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Summary

Closely spaced parallel banks visible as subtle earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946, on the south and west facing combe slopes south of Easton, are probably the remains of orchards of possible post-medieval to early 19th century date. The banks have probably been levelled.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1840 AD (Between))

Full description

South West Heritage Trust, 1838-1848, Digitised Tithe Maps and Transcribed Apportionments (Cartographic). SDV359954.

Plot 618 is listed as New Orchard.

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

The plot is depicted as an orchard.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/967, RAF/106G/UK/967 RP 3138 01-NOV-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351060.

Closely spaced parallel banks are visible as earthworks under light tree cover.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX7242 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

The banks are not clearly identifiable as earthworks and have probably been levelled. but very subtle earthworks might survive.

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.

Closely spaced parallel earthwork banks circa 4m wide and up to circa 45m and 65m long are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as earthworks crossing the contours of the south and west facing combe slopes to the south of Easton.
The banks are visible within a plot listed on the Tithe Apportionments for West Alvington as New Orchard (Plot 618). The plot is depicted as an orchard on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25inch map
This supports the interpretation of the banks as earthworks created to improve drainage and increased soil depth for tree planting in orchards prior to the early 19th century.
The plot retained some planting into the 1940s but was subsequently converted to pasture.
The banks are not clearly identifiable as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017 and have probably been largely levelled.

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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