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Summary

A possible former field boundary of probable medieval date is visible on aerial photographs of 1955 as two narrow parallel linear earthwork ditches and a linear scarp or terrace on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017, crossing the contours of the south and south-west facing slopes south of Elfordleigh Hotel.

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

Two curvilinear ditches are visible as 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.

A linear scarp or terraces is identifiable as an earthwork.

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 linear ditches approximately 1m wide and 2m apart are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of 1955, crossing contours of the south and south-west facing combe slopes in a roughly north to south direction for circa 75m.
The cross-contour orientation of the ditches does not support their interpretation as part of an adjacent a catch meadow visible on the surrounding slopes (MDV126533).
Their form is more characteristic of the narrow ditches flanking a field boundary bank. This interpretation might be supported by visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017 which appear to show the ditches flanking a scarp or terrace, possibly a levelled field 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).

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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