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Summary

A ditched rectilinear enclosure of probable medieval to 19th century date is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs of 1948 onwards on the north-facing slopes of Headon Down. The earthworks have been damaged by modern mining activity but largely remains identifiable on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RECTILINEAR ENCLOSURE (XV to XIX - 1401 AD to 1880 AD)

Full description

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

The visible earthworks do not correspond with any boundary or enclosure depicted on the Ordnance Survey 1880s 25inch First Edition map.

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

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

The ditch and bank is visible, albeit cut by several drains and tracks at the south-east corner.

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.

The surviving ditch and bank is identifiable as an earthwork.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 1999-2017, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX5860 03-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363087.

The ditch and bank is visible, albeit cut by several drains and tracks and damaged by clay extraction to the south-west corner.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2021, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

An earthwork ditch up to 3m wide is visible on aerial photographs of 1948 onwards defining a rectilinear enclosure at least 145 long, north-west to south-east, and 140 to 170m wide south-west to north-east on the north-facing slopes of Headon Down.
A slight internal bank circa 2m wide is visible along the edges of the southernmost and north-eastern ditches. It is unclear if this is the eroded remains of a boundary bank or simply upcast spoil from the cutting of the ditch.
The visible earthworks do not correspond with any boundaries or enclosure depicted on the 19th or early 20th century maps available to the survey and the function of the enclosure is unknown. It is possible the relict boundary represents a phase of piecemeal enclosure onto Headon Down from the medieval period to 19th century, that was cleared by the early 19th century.
The southwest corner of the enclosure has been damaged by modern mining activity and the south-east corner by tracks, but the majority of the earthworks remains identifiable on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017.

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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