See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

A former extractive pit of probable medieval to 19th century date was visible on aerial photographs of the 1950s onwards as an oval earthwork on the west-facing slopes of St Cyres Hill to the east of Wadhayes farm, Awliscombe parish.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EXTRACTIVE PIT (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD to 1840 AD (Between))
• MARL PIT (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD to 1840 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The visible earthwork corresponds with an area defined by a dotted line.

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

The visible earthwork does not correspond with any depicted pit.

Royal Air Force, 1950, RAF/541/534, RAF/541/534 RP 3056-3057 30-MAY-1950 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357615.

An oval earthwork pit was visible under pasture.

Next Perspectives, 2006, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photograph - Digital Elevation Data, Next Perspectives APGB Elevation Data ST1303 03-JUN-2006 (Cartographic). SDV359482.

An oval pit was visible as an earthwork.

Google, 2015, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-2002 ACCESSED 18-OCT-2002 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359580.

An oval earthwork pit was visible under pasture.

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

A former extractive pit was visible on aerial photographs of the 1950s onwards and digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2002 and digital elevation data of 2006, as an oval earthwork under pasture measuring circa 55 by 34 metres in size on the west-facing slopes of St Cyres Hill to the east of Wadhayes farm, Awliscombe parish.
The visible earthwork does not correspond with any pit depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25inch Map but does partly match an area defined by a dotted line on the Tithe Map for Awliscombe. This supports the interpretation that the pit had probably passed out of use by the mid-19th century. The pit is located on mudstone bedrock, which might support an interpretation as a marl extraction pit. Marl was commonly extracted to improve soil quality or provide material for cob buildings from the medieval period to the 18th and 19th 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.
SDV357615	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1950. RAF/541/534. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/541/534 RP 3056-3057 30-MAY-1950.
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
SDV359482	Cartographic: Next Perspectives. 2006. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photograph - Digital Elevation Data. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Elevation Data ST1303 03-JUN-2006. [Mapped feature: #76570 ]
SDV359580	Aerial Photograph: Google. 2015. Google Earth Pro. Various. Digital. EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-2002 ACCESSED 18-OCT-2002.

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)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.