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Summary

Possible tree-planting banks of former post-medieval to 19th century orchards are visible as a series of linear earthwork banks on aerial photographs of 1955, south of Ford Farm, Sparkwell.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1880 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Two plots south of Ford Farm are depicted as orchards.

Royal Air Force, 1955, RAF/540/1625, RAF/540/1625 F22 0131-0132 24-MAY-1955 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351141.

Linear banks are visible as earthworks under light tree cover.

Ordnance Survey, 1995, OS/95638, OS/95638 V 119-120 25-JUL-1995 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363184.

The orchard plots have been cleard but linear banks remain visible as cropmarks and earthworks.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5855 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Linear banks 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.

Orchards are depicted south of Ford Farm on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map of the 1880’s-90’s and the westernmost plot remains lightly planted into the mid-20th century.
By 1955 aerial photographs show that the orchard trees have been partly cleared, revealing a series of parallel northwest to southeast aligned earthwork banks, on which the fruit trees were established. The visible banks occupy a combined area of approximately 0.7 hectares of southwest facing slope, although the original orchards were substantially larger in area.
The orchards and associated boundaries have been cleared by 1995 but the banks remain visible as earthworks on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998-2014

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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