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Summary

A probable former extractive pit of probable post-medieval date was visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s to the 1980s onwards and digital images derived from lidar data as an earthwork pit on the higher south-east-facing slopes of the Otter Valley, east of Budgells Farm, Luppit 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 Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

An orchard was symbolised in this plot; shading indicates a possible pit.

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

The pit was not depicted; an orchard was symbolised in this plot.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RS 2305-2306 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

An earthwork pit was visible lightly planted with trees.

Ordnance Survey, 1982, OS/82219 V, OS/82219 V 1654-1655 03-SEP-1982 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357675.

The earthwork pit remained visible and only lightly planted.

Next Perspectives, 2014, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1906 08-SEP-2014 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359479.

The pit was not clearly visible as an earthwork and has probably been largely levelled. Very slight earthworks might survive.

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

An earthwork pit was visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s to the 1980s on the higher south-east-facing slopes of the Otter Valley, east of Budgells Farm, Luppit parish.
The pit was roughly triangular in shape and measured circa 42 by 45 metres in size. The visible earthworks do not correspond with any pit depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch map but do correspond with an area depicted as an orchard. Also depicted as an orchard on the Tithe Map for Luppit, shading applied to this plot (260) supports the interpretation that the orchard was established within an earthwork pit. The pit was very lightly planted on aerial photographs of 1947 and 1982, but appears to have been cleared and largely levelled on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2014.
The earthworks are therefore interpreted as evidence of a probable former extractive pit of possible post-medieval date that had probably passed out of use by the early 19th century, by which time an orchard had been established within the earthwork. The establishment of woodland, most commonly orchards, within former extractive pits that otherwise might be seen as agriculturally marginal land is a pattern frequently recorded by the survey.

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 RS 2305-2306 11-APR-1947. [Mapped feature: #75788 ]
SDV357675	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1982. OS/82219 V. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/82219 V 1654-1655 03-SEP-1982.
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
SDV359479	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2014. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1906 08-SEP-2014.

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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