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Summary

The remains of probable post-medieval to 19th century ridges made for fruit tree planting and improved drainage were visible as low, parallel earthwork banks on aerial photographs of 1947 onwards on the south-east-facing combe slopes to the north-west of Barn Farm, Luppitt.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1982 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Two smaller areas of orchard are depicted in plots 1011 and 1012.

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

The visible earthworks fall within a larger plot depicted as an orchard.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 F20 4441-4442 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

Moderately wooded banks or ridges were visible.

Ordnance Survey, 1982, OS/82219 V, OS/82219 V 1686-1687 03-SEP-1982 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357675.

All tree cover has been cleared.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1705 4-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359490.

Low 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.

The remains of probable post-medieval to 19th century ridges made for fruit tree planting and improved drainage were visible as low, parallel earthwork banks on aerial photographs of 1947 onwards on the east-facing combe slopes to the south-east of Blackenfields Farm, Luppitt.
The banks were spaced up to approximately 7 metres apart and were aligned cross-contour. In 1947 the visible earthworks covered an area of approximately 900 square metres and remained very lightly covered with trees. This corresponded with a plot depicted as orchard on the Ordnance Survey 25 inch First Edition map. A slightly larger orchard plot was depicted on the Tithe Map for Luppit (plot 893) and it is with this earlier extent that the ridges visible on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010 correspond.
The banks are therefore interpreted as the remains of orchard tree planting banks of post-medieval to 19th century date, made to improve soil depth and aid drainage. The orchard was reduced in size in the mid-19th century and largely cleared of trees between 1947 and 1982.

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 F20 4441-4442 11-APR-1947.
SDV357675	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1982. OS/82219 V. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/82219 V 1686-1687 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
SDV359490	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1705 4-MAY-2010. [Mapped feature: #76045 ]

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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