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Summary

The earthwork remains of a possible small deserted settlement and orchard of probable medieval to 19th century date were visible as low, parallel ridges made for fruit tree planting and improved orchard drainage and possible building platforms, on digital images derived from lidar data captured in 2016, on the west-facing slopes of the Otter Valley, west of the A30, south of Claypitts Farm, Upottery parish.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks of a deserted settlement and orchard, south of Claypitts Farm

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• DESERTED SETTLEMENT (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD to 1840 AD)

Full description

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

The earthwork banks corresponded closely with a depicted orchard.

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

The visible earthworks did not correspond with any depicted map features.

Bluesky International, 2016, LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects, LIDAR ST1904 Bluesky International DTM 30-APR-2016 & 04-MAY-2016 (Cartographic). SDV359714.

Earthwork platforms or terraces and parallel earthwork banks were visible.

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

Three or four earthwork platforms were visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured in 2016, on the west-facing slopes of the Otter Valley, west of the A30, south of Claypitts Farm, Upottery parish. Narrow parallel earthwork banks were visible upon one of the platforms, at circa ST19760493.
The platforms are interpreted as the possible remains of former dwellings comprising a small former settlement or farmstead. The earthwork banks are probably the remains of ridges often made for fruit tree planting and improved drainage as part of a traditional orchard.
The earthworks do not correspond with any settlement or orchard depicted on the Ordnance Survey 25 inch First Edition map, although the banks do match the approximate location of a possible small orchard depicted on the Tithe map for Upottery. This might support the interpretation that any settlement or dwellings in this location had been cleared or deserted by the early 19th century, with the orchard remaining in use until the middle of the 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.
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 ST1904 Bluesky International DTM 30-APR-2016 & 04-MAY-2016. [Mapped feature: #75552 ]

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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