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Summary

Parallel linear banks visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken from 1947 onwards and on images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014 are tentatively interpreted as orchard tree planting banks of post-medieval or early-19th century date.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1017951: Membury Castle

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1890 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The area is not depicted as orchard.

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

The area is not depicted as orchard.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 4317-4318 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

Parallel linear earthwork banks are indistinctly visible.

Environment Agency, 1998-2014, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution), LIDAR ST2802 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014 (Cartographic). SDV359177.

Parallel linear earthwork banks are visible.

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

Parallel linear earthwork banks, circa 3.5 metres in width, are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1947 onwards and on images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014. They are aligned east to west across the top of the hill on which Membury Castle hillfort is situated. In form and width they are similar to tree planting banks that were common in orchards of post-medieval or 19th century date, rather than to ridge and furrow resulting from medieval cultivation methods. No trees are depicted on the available historic mapping potentially dating the use of the hillfort interior as an orchard to before the mid-19th 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).
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 4317-4318 11-APR-1947.
SDV359177	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2014. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR ST2802 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014. [Mapped feature: #75058 ]
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

Associated Monuments

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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