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Summary

More than twenty earthwork pits, probably remains of a prospecting pit of 18th to 19th century date, are visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014 on the east facing slopes of Fernhill Wood, Shaugh Prior and Sparkwell, overlooking the combe of the Tony Brook. They are probably associated with Wheal Sidney mine.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PROSPECTING PIT (XVII to XIX - 1700 AD to 1890 AD (Between))
• QUARRY (XVII to XIX - 1700 AD to 1890 AD (Between))

Full description

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

With the exception of a quarry at SX55455934 the visible earthworks do not correspond with any features depicted on the 19th or early 20th century maps.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, RAF/106G/UK/1190 RP 3252-3253 27-FEB-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363067.

Pits are visible as subtle earthworks.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5559 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

More than 25 pits are visible as earthworks.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

More than twenty small and irregularly shaped pits are visible on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014 on the east-facing slopes of Fernhill Wood, Shaugh Prior. Some are visible as subtle earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946. Most measure between 10 to 20m across, although a pit of circa 35m is visible at circa SX55425950.
The majority of the pits are arranged in a rough arc from circa SX55295937 in the south to SX55415926 in the north, culminating in the largest pit in this area. Most of the remaining pits are scattered over an area of 9ha to the north and west of the main arc of pits, with a couple of outliers to the south and east.
Most of the earthworks do not correspond with any features depicted on the 19th or early 20th century maps available to the survey, the exception being a pit at SX55455934 that corresponds with a quarry depicted on the Ordnance Survey 25inch First Edition map. The majority of the earthworks are interpreted as a prospecting pits of 18th to 19th century date associated with Wheal Sidney mine (MDV1797).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)

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