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Summary

A south-west to north-east aligned bank ditch has been interpreted as a field boundary of medieval date, on the west side of Crownhill Down. Reassessment of this feature using lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014 might support a reinterpretation of this feature as tin prospection or mining features. The earthworks have probably been largely destroyed by subsequent open cast mining.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 910269
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX55NE/36

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) FIELD BOUNDARY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• PROSPECTING PIT (XV to Post Medieval - 1401 AD to 1750 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, 106G/UK/1190 (Aerial Photograph). SDV170515.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, RAF/106G/UK/1190 RP 3252-3253 27-FEB-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363067.

A bank and ditch are visible as irregular earthworks.

Royal Air Force, 1946 - 1949, Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV342938.

Map object based on this Source.

Edwards, C., 1979, An archaeological survey of an area surrounding Hemerdon Ball (Report - Survey). SDV337241.

Site visited on 18th June 1979. A presumed field boundary runs south-west from SX56235992 to SX56125986 with a ditch on the south side. It is cut by a line of trial pits at SX56215991. Boundary length 125 metres by 1 metre high and 1.5 metres wide.

Gilbertson, D. + Collis, J., 1982, Mapping Three Millennia of Settlement and Land Use on Crownhill Down, South West Dartmoor (Article in Serial). SDV362901.

Prehistoric boundary continues north to partly delineate Medieval field system.

AMAX, 1982, The Hemerdon Project. Archaeological Sites (Plan - measured). SDV149232.

Boundary recorded as continuing north into Medieval field system on the western edge on Crownhill Down.

Devon County Council, 1982, Untitled Source (Plan - measured). SDV337246.

Additional banks run off the east end.

Gilbertson, D. + Collis, J., 1985, Linear Banks on Crownhill Down, Dartmoor (Article in Serial). SDV337244.

Prehistoric boundary continues north to partly delineate Medieval field system.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, SX55NE (Cartographic). SDV337243.

Visible on aerial photograph interpretation. Map object based on this Source.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5659 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

The ditch appears to comprise interlinked or intercut circular pits.

National Monuments Record, 2002, 910269 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV343914.

Numerous low earthen field banks, many with ditches on one side, lie on open moorland on the lower south-facing slopes of Crownhill Down. They are on average spread to 1.8 metres wide and are up to 0.7 metres high. None have been excavated but they are similar in form to other banks which have a Medieval origin. This part of the moor is covered by stands of dense mature gorse obscuring many of the features. Other details: NMR Number SX55NE22.

Fletcher, M., 2002, The Archaeological Landscape of Crownhill Down and Ridding Down: Survey Report (Report - Survey). SDV343412.

Map object based on this Source.

Next Perspectives, 2015-2017, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX5659 31-MAY-2016 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361515.

The ditch or pits have probably been largely destroyed by open cast mining.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

A south-west to north-east aligned bank ditch, circa 100m long and 2.5m wide, flanked by a ditch on its south-eastern side is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards on the western edge of Crownhill Down. This feature has previously been interpreted as a field boundary of medieval date.
Reassessment of this feature using lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014 supports an interpretation of the ditch earthwork as comprising a series of intercut pits flanked by conjoined spoil mounds on its southern edge, not a single continuous ditch.
This supports the reinterpretation of the earthworks as an early phase of prospection or mining features, not a boundary as previously suggested by the above authorities. The slightly of these earthworks by the later, north to south aligned prospecting pits might provide additional support for this interpretation, if the later investigations sought to define the extent of tin deposits.
Whilst the earthworks remain clearly visible on lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014. the pits have probably been largely destroyed by subsequent open cast mining.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4559 - Archaeological Landscape of Crownhill Down and Riddding Down
• EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)

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