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Summary

An extensive area of former extractive pits, probably mostly marl pits with some possible sand pits, was visible on the east-facing slopes north of Wilmington as subtle and shallow earthworks on aerial photographs and digital images derived from lidar data. The pits were probably in use from the post-medieval period to the 19th century, and were largely subsequently planted as orchards.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EXTRACTIVE PIT (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1880 AD (Between))
• MARL PIT? (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1880 AD (Between))
• SAND PIT? (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1880 AD (Between))

Full description

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

A small open pit was depicted on the western edge of the relict earthworks.

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

Two former pits, including that depicted on the Tithe Map, were depicted and annotated as Old Marl Pit.

Ordnance Survey, 1982, OS/82218 V, OS/82218 V 1103-1104 28-AUG-1982 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359504.

Shallow, irregular and extensive earthwork pits were visible.

Ordnance Survey, 2000, OS/00973, OS/00973 V 246-247 19-MAR-2000 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359480.

Shallow, irregular and extensive earthwork pits were visible. Map object based partly on this source.

Bluesky International, 2016, LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects, LIDAR ST2000-ST2100 Bluesky International DTM 24 &30-APR-2016 (Cartographic). SDV359714.

Shallow, irregular and extensive earthwork pits were visible. Map object based partly on this source.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2016-2018, The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV359463.

An extensive area of former extractive pits was visible as subtle and shallow earthworks on the east-facing slopes north of Wilmington, on aerial photographs and digital images derived from lidar data.
The relict earthworks corresponded in part with extractive pits annotated as ‘old marl pits’ depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch map, one of which was depicted on the Tithe Map for Widworthy, and therefore probably remained in use into the mid-19th century. The majority of the pits were probably in use in the post-medieval period, possibly to the early 19th century, and were largely subsequently planted as orchards, as depicted on the OS First Edition 25 inch map. The reuse of former quarries or extractive pits as orchards has been noted throughout the survey area.
Sand pits of probable later 19th to early 20th century were recorded separately immediately to the east.

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.
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
SDV359480	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 2000. OS/00973. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/00973 V 246-247 19-MAR-2000.
SDV359504	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1982. OS/82218 V. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/82218 V 1103-1104 28-AUG-1982.
SDV359714	Cartographic: Bluesky International. 2016. LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects. Not applicable. Digital. LIDAR ST2000-ST2100 Bluesky International DTM 24 &30-APR-2016.

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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