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Summary

A former extractive pit of probable medieval to 19th century date was recorded in the field as a deep earthwork on the west-facing slopes of St Cyres Hill to the east of Wadhayes farm, Awliscombe parish.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST10SW/92

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) QUARRY (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD to 1900 AD (Between))
• EXTRACTIVE PIT (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD to 1840 AD (Between))
• MARL PIT? (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD to 1840 AD (Between))

Full description

1988, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV110944.

Vis=26/08/1992 (simpson and noble). Deep quarry pit (c.10m deep). Marked on os 1:10,000 (1988) map (os).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV110945.

Des=emafu blackdown hills survey 1992 archive.

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

The reported quarry probably corresponds to areas defined by dotted lines.

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

The reported quarry probably corresponds to areas depicted as woodland.

Ryder, L., 2013, The Historic Landscape of Devon: A Study in Change and Continuity (Monograph). SDV359873.

By the time of the Tithe Survey many marl pits were redundant, with several former quarries utilised as orchards or copses.

Next Perspectives, 2014, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1303 08-SEP-2014 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359479.

The reported quarry remains obscured by woodland.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2016-2018, The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV359463.

The reported quarry or quarries were not visible on the aerial photographs available to the survey due to dense tree cover. Lidar data was not available for this area. An irregularly shaped copse is depicted in this area on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch map. Two corresponding areas were defined by dotted lines in this area on the Tithe Map for Awliscombe. This supports the interpretation that the pit or pits had probably passed out of use by the mid-19th century.
The pit is located on mudstone bedrock, which might support an interpretation as a marl extraction pit. Marl was commonly extracted to improve soil quality or provide material for cob buildings from the medieval period to the 18th and 19th century. By the mid-19th century many marl pits on the Blackdown Hills were redundant and had been utilised as woodland.
The earthworks remained obscured by dense tree cover on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2014.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV110944	Report - Survey: 1988.
SDV110945	Migrated Record:
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital). [Mapped feature: #92740 ]
SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
SDV359463	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2016-2018. The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:2
SDV359479	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2014. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST1303 08-SEP-2014.
SDV359873	Monograph: Ryder, L.. 2013. The Historic Landscape of Devon: A Study in Change and Continuity. The Historic Landscape of Devon: A Study in Change and Continuity. A4 Paperback.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7508 - The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Ref: ACD1228)

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