See important
guidance on the use of this record.
If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.
| HER Number: | MDV126000 |
|---|
| Name: | Prospecting pits on Crownhill Down |
|---|
Summary
Prospecting pits of probable medieval to post-medieval date are clearly visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s to 1960s as earthworks on Crownhill Down. The earthworks have probably been destroyed by modern open cast mining.
Location
| Grid Reference: | SX 567 592 |
|---|
| Map Sheet: | SX55NE |
|---|
| Admin Area | Devon |
|---|
| Civil Parish | Sparkwell |
|---|
| District | South Hams |
|---|
| Ecclesiastical Parish | PLYMPTON ST.MARY |
|---|
Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- PROSPECTING PIT (XV to Post Medieval - 1401 AD to 1750 AD)
Full description
Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FP 1126-1127 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.
Pits are visible as earthworks.
Royal Air Force, 1955, RAF/540/1625, RAF/540/1625 F22 0237-0238 24-MAY-1955 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351141.
Pits are visible as earthworks.
Ordnance Survey, 1969, OS/69296, OS/69296 V 018-019 29-JUN-1969 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361475.
Pits are visible as earthworks.
Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 22-JUN-2018 ACCESSED 04-JUL-2019 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363088.
The earthworks have been destroyed by the expansion of opencast mining.
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.
Pits are visible on aerial photographs of the 1946 to 1969 as oval or circular earthworks between 2 and 4m across the west-facing slopes towards the east of Crownhill Down. A crescent of upcast spoil is visible on the downslope edge of most pits.
Six of the pits are visible in two groups of three at circa SX56815923 and SX56855932, displaying a pronounced north-north-east to south-south-west alignment, closely following the 165m contour. A sixth isolated pit is visible at circa SX56715933
The pits are interpreted as the remains of prospecting pits of probable medieval to post-medieval date, the north-north-east to south-south-west alignment probably intended to identify the extent of buried tin deposits.
The pits have been destroyed by modern open cast mining.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV169268 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FP 1126-1127 10-DEC-1946. |
| |
| | |
| SDV351141 | Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1955. RAF/540/1625. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/540/1625 F22 0237-0238 24-MAY-1955. |
| |
| | |
| SDV361475 | Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1969. OS/69296. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/69296 V 018-019 29-JUN-1969. |
| |
| | |
| SDV362982 | Interpretation: 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). Historic England Research Report. Digital. |
| |
| | |
| SDV363088 | Aerial Photograph: Google. 2019. Google Earth Pro. Various. Digital. EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 22-JUN-2018 ACCESSED 04-JUL-2019. |
| |
| | |
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)
| Date Last Edited: | Sep 28 2021 6:52AM |
|---|
Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.