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Summary

A possible extractive pit of probable post-medieval to 19th century date was visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured in 2016 as an earthwork on the north and west-facing slopes of the Otter Valley, immediately east of Yard Farm, Upottery parish. The earthworks are obscured from view on aerial photography by dense tree cover.

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 Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

An orchard is depicted on the site of the earthwork pit.

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

An orchard is depicted on the site of the earthwork pit.

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.

A large earthwork pit was visible.

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

A possible large former extractive pit of probable post-medieval to 19th century date was visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured in 2016 as an earthwork on the north and west-facing slopes of the Otter Valley, immediately east of Yard Farm, Upottery parish.
The pit is roughly oval in shape, measuring approximately 80 metres long and 40 metres wide. The visible earthworks do not correspond with any quarry or earthwork pit depicted in this location on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch map or the Tithe Map for Upottery. The plot in which the earthwork is visible is depicted as an orchard on the historic maps and the earthworks remain obscured from view on aerial photography by dense tree cover.
The extractive pit therefore probably passed out of use prior to the 1840s and an orchard established on the possibly otherwise agriculturally marginal land. This pattern is of landuse is repeated throughout the survey area.

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: #75558 ]

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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