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Summary

Linear and curvilinear banks and ditches interpreted as relict field boundaries of a medieval or post-medieval field system are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2013. Linear banks and pits to the north of the system have been interpreted as possible evidence of a Roman road.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Alternate Type) ROAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD (Between))
• FIELD SYSTEM (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The earthworks do not correspond with any linear or curvilinear features in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, RAF/106G/UK/1190 RP 3178-3179; 3275-3276 27-FEB-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363067.

Linear and curvilinear earthworks are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1964, RAF/58/6399, RAF/58/6399 F63 376-377 02-JUL-1964 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363068.

Linear and curvilinear earthworks are visible.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5164; SX5165; SX5264 Tellus DTM 01-JUL-2013 to 31-AUG-2013 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Linear and curvilinear earthworks are visible.

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.

Linear and curvilinear banks and ditches are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2013. The earthworks occupy an area of circa 28 hectares on Roborough Down. They are predominantly northwest to southeast and northeast to southwest aligned and define a number of rectilinear land parcels of varying size. They do not correspond with any linear or curvilinear features shown on the mid-19th century Parish Tithe Map, or on later available historic maps, but are closely in keeping with the historic field pattern shown to the south, which is characterised as medieval enclosures based on strip fields. The earthworks are interpreted as relict field boundaries of a medieval or post-medieval field system which had passed out of use by the mid-19th century. A number of field systems have been individually recorded in this area, including MDV34224, MDV25636, MDV28819 and MDV34223. Transcriptions derived from this survey have, however, demonstrated that these elements all likely form part of the same field system and so they have been incorporated into this single parent record. This field system is probably associated with earthworks of another, but more fragmented, field system recorded to the east MDV25638.

Smart, C., 2020, Lidar Interpretation (Personal Comment). SDV363670.

The slight linear bank extending for circa 920m from circa SX52096452 to SX51626531, flanked on the west side by pits that extend north-west for a further 120m, might be evidence of a road of Roman date. This route is suggested the most obvious for a route south of the moor attempting to get north of Plymouth.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• 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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