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Summary

The remains of probable post-medieval to 20th century ridges made for fruit tree planting and improved drainage were visible on aerial photographs of 1996 as low, parallel earthwork banks on the north and east facing slopes of a combe, to the south of Higher Lake Farm, Stockland.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1947 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The plot was depicted as an orchard.

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

The plot was depicted as an orchard.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RS 4308-4309 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

The orchard is only lightly planted. The earthwork banks were not clearly identifiable.

Ordnance Survey, 1996, OS/96570, OS/96570 V 53-54 08-MAY-1996 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359489.

Linear and parallel banks were visible as earthworks.

Next Perspectives, 2014, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST22004 08-SEP-2014 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359479.

The former orchard plot was obscured by vegetation.

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 probable post-medieval to 20th century ridges made for fruit tree planting and improved drainage were visible on aerial photographs of 1996 as low, parallel earthwork banks on the north and east facing slopes of a combe, to the south of Higher Lake Farm, Stockland.
The banks were spaced up to circa 5 metres apart and were aligned cross-contour, roughly south-west to north-east, presumably to aid drainage into the stream flowing along the combe.
The visible earthworks fall within a plot depicted as an orchard on the Tithe Map for Stockland and the Ordnance Survey 25 inch first edition map, and are therefore interpreted as ridges made for fruit tree planting and improved orchard drainage.
The earthworks are therefore at the latest mid-19th century in date and could be significantly older. The orchard remained only very lightly planted with trees in the late 1940s and the orchard might have passed out of use by this date. The plot was obscured by scrub vegetation on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2014 and the banks might survive as low 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). [Mapped feature: #74668 ]
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 RS 4308-4309 11-APR-1947.
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
SDV359479	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2014. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST22004 08-SEP-2014.
SDV359489	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1996. OS/96570. Ordnance Survey. OS/96570 V 53-54 08-MAY-1996.

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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