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Summary

A post medieval field system is visible on aerial photographs of the 1950s and visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017 as an extensive system of earthwork banks under the dense tree cover of Cann Wood, Sparkwell and Shaugh Prior.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIELD SYSTEM (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1840 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The visible earthworks do not correspond with any boundaries depicted on the Tithe Map for Plympton St Mary. Several are cut by a track named as ‘The 40 feet Drive’.

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

The visible earthworks do not correspond with any boundaries depicted on the Ordnance Survey 1880s 25inch First Edition map. Several are cut by tracks on different alignments.

Royal Air Force, 1951, RAF/540/483, RAF/540/483 RS 4351-4352 24-APR-1951 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352103.

Linear banks are visible as earthworks.

Royal Air Force, 1951, RAF/540/493, RAF/540/493 RP 3007-3009 12-MAY-1951 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363147.

Linear banks are visible as earthworks.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5359-SX5459 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Linear banks are visible as earthworks.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5459 Tellus DTM 01-JUL-2013 to 31-AUG-2013 (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.

An extensive system of banks is visible on aerial photographs of the 1950s and visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017 as earthworks under the dense tree cover of Cann Wood, Sparkwell and Shaugh Prior.
The visible earthworks do not directly correspond with any features depicted on the 19th and early 20th century maps available to the survey but do display a relationship with the surrounding post-medieval field pattern, most particularly at circa SX53855965 and SX54165959, where they appear to be continuations of extant boundaries to the north.
Within Cann Wood. the banks also appear to be cut or bisected in several places by a system of tracks, the primary west to east aligned route being named on the Tithe Map for Plympton St Mary as ‘The 40 feet Drive’.
This might support the interpretation that the visible earthworks are post-medieval in origin, predating the establishment of the Cann Wood plantation.

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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