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Summary

The remains of probable post-medieval to possibly 19th or early 20th century ridges made for fruit tree planting and drainage were visible as earthwork banks and ditch to the south-east of Grange Cottages, Rockbeare, on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards and images derived from lidar data captured in 2005. The banks probably survive as subtle earthworks.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1946 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The earthwork banks correspond with orchards.

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

The earthwork correspond with a number of depicted orchards.

BKS Surveys Ltd, 1967, BKS/2822, RBKS/2822 V 3048-3049 14-MAR-1967 (Aerial Photograph). SDV354836.

Earthwork banks are visible.

Environment Agency, 1998-2012, LiDAR DSM data JPEG image (1m resolution), LIDAR SY0294 Environment Agency JPG DSM 19 Dec 2005 (Cartographic). SDV357034.

Earthwork banks and a ditch are visible. Map object based partly on this source.

Ordnance Survey, 2000, OS/00980, OS/00980 228-229 19-MAR-00 (Aerial Photograph). SDV358395.

Earthwork banks and a ditch are visible. Map object based partly on this source.

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

The remains of a former field boundary and earthwork ridges were visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s to the south-east of Grange Cottages, Rockbeare.
The banks were visible in several parcels, and measured between circa 6 and 7 metres in width. They are interpreted as probable fruit tree planting banks of post-medieval to 20th century date, made to enhance drainage within an orchard.
The banks largely coincide with areas recorded as orchards on the Tithe Map and apportionment for Rockbeare, associated with a former farmstead named as Wills. By the publication of the Ordnance Survey 25 inch first edition map in the 1880s, Wills has been removed and The Grange constructed to the north-west, with which the remaining depicted orchards now appear to be associated. Former orchard ridges not corresponding with depicted orchards were visible around the earthworks of the deserted Settlement of Wills. This might support the interpretation that a number of the orchards had passed out of use between the 1840s and 1880s. The orchard banks and boundary ditch probably survive as subtle earthworks.

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.
SDV354836	Aerial Photograph: BKS Surveys Ltd. 1967. BKS/2822. BKS Surveys Ltd. Photograph (Paper). RBKS/2822 V 3048-3049 14-MAR-1967.
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
SDV357034	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2012. LiDAR DSM data JPEG image (1m resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR SY0294 Environment Agency JPG DSM 19 Dec 2005.
SDV358395	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 2000. OS/00980. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/00980 228-229 19-MAR-00.

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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