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Summary

A curvilinear embanked ditch is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs of 1948 onwards and visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017 on the north-east facing slopes of Headon Down. The earthworks are probably the remains of a drain or leat of early to mid-20th century date, most likely associated with Headon China Clay Works.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• DRAIN (XVIII to XIX - 1800 AD to 1880 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2494, RAF/CPE/UK/2494 RS 4065-4066 11-MAR-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361461.

A curvilinear embanked ditch is visible.

Ordnance Survey, 1969, OS/69296, OS/69296 V 015-016 29-JUN-1969 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361475.

The north-west end of the earthwork has been destroyed, but the remainder of the curvilinear embanked ditch is visible.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5960 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

A curvilinear embanked ditch is identifiable.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 1999-2017, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX5960 03-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363087.

A curvilinear embanked ditch is visible.

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.

A curvilinear ditch is visible as an earthwork on the north-east facing slopes of Headon Down on aerial photographs of 1948 onward. The ditch is up to 2m wide and circa 380m long, roughly following the contours on the north-east facing slopes of Headon Down. The ditch is flanked on the downslope side by a bank or scarp up to circa 3m wide.
The embanked nature of the ditch might support the interpretation that they were intended to carry water. The topography does not support the idea that it was intended to carry water across the down. As a leat, but perhaps was meant to take water from the Down as a drain.
The visible earthworks do not correspond with any ditches depicted on Headon Down on the 19th or 20th century maps available to the survey and are cut in several places by tracks and natural drainage features.
The ditch is are interpreted a drain of probable 19thth century date, probably associated with Headon China Clay Works.
The north-west end of the earthwork has been destroyed by the expansion of Headon China Clay Works but much of the bank and ditch remains visible as a subtle earthwork on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017.
The ditch might cut or otherwise impact on the site of a possible prehistoric hut circle (MDV29991).

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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