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Summary

Earthworks and cropmarks are visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s and 1980s outlining a square complex defined by linear ditched features on the west facing slopes near the coast at West Down Beacon. The date and function of the ditched features are unknown.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY08SW/218

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ENCLOSURE? (Unknown date)
• FIELD BOUNDARY? (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))
• FIELD DRAIN? (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

PHOTOGRAPHS IN PARISH FILE, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104046.

Complex soilmark enclosure photographed by w. W. Dougan, march 1988. Rectilinear enclosure with subdivisions and ?annexe visible through differential drying - dry marks showing - in bare soil (photographs in parish file).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104049.

Des=letter(b. Dougan 22/3/1988)and photographs/in parish file.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV104050.

Aph=106g/uk/1412/13/4/1946/smr 44/157.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV104051.

Des=moore, k. J. /archaeological coastal survey of the east devon coast/(1999)/in smr.

MOORE, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV29092.

Circular earthwork seen on aph. Now on a ploughed out field boundary. Area boggy and wet so could produce organic artefacts (moore).

LETTER, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV35728.

Vis=-/3/1988 (dougan) field recently sown. Nothing visible. Pieces of land drain recovered, but no pottery (letter).

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 3096-3097 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

Linear earthworks are visible perpendicular to former field boundaries.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2552 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Rectilinear enclosure with subdivisions and ?annexe visible as soilmark on 1988 Aerial Photograph; also circular earthwork.
SMR.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

Linear cropmarks and earthworks are visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s and 1980s outlining a ditched complex of possible enclosure circa 63 metres square on the west facing slopes near the coast at West Down Beacon. On the basis of the 1988 aerial photographs the cropmarks have previously been interpreted as defining a sub-divided enclosure. Assessment of aerial photographs of 1946 confirms that the north-westernmost cropmarks relate to field boundaries depicted on the tithe map and Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch map and extant in 1946. Earthwork gullies or ditches perpendicular to the extant field boundary also visible in 1946, correspond largely with the cropmarks visible in 1988. It therefore seems likely the remaining cropmarks have an agricultural cause, possibly as field boundaries or field drains of medieval or post-medieval date.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV104046	Migrated Record: PHOTOGRAPHS IN PARISH FILE.
SDV104049	Migrated Record:
SDV104050	Aerial Photograph:
SDV104051	Migrated Record:
SDV29092	Migrated Record: MOORE.
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351568	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003-2004. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. Digital + Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 2552.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 3096-3097 13-APR-1946. [Mapped feature: #87940 ]
SDV35728	Migrated Record: LETTER.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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