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Summary

Parallel earthworks interpreted as tree planting banks of possible 19th century orchards which had almost completely passed out of use by the mid-20th century are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Record of the Historic Environment: 895285
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX86NE/74

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) RIDGE AND FURROW (Unknown date)
• ORCHARD (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV1142.

Stokeleigh. Vis=16/8/1978 (gallant). Small field with 10 shallow parallel furrows, detectable on the ground and on air photo. Now under grass, fairly low-lying. In 1838 the area was under orchard.(tithe map). Caution needed therefore, in interpreting as ridge and furrow, as disused orchards can sometimes leave similar furrows. On other hand, the next field was also under orchards, there are only two of these possible ridge and furrow site.(worksheet).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV306148.

Des=worksheet/sketch.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV306149.

Aph=no.241b june 1971.

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

The earthworks within land parcels 721, 722 and 863 are recorded as Lower Sideham Orchard, Lower Strole Orchard and Higher Sideham Orchard, respectively. Earthworks within land parcels 720 and 861 are both recorded as being arable.

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

Orchards are shown within Tithe Map land parcels 722 and 863, although those within 721 had evidently been cleared. An orchard is also shown within 720.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 RP 3202-3203 04-NOV-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352344.

Linear earthwork banks are visible.

Ordnance Survey, 1986, OS/86246, OS/86246 V 1033-34 15-OCT-1986 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352106.

Linear earthwork banks are visible.

Wessex Archaeology, 1992, Kingskerswell Bypass, Devon. Archaeological Impact Assessment Report (Report - Assessment). SDV347942.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX8766; SX8866 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Linear earthwork banks are visible.

GSB Prospection, 2002, A380 Kingskerswell Bypass, Devon. Geophysical Survey Report (Report - Geophysical Survey). SDV347947.

Wessex Archaeology, 2003, A380 Kingskerswell Bypass, Devon. Archaeological Evaluation (Report - Evaluation). SDV347944.

Wessex Archaeology, 2003, A380 Kingskerswell Bypass, Devon. Archaeological Evaluation, 8 (Report - Evaluation). SDV347944.

Investigation of an area of parallel linear earthworks showed the ridges to comprise topsoil scooped from the intervening troughs, supporting the suggestion that the earthworks were associated with a former orchard.

Ordnance Survey, 2011, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV346129.

Ordnance Survey, 2011, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV346129.

Ordnance Survey, 2011, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV346129.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2018-2019, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley (Interpretation). SDV361305.

Parallel earthwork banks, between 5-9m wide, are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017, within adjacent land parcels to the north of Stokeleigh Farm, Kingskerswell. The visible banks are closely spaced and are aligned across and parallel to the contours of the northeast and east facing combe slope. The earthworks within land parcels 721, 722 and 863 on the mid-19th century Parish Tithe Map are recorded as Lower Sideham Orchard, Lower Strole Orchard and Higher Sideham Orchard, respectively, on the accompanying Tithe Apportionment. Earthworks within land parcels 720 and 861 are both recorded as being arable. On the First Edition Ordnance Survey map of the late 19th century, Tithe Map land parcels 722 and 863 remain extant as orchards, although the orchard within 721 had evidently been cleared by this time. A new orchard has, however, been established within 720. The presence of orchards in this location supports the interpretation the earthworks represent possible 19th century tree planting banks, the fruit trees being established on the earthworks for increased soil depth and improved drainage. The orchards have been almost completely cleared of trees by 1946.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV1142	Migrated Record:
SDV306148	Migrated Record:
SDV306149	Aerial Photograph:
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV346129	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2011. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey. Map (Digital).
SDV347942	Report - Assessment: Wessex Archaeology. 1992. Kingskerswell Bypass, Devon. Archaeological Impact Assessment Report. Wessex Archaeology Report. W480.02. A4 Stapled + Digital.
SDV347944	Report - Evaluation: Wessex Archaeology. 2003. A380 Kingskerswell Bypass, Devon. Archaeological Evaluation. Wessex Archaeology Report. 53811.01. A4 stapled + Digital. 8.
SDV347947	Report - Geophysical Survey: GSB Prospection. 2002. A380 Kingskerswell Bypass, Devon. Geophysical Survey Report. GSB Prospection Report. 2002/93. A4 Stapled + Digital.
SDV352106	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1986. OS/86246. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/86246 V 1033-34 15-OCT-1986.
SDV352344	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1824. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1824 RP 3202-3203 04-NOV-1946.
SDV359954	Cartographic: South West Heritage Trust. 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Maps and Transcribed Apportionments. Tithe Map and Apportionment. Digital.
SDV361305	Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2018-2019. The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV361470	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2017. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR SX8766; SX8866 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017. [Mapped feature: #116356 ]

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV5392 - Archaeological Evaluation of the Kingskerswell Bypass
• EDV7515 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey (Ref: ACD1748)
• EDV5389 - Archaeological Impact Assessment of the Kingskerswell Bypass
• EDV5391 - Geophysical Survey of the Kingskerswell Bypass

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