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Summary

A network of banks across Bursdon Moor are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs dating from 1946 onwards, and some on images derived from lidar data captured in 2013. They are probably relict field boundaries dating to phases of enclosure in the medieval and post-medieval periods. It is likely that they had fallen into disuse by the mid-nineteenth century, although they are still significant landscape features.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019257: Three bowl barrows and one bell barrow on Bursdon Moor situated 670m north east of Lutsford Cross

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIELD SYSTEM (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD to 1844 AD (Between))

Full description

Warren and Co. Surveyors., 1844, First copy of the map of the Parish of Hartland in the County of Devon in two Parts. (Cartographic). SDV349361.

No field boundaries are depicted in these locations.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158, DCC RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158 5068-5069 19-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349143.

Numerous curvilinear and straight banks are visible as earthworks. Map object partly based on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1959, RAF/58/2984, NMR RAF/58/2984 F22 0029-0032 30-JUN-1959 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349064.

Numerous curvilinear and straight banks are visible as earthworks. Map object partly based on this source.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011-2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.

A network of curvilinear and straight banks across Bursdon Moor are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs dating from 1946 onwards. The banks are probably relict field boundaries dating to more than one phase of enclosure, in the medieval and post-medieval periods. Some on the west of the moor are irregular and generally narrow at less than 2 metres in width. One of these curves around one of the barrows, and another is aligned parallel to neighbouring extant field boundaries depicted on the Tithe map of 1844. These probably have a medieval origin. The very straight banks to the east are greater in width at between 3 and 4 metres, and are more typical of field boundaries created to enclose open land in the post-medieval period. As none are depicted on the Tithe map it is likely that they had fallen into disuse by the mid-nineteenth century, although with one exception they are respected by the narrow ridge and furrow that is visible across the moor on 1946 aerial photographs, when they presumably created enough of an obstacle to warrant avoidance rather than deep ploughing. Many of the banks are known to survive as earthworks and were viewed on a site visit in 2012.

Hegarty, C. & Knight, S., 2012-2013, North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project site visit, 18-APR-2012 (Site Visit). SDV349357.

Several of the banks are clearly visible.

NERC, 2013, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) Tellus: Tamar Aerial Survey project area, LIDAR Tellus LAST RETURN 01-JUL-2013 to 31-AUG-2013 (Cartographic). SDV363955.

Curvilinear earthwork banks are visible.

Hegarty, C., Houghton, E., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2020-2021, Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology Area 2 (Culture Recovery Fund project) (Interpretation). SDV364011.

Further earthwork banks are visible on the southern part of Bursdon Moor on lidar data captured in 2013, extending the known extent of the relict field system on Bursdon Moor.

Understanding Landscapes Project, 2020-2021, University of Exeter Understanding Landscapes Project - Volunteer data, 880.3 (Interpretation). SDV363949.

Continuation of a bank or other earthworks identified.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV349018	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S.. 2011-2012. North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. ACD383/2/1. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV349064	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1959. RAF/58/2984. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/58/2984 F22 0029-0032 30-JUN-1959.
SDV349143	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). DCC RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158 5068-5069 19-APR-1946.
SDV349357	Site Visit: Hegarty, C. & Knight, S.. 2012-2013. North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project site visit. ND AONB NMP. Digital. 18-APR-2012.
	Linked images:24
SDV349361	Cartographic: Warren and Co. Surveyors.. 1844. First copy of the map of the Parish of Hartland in the County of Devon in two Parts.. Tithe Map.
SDV363949	Interpretation: Understanding Landscapes Project. 2020-2021. University of Exeter Understanding Landscapes Project - Volunteer data. Digital. 880.3.
SDV363955	Cartographic: NERC. 2013. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) Tellus: Tamar Aerial Survey project area. Digital. LIDAR Tellus LAST RETURN 01-JUL-2013 to 31-AUG-2013. [Mapped feature: #128207 ]
SDV364011	Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Houghton, E., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2020-2021. Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology Area 2 (Culture Recovery Fund project). Digital.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project (Ref: ACD383/2/1)
• EDV8356 - Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology Area 2 (Culture Recovery Fund) (Ref: ACD2424)

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