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Summary

Two former extractive pits of probable medieval to 19th century date were visible on aerial photographs of 1982 as small oval earthworks on the west-facing slopes below St Cyres Hill to the south 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

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

Shallow earthwork pits were visible. Map object based partly on this source.

Next Perspectives, 2006, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photograph - Digital Elevation Data, Next Perspectives APGB Elevation Data ST1302 -ST1303 03-JUN-2006 (Cartographic). SDV359482.

Shallow earthwork pits were visible. Map object based partly on this source.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1302 -ST1303 04-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359490.

Shallow earthwork pits were visible as subtle earthworks.

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

Two former extractive pits were visible on aerial photographs of 1982 as small oval earthworks on the west-facing slopes below St Cyres Hill to the south 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 north of the field boundary, centred on circa ST13730304 might be part of a larger hollow extending to the east but this might be partly natural in origin and only those elements confidently identified have been transcribed. The pit south of the field boundary, centred on circa ST13720300, might be partly defined on its southern edge by a spoil heap mound. The southern pit is visible on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010 as a slight earthwork and pale cropmark.
The pits are located on mudstone bedrock, which might support an interpretation as marl extraction pits. 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

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 ST1302 -ST1303 03-JUN-2006.
SDV359490	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1302 -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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