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Summary

A former extractive pit of possible post-medieval to mid-19th century date was visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014 as an earthwork on the east-facing slopes north-west of Marlcombe Farm, Awliscombe 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))
• SAND 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.

The pit was not depicted.

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

The pit was not depicted.

Environment Agency, 1998-2014, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution), LIDAR ST1103 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014 (Cartographic). SDV359177.

Asmall rectilinear pit was visible.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1103 22-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356259.

The earthwork was not visible on aerial photographs due to dense tree cover.

Ryder, L., 2013, The Historic Landscape of Devon: A Study in Change and Continuity (Monograph). SDV359873.

By the time of the Tithe Survey many marl pits on the Blackdown Hills were redundant, with former quarries often utilised as orchards or copses.

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

A roughly trapezium shaped pit circa 30 by 25 metres across was visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014, as an earthwork on the east-facing slopes north-west of Marlcombe Farm, Awliscombe parish.
The visible earthworks did not correspond with any pit features depicted in this location on the available 19th century mapping, but did correspond with a small rectilinear area of scrub or rough ground depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25inch map. This might support the interpretation that the extractive pit had passed out of use prior to the late 19th century. On the Blackdown Hills many extractive pits such as marl pits are known to have been redundant by the time of the Tithe Survey, the former quarries utilised as orchards or copses.
A small sand pit was depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25inch map circa 100 metres to the south-west, and a similar function is possible for this pit.
The location of the pit remains obscured by dense tree cover on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010.

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.
SDV356259	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1103 22-MAY-2010.
SDV359177	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2014. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR ST1103 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014. [Mapped feature: #76679 ]
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
SDV359873	Monograph: Ryder, L.. 2013. The Historic Landscape of Devon: A Study in Change and Continuity. The Historic Landscape of Devon: A Study in Change and Continuity. A4 Paperback.

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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