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Summary

Two former extractive pits of possible medieval to mid-19th century date were visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014, as earthworks on the west-facing slopes east of Beer Farm, Payhembury parish, with which they were probably associated.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EXTRACTIVE PIT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The pits closely corresponded with plots 12 and 14, a plantation and orchard.

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

The pits corresponded with depicted copses.

Environment Agency, 1998-2014, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution), LIDAR ST1003 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014 (Cartographic). SDV359177.

Two earthwork pits were visible.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1003 22-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356259.

The earthworks were obscured by 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.

Two irregularly shaped pits circa 55 and 70 metres across were visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014, as earthworks on the west-facing slopes east of Beer Farm, Payhembury parish.
The visible earthworks correspond closely with small enclosed plots depicted on the Tithe Map for Payhembury, associated with Beer Farm. Plot 12 was listed as a plantation (‘Pitt’) and plot 14 an orchard (‘Pit Orchard’). 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 often utilised as orchards or copses. This might support the interpretation that the extractive pit had passed out of use prior to the mid-to-late 19th century and subsequently used for woodland.
The earthworks remain obscured from view by dense tree cover on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010, although a pond has been established in the larger pit.

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 ST1003 22-MAY-2010.
SDV359177	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2014. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR ST1003 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014. [Mapped feature: #76713 ]
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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