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Summary

Narrow ridge and furrow earthworks are visible across Bursdon Moor on aerial photographs from 1946 onwards, testifying to attempts to drain and agriculturally improve the moor in the modern period. There is widespread survival of the earthworks.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1017139: Ring cairn and bowl barrow 540m south west of Higher Welsford
• Scheduled Monument 1019085: Round barrow cemetery 920m south west of Higher Welsford
• Scheduled Monument 1019257: Three bowl barrows and one bell barrow on Bursdon Moor situated 670m north east of Lutsford Cross
• 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

• NARROW RIDGE AND FURROW (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1946 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Bursdon Moor is symbolised as open unimproved land.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158, DCC RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158 5183-5186 19-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349143.

Narrow ridge and furrow earthworks are visible across almost all of Bursdon Moor.

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

Narrow ridge and furrow earthworks are visible across Bursdon Moor on aerial photographs from 1946 onwards. The ridge and furrow is spaced at intervals of between 1.5 metres and 5 metres, and the separate parcels are varied in alignment, although always aligned cross-contour. The earthworks therefore would have enhanced drainage, in an attempt to improve the land for agricultural productivity in the modern period. The earthworks avoid the barrow mounds and most of the relict field boundaries, but may pre-date much of the peat cutting, which seems to be partly aligned on the direction of the ridges. A site visit in 2012 confirmed the continued survival of widespread ridge and furrow earthworks, and many of them held standing water confirming that they no longer fulfil their original function.

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.

Extensive earthworks of narrow ridge and furrow are visible.

Hobbs, S., 2013, Response to draft report consultation for the North Devon AONB National Mapping Programme Project (Correspondence). SDV350952.

S. Hobbs states that two steam plough sets were used in Hartland parish in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
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
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 5183-5186 19-APR-1946. [Mapped feature: #61773 ]
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
SDV350952	Correspondence: Hobbs, S.. 2013. Response to draft report consultation for the North Devon AONB National Mapping Programme Project. Comment on draft 1. Digital.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project

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