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Summary

Earthworks of pits, ditches and mounds, interpreted as evidence of a possible medieval or post-medieval alluvial tin streamworks, are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1966 onwards and 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

• STREAMWORKS (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

The earthworks coincide with woodland in this area.

Meridian Airmaps Limited, 1966, MAL/66083, MAL/66083 V 217-218 07-DEC-1966 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363291.

Earthworks of sub-oval and irregularly shaped pits, ditches and mounds are visible as earthworks.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX6055, SX6056; SX6057 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Earthworks of sub-oval and irregularly shaped pits, ditches and mounds are 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.

Earthworks of sub-oval and irregularly shaped pits, ditches and mounds are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1966 onwards and on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017. The earthworks occupy an area of circa 14 hectares of floodplain along the western side of the River Yealm, from Lucas Wood in the north to Hitchcombe in the south. They do not correspond with any pit, ditch or mound features in this location on the mid-19th century Parish Tithe Map, or on later available historic maps, although woodland is shown here on these maps. Transcription of these earthworks was carried out primarily using Simple Local Relief and Positive Openess lidar visualisations. Given their complexity and in places subtle nature, not all visible earthworks have been transcribed and an extent of area polygon has been used to define the approximate limit of the earthworks. Their character and form support the interpretation they represent the extractive pits, stream channels and associated spoil heaps of a possible medieval or post-medieval alluvial tin streamworks which had passed out of use by the mid to late 19th century, by which time the area had been given over to woodland. Although mostly random in form, a series of broadly parallel and curvilinear banked spoil heaps and ditches interpreted as evidence of individual working areas, or tyes, is clearly visible within the southern extent of the earthworks, at circa SX60215624. Water used in the washing and processing of the tin-ore was probably sourced from the River Yealm, via a series of leats. The earthworks are likely associated with a streamworks (MDV126819) recorded to the immediate north. Earthworks of numerous other streamworks have also been recorded in this area. Further investigation, such as a site investigation, is recommended to help define the extent and character of this possible streamworks.

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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