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Summary

A possible former field boundary of probable medieval date is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 and 1955 as two narrow parallel curvilinear earthwork ditches following the contours of the south and south-west facing slopes south of Elfordleigh Hotel. The ditches have probably been levelled.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

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

The visible earthworks do not correspond with any boundary depicted on the Tithe Map for Plympton St Mary.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, RAF/106G/UK/1190 RP 3229-3230 27-FEB-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363067.

Two curvilinear ditches are visible as fragmentary earthworks.

Royal Air Force, 1955, RAF/540/1625, RAF/540/1625 F22 244 24-MAY-1955 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351141.

Two curvilinear ditches are visible as fragmentary earthworks.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5458 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

The ditches are not identifiable 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.

Two curvilinear ditches less than 1m wide and nearly 2m apart are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946 and 1955, following the following the contours of the south and south-west facing combe slopes for circa 190m.
The ditches are on a similar alignment to the gutters of a catch meadow visible on the surrounding slopes, but their character does not support the interpretation that they are part of that system (MDV126533).
Their form is more characteristic of the narrow ditches flanking a field boundary bank. The visible earthworks do not correspond with any boundary depicted on the Tithe Map for Plympton St Mary and are probably the remains of a medieval boundary that predates, and was possibly cleared for, the 18th century establishment of parkland at Elfordleigh (MDV107620).
The ditches are not clearly identifiable on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017 and have probably been levelled.

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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