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Summary

Field boundaries of possible medieval origin are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946 and digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014, under the tree cover of Fernhill Wood, Sparkwell.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020169: Deer park and rabbit warren at Newnham Park

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIELD SYSTEM (XV to XIX - 1401 AD to 1840 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The visible earthworks partly correspond with boundaries depicted on the Tithe Map for the historic parish of Plympton St Mary.

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.

Linear and curvilinear banks and ditches are visible.

Next Perspectives, 2015-2017, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX5559 31-MAY-2016 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361515.

The earthworks are obscured by dense tree cover.

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.

Linear banks and ditches up to circa 4m wide are visible as earthworks on on aerial photographs of 1946 and digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014, under the tree cover of Fernhill Wood, Sparkwell.
The visible earthworks correspond in part with field boundaries depicted on the 19th century maps available to the survey, which depict this area as woodland throughout the mid to later 19th century. Those earthworks not depicted are however in keeping with the character of the surrounding depicted field pattern which is potentially of medieval origin.
The earthworks are interpreted as field boundaries of possible medieval origin that were partly cleared for coppice by the mid-19th century.
The boundaries probably survive as earthworks under the current dense tree cover.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

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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