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HER Number:MDV130503
Name:Possible trackways on West Down, Whitchurch

Summary

Curvilinear hollows and banks, interpreted as possible former medieval or post-medieval trackways across West Down, are visible as dark vegetation marks on 1940’s digital aerial photographs and as subtle earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2005 and 2013.

Location

Grid Reference:SX 483 706
Map Sheet:SX47SE
Admin AreaDevon
Civil ParishWhitchurch
DistrictWest Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishWHITCHURCH

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946 - 1949, Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV342938.

Dark curvilinear vegetation marks are visible.

Environment Agency, 2000-2019, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: Tamar Aerial Survey project area, LIDAR Environment Agency LAST RETURN 22-FEB-2005 (Cartographic). SDV363954.

Curvilinear hollows and banks are visible as subtle earthworks.

NERC, 2013, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) Tellus: Tamar Aerial Survey project area, LIDAR Tellus LAST RETURN 01-JUL-2013 to 31-AUG-2013 (Cartographic). SDV363955.

Curvilinear hollows and banks are visible as subtle earthworks.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2020-2021, Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology Area 1 (AI&M project) (Interpretation). SDV363945.

Curvilinear hollows and banks are visible as dark vegetation marks on 1940’s digital aerial photographs and as subtle earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2005 and 2013, along a ridge and across south and west facing slopes on West Down.
The earthworks are broadly orientated north-west to south-east and east to west. Given their subtle and diffuse nature, they have been mostly defined by an extent of area polygon. The earthworks to the east are, however, more distinct and are visible as a slight hollow, circa 20 metres wide flanked on each side by broad low banks, between 8-20 metres wide.
The earthworks do not correspond with any features shown in this location on the mid-19th century Parish Tithe Map, or on later available historic maps, which show this area as unenclosed rough ground.
They are therefore interpreted as possible former trackways of between medieval to post-medieval date that had fallen out of use by the mid to late-19th century.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV342938Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946 - 1949. Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Digital).
SDV363945Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2020-2021. Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology Area 1 (AI&M project). Historic England Research Report. Digital.
SDV363954Cartographic: Environment Agency. 2000-2019. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: Tamar Aerial Survey project area. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR Environment Agency LAST RETURN 22-FEB-2005. [Mapped feature: #129820 ]
SDV363955Cartographic: NERC. 2013. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) Tellus: Tamar Aerial Survey project area. Digital. LIDAR Tellus LAST RETURN 01-JUL-2013 to 31-AUG-2013.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

  • EDV8345 - Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology Area 1 (AI&M) (Ref: ACD2380)

Date Last Edited:Apr 30 2021 11:04AM