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Summary

Field boundaries of probable medieval to post-medieval date are visible on aerial photographs of the 1970s and visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017 as subtle earthwork ditches on the south facing slopes south of Hemerdon House.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIELD SYSTEM (Early Medieval to XVIII - 1066 AD to 1800 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, RAF/106G/UK/1190 RS 4247-4248 27-FEB-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363067.

A field boundary is visible as an earthwork bank and ditch at circa SX57095737.

Royal Air Force, 1955, RAF/540/1625, RAF/540/1625 F21 236-237 24-MAY-1955 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351141.

A bank and ditch are visible as earthworks north-west of Hermerdon House.

Meridian Airmaps Limited, 1971, MAL/71005, MAL/71005 V 019-020 04-FEB-1971 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363166.

A bank and ditches are visible as cropmarks east of Hemerdon House.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5757 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Banks are visible as earthworks north and east of Hemerdon House, most clearly under Hermerdon Plantation and Walks Coppice.

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.

Ditches and banks up to 15m wide are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946, 1971, and visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017, crossing the south-facing slopes south, east and north of Hemerdon House.
The visible earthworks do not correspond with any field boundaries depicted on the 19th and early 20th century maps available to the survey but for the most part are in keeping with the character of the surrounding field pattern, which is probably of medieval origin.
The earthworks are interpreted as evidence of former field boundaries, probably of medieval date, that were probably cleared to facilitate the creation of parkland associated with Hemerdon House circa 1800.
Those to the south of the house are largely visible as very subtle hollows or ditches, probably plough spread, while those to the north and east are more visible as banks up to 4m wide, surviving as earthworks under Hermerdon Plantation and Walks Coppice.

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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