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Summary

Irregular earthwork ditches, mounds and pits are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017. They are interpreted as the remains of medieval or post-medieval streamworks that ceased before the mid-19th century.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• STREAMWORKS (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

South West Heritage Trust, 1838-1848, Digitised Tithe Maps and Transcribed Apportionments (Cartographic). SDV359954.

This plot is described as furze and pasture.

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

Lower Down is depicted as rough ground.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 RS 4433-4434 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

Extensive irregular earthwork pits, mounds and ditches are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2507, RAF/CPE/UK/2507 V 5011-5012 13-MAR-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361963.

Extensive irregular earthwork pits, mounds and ditches are visible.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX7978 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Extensive irregular earthwork pits, mounds and ditches are visible.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2018-2019, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley (AI&M) (Interpretation). SDV361305.

Irregular curvilinear earthwork ditches, pits and mounds are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017 along the valley bottom. They are interpreted as the extractive pits, stream channels and spoil heaps of a medieval or post-medieval streamworks and strongly resemble similar earthworks to the east (e.g. MDV19917; MDV124377).
The curvilinear ditches and banks are aligned downslope in two complexes, one immediately to the north of a substantial ditch along the boundary between Lower Down and Colchays Plantation. This ditch is up to 15 metres wide and appears to join the Bovey Pottery leat at its eastern, lower end at circa NGR 279758,78045. The Bovey Pottery leat (MDV21312) is exceptionally substantial in this location, and a similar width, perhaps suggesting an association between the two.
The plot is described as ‘furze and pasture’ on the tithe apportionment, and depicted as rough ground on the late-19th century mapping, so extractive activity here is likely to have ceased before the mid-19th century.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV351061	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 RS 4433-4434 10-DEC-1946.
SDV359954	Cartographic: South West Heritage Trust. 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Maps and Transcribed Apportionments. Tithe Map and Apportionment. Digital.
SDV361305	Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2018-2019. The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley (AI&M). Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV361470	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2017. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR SX7978 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017. [Mapped feature: #115119 ]
SDV361963	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2507. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/2507 V 5011-5012 13-MAR-1948.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7515 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey (Ref: ACD1748)

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