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Summary

Former extractive pits of probably post-medieval to 19th century date were visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured in 2016 as earthworks on the upper west facing slopes of the Otter Valley west of Monkton Barton, Monkton Parish.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EXTRACTIVE PIT (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1840 AD (Between))

Full description

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Maps and Apportionments (Website). SDV349463.

The earthworks do not correspond with any depicted quarry or extractive pit, but several plots contain 'pit' placename elements.

Bluesky International, 2016, LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects, LIDAR ST1903 Bluesky International DTM 30-APR-2016 & 04-MAY-2016 (Cartographic). SDV359714.

Extensive pits were visible as earthworks.

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

Extensive earthwork pits were visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured in 2016 on the upper west facing slopes of the Otter Valley west of Monkton Barton, Monkton Parish.
The earthworks appear to be evidence of one extensive pit that previously crossed several fields or plots. Several of these plots contain ‘Pit’ placename evidence on the Tithe Apportionment for Monkton Parish, for instance: plot 82, Great Pitland and plot 83, Pitland Orchard. In these plots the earthworks have been somewhat smoothed by the described arable or orchard landuse. Conversely, plot 85, which contains the most pronounced pit earthworks is simply described on the Apportionments as a Copse, but this landuse may have preserved the former extractive pit earthworks more completely than either subsequent arable or orchard agricultural use. The earthworks are therefore interpreted as the remains of extractive pits that had passed out of use prior to circa 1840, possibly in the post medieval period but no later than the early 19th century.
Dense tree cover continues to obscure the earthworks in this plot from view on aerial photography. Considered together, the relict pit earthworks extend over an area of circa 0.8 hectares.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV349463	Website: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Maps and Apportionments. http://devon.gov.uk. Website.
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
SDV359714	Cartographic: Bluesky International. 2016. LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects. Not applicable. Digital. LIDAR ST1903 Bluesky International DTM 30-APR-2016 & 04-MAY-2016. [Mapped feature: #75489 ]

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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