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Summary

A former extractive pit of probable medieval to 19th century date was visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards as an oval earthwork on the west-facing slopes of St Cyres Hill to the north-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 does not correspond with any depicted pit.

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, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2449-2450 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

A pit was visible as a subtle earthwork in the south-east corner of the field.

Ordnance Survey, 1982, OS/82218 V, OS/82218 V 1149-1150 28-AUG-1982 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359504.

A pit was visible as a subtle earthwork in the south-east corner of the field.

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.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1303 04-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359490.

A pit was visible as a subtle earthwork in the south-east corner of the field.

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 1940s onwards and digital elevation data of 2006 plus digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010 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 north-east of Wadhayes farm, Awliscombe parish.
The visible earthwork does not correspond with any pit depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25inch Map or 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 but many marl pits were redundant by the time of the Tithe 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 FS 2449-2450 11-APR-1947.
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: #76572 ]
SDV359490	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1303 04-MAY-2010.
SDV359504	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1982. OS/82218 V. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/82218 V 1149-1150 28-AUG-1982.

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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