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Summary

The remains of ridges probably made for fruit tree planting and improved orchard drainage from the post-medieval period to the mid-19th century, were visible as low parallel earthwork banks on aerial photographs of 1947 on the east-facing slopes on the west bank of the River Wolf, south of Lower Mill, Awliscombe parish.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST20NW/124

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1947 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The visible earthworks fall within a plot depicted as an orchard. Map object based partly on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RP 3446-3447 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

The banks were visible as slight earthworks through moderate orchard planting.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1301 22-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356259.

All trees had been cleared and the banks were visible as earthworks.

Next Perspectives, 2014, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, LIDAR ST1301 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359479.

Parallel earthwork banks were visible within the former orchard plot. Map object based partly on this source.

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

Parallel ridges were visible as low parallel earthwork banks on aerial photographs of 1947 on the east-facing slopes south of Lower Mill, Awliscombe parish.
The ridges were spaced approximately 5 metres apart and ran across the contours of the slope. The visible banks fell within a plot depicted as an orchard on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch map and were visible under moderate tree cover on aerial photographs of 1947.
The earthworks are therefore interpreted as the remains of tree planting banks made for fruit tree planting and improved orchard drainage dating probably from the post-medieval period to the mid-19th century.
The trees have been largely cleared and banks remain visible as earthworks in the former orchard on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010, the plot incorporated into a domestic garden. The banks remain clearly visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RP 3446-3447 11-APR-1947.
SDV356259	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1301 22-MAY-2010.
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
SDV359479	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2014. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Digital. LIDAR ST1301 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014.

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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