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Summary

Field boundaries of probable medieval date have been identified as subtle earthwork banks on the ridge of Crownhill Down by field investigation and aerial survey. The earthworks are clearly identifiable on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards and 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

• FIELD SYSTEM (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD to 1880 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map, RAF/106G/UK/1190 RS 4252-4263 27-FEB-1946 (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, RAF/CPE/UK/2494 RS 4064-4065 11-MAR-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363067.

Curvilinear banks and ditches are visible as earthworks.

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2494, RAF/CPE/UK/2494 RS 4064-4065 11-MAR-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361461.

Curvilinear banks and ditches are visible as earthworks.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5760 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Curvilinear banks and ditches are visible as earthworks.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 1999-2017, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV363087.

Curvilinear banks and ditches are visible as earthworks.

Fletcher, M., 2002, The Archaeological Landscape of Crownhill Down and Ridding Down: Survey Report (Report - Survey). SDV343412.

Figure 3; p.5.

NERC, 2013, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) Tellus: South Devon to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX5760 Tellus DTM 01-JUL-2013 to 31-AUG-2013 (Cartographic). SDV361514.

Curvilinear banks and ditches are visible as earthworks.

Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-2002 ACCESSED 14-OCT-2019 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363088.

Curvilinear banks and ditches 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.

Irregularly aligned curvilinear banks are visible as earthworks on the ridge of Crownhill Down, west of the former site of Crownhill Down Cottage (MDV12931) on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards and visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017.
The banks are interpreted as evidence of medieval piecemeal enclosure onto Crownhill Down.
The majority of the visible earthworks do not correspond with any features depicted on the OS First Edition map. An exception can be seen at circa SX57526045, where the relict earthworks abut and incorporate a circa 230m long north-north-east to south-south-west linear bank and ditch, depicted on the Ordnance Survey 1880s First Edition 25inch map.
The linear bank depicted on the OS First Edition map was probably a part of the prehistoric field boundary most clearly visible further to the north (MDV2558) reused during the medieval period, but the association between the irregularly aligned banks and the rigidly north-north-east to south-south-west aligned prehistoric boundaries might support the interpretation that more of the prehistoric system was utilised in the later period.
The medieval field system was possibly associated with the farmstead at Broomage (MDV69354) and probably passed out of use by the mid-19th century.
The earthworks identified from the aerial photographs and lidar visualisations correspond closely with features recorded by field survey.

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)
• EDV4559 - Archaeological Landscape of Crownhill Down and Riddding Down

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