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Summary

Linear earthwork banks, visible on aerial photographs taken between 1947 and 2000, are interpreted as banks for orchard planting, of post-medieval or 19th century date. Some of the earthworks appear to have been levelled but others may survive.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Two of the three fields with earthwork banks in are depicted as orchards (centred on ST0880611338 and ST0878311139). Map object partly based on this source.

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

Two of the three fields with earthwork banks in are depicted as orchards (centred on ST0880611338 and ST0878311139).

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 3289-3290 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

Parallel linear earthwork banks are visible at ST0888011146. Map object partly based on this source.

Ordnance Survey, 1966, OS/66184 V, OS/66184 V 149-150 22-JUL-1966 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357044.

Parallel linear earthwork banks are visible at ST0880611338 but no longer at ST0888011146. Map object partly based on this source.

Ordnance Survey, 2000, OS/00213, OS/00213 V 007-008 18-JUN-2000 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357168.

Parallel linear earthwork banks are visible at ST0888011146 but no longer at ST0880611338 which has been developed. Map object partly based on this source.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2014-2015, East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV356883.

Linear earthwork banks in three fields around Ashill are successively visible on aerial photographs between 1947 and 2000. Their alignment is obliquely cross-contour and the banks are between 3 and 4 metres wide. Two of the areas were depicted as orchards on historic maps and the earthworks are interpreted as banks for fruit tree planting, which are likely to be post-medieval or 19th century in date. The visible extent of the earthworks is half a hectare but their original extent was probably greater. Some earthworks appear to have been levelled, but it is possible that others could survive.
The field centred on ST0880611338 in the heart of the village was orchard in the late-19th century, and tree cover still obscured the ground surface in 1947. However these had gone by 1966 when earthwork banks were visible from the air, and the area has since been developed for housing.
At ST0888011146 south-east of the village centre linear earthwork banks visible from the air in 1947 had presumably survived since the early part of the 19th century, as this area was not depicted as orchard on any of the available historic mapping including the Tithe Map. They were not visible on later available aerial photographs and the site may have been levelled by ploughing before 1966.
At ST0878311139 just south of the village trees remained until at least 1966, but had been removed by 2000, when the earthwork banks were visible from the air.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 3289-3290 11-APR-1947.
SDV356883	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2014-2015. East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV357044	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1966. OS/66184 V. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/66184 V 149-150 22-JUL-1966.
SDV357168	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 2000. OS/00213. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/00213 V 007-008 18-JUN-2000.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)

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