthwork banks on aerial photographs of 1950, on the south-west-facing slopes east of Penscombe at Hembury Fort Cross, Payhembury parish.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST20NW/124

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1950 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The plot in which the banks were visible was depicted as an orchard .

Royal Air Force, 1950, RAF/541/453, RAF/541/453 RS 4103-4104 04-MAR-1950 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357845.

Linear banks were visible as low earthworks.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1002 22-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356259.

The parallel earthwork banks were not visible.

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

Parallel ridges were visible as low and subtle earthwork banks on aerial photographs of 1950 on the south-west-facing slopes east of Penscombe at Hembury Fort Cross, Payhembury parish.
The ridges were spaced approximately 5 metres apart and were visible running across the contours of the slope. The plot in which the banks were visible was partly depicted as an orchard on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch map.
The earthworks are therefore interpreted as the possible remains of tree planting banks made for fruit tree planting and improved orchard drainage dating probably from the post-medieval period to the mid-19th century.
The ridges are not visible on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010 and have probably been levelled during landscaping associated with the construction of Hembury Fort Cross house.

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: #77068 ]
SDV356259	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1002 22-MAY-2010.
SDV357845	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1950. RAF/541/453. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/541/453 RS 4103-4104 04-MAR-1950.
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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