See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

An earthwork pit and mound, possibly a prospecting pit of 18th to 19th century date, is depicted on the Ordnance Survey 1880s 25inch First Edition map, visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s and remains identifiable on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017 on the north-west facing slopes of Hemerdon Ball, Sparkwell.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PROSPECTING PIT (XVIII to XIX - 1800 AD to 1880 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The visible earthworks correspond with a mound depicted on the Ordnance Survey 1880s First Edition 25inch map.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, RAF/106G/UK/1190 RS 4249-4250 27-FEB-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363067.

A mound is visible as an earthwork.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5658 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

A mound and pit are visible as earthworks.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 1999-2017, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX5758 01-JUN-2002 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363087.

The earthworks are obscured from view by dense vegetation.

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.

An oval pit circa 15 by 8m in size is visible within a D-shaped mound 20m wide and 38m long, on aerial photographs of 1946 on the north-west facing slopes of Hemerdon Ball, Sparkwell. The mound corresponds with an earthwork depicted on the Ordnance Survey 1880s First Edition 25inch map.
The earthworks are interpreted as the possible remains of a prospecting pit of 18th to 19th century date.
The earthworks are obscured from view by scrub vegetation on images of 2002 but remained visible as earthworks on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017.

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)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.