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Summary

Extensive former extractive pits, probably marl pits of probable post-medieval to mid-19th century date, were visible as earthworks on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks of marl pit dating to the 19th century or earlier and later 19th century pond by Hell Pit

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EXTRACTIVE PIT (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1840 AD (Between))
• MARL PIT (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1840 AD (Between))

Full description

South West Heritage Trust, 1838-1848, Digitised Tithe Maps and Transcribed Apportionments (Cartographic). SDV359954.

Plot 184 was listed as Yonder Pit Land.

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

The visible earthworks fall within plots 184, 189 & 220.

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

A pit is marked as 'Old Marl Pit' on the First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch map.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

A pit is marked as 'Old Marl Pit' on the Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch map.

Environment Agency, 1998-2014, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution), LIDAR ST0604 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014 (Cartographic). SDV359177.

Extensive earthwork pits were visible.

Ordnance Survey, 2007, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV337643.

The extent of the marlpit is marked on the Ordnance Survey MasterMap. This does not precisely correspond with the earthworks visible in the lidar derived images.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST0604 22-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356259.

The pit earthworks are largely obscured by dense tree cover.

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 a roughly leaf-shaped pit circa 50 by 35 metres in size were visible as earthworks on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014 to the south of Hearn Farm, Plymtree parish. These earthworks correspond closely with a pit annotated as a former marl pit on the OS First Edition 25 inch map, although the dimensions and extent are not identical, possibly supporting the interpretation that the pit might have been partly infilled.
The lidar derived images reveal that the possible former marl pit is part of a much more extensive connected group of probable extractive pits to the south. These extend along field boundaries in a narrow hollow circa 120 metres to the south-west and broaden into larger pits extending 175 metres to the east.
The larger pits correspond closely with Plot 184 on the Tithe Map for Plymtree, named as Yonder Pit Land on the apportionments. Woodland and ponds are depicted on the OS First Edition 25 inch map across the extent of the visible earthworks, the largest copse named as Hell Pit.
This supports the interpretation that the visible earthworks, including the pit previously recorded as a former marl pit, are the remains of extractive pits that had passed out of use prior to the mid-19th century and were subsequently utilised as ponds and managed woodland. The earthworks remain largely obscured from view by dense tree cover on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325644	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV337643	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2007. MasterMap. MasterMap. Digital.
SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
SDV356259	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST0604 22-MAY-2010.
SDV359177	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2014. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR ST0604 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014. [Mapped feature: #100909 ]
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
SDV359954	Cartographic: South West Heritage Trust. 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Maps and Transcribed Apportionments. Tithe Map and Apportionment. Digital.

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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