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Summary

The remains of probable post-medieval to 19th century ridges made for either fruit tree planting, improved drainage or both, were visible as low, parallel earthwork banks on aerial photographs of 1947 and digital images derived from lidar data on the east-facing combe slopes west of Upottery Village.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST10NE/130

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) CULTIVATION MARKS (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))
• DRAINAGE SYSTEM (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1840 AD (Between))
• ORCHARD? (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1840 AD (Between))

Full description

APH/R.PALMER, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV108742.

Ridged cultivation identified on ap.(aph, palmer).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV108743.

Des=palmer, r. /blackdown hills aonb aerial photographic assessment/1992.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV108744.

Des=emafu blackdown hills survey 1992 archive.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV108745.

Des=raf/cpe/uk/1974:2307.

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

The plot is not depicted as an orchard.

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

The plot is not depicted as an orchard.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RS 2306-2307 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

Low narrow earthwork banks were visible.

Bluesky International, 2016, LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects, LIDAR ST1907 Bluesky International DTM 04-MAY-2016 (Cartographic). SDV359714.

Low narrow earthwork banks were visible.

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

The remains of low, parallel earthwork banks were visible on on aerial photographs of 1947 and digital images derived from lidar data on the east-facing combe slopes west of Upottery Village.
The banks were spaced up approximately 3.5 metres apart and were aligned cross-contour, roughly west-north-west to east-south-east, presumably to aid drainage into the stream flowing towards the River Otter, immediately to the east. The earthworks closely resemble the ridges made to improve soil depth and drainage on orchards in Devon, although slightly more closely spaced than is typical.
The visible earthworks fall within a former roughly triangular plot defined by relict earthwork ditches. This plot is not depicted as an orchard on the Tithe Map for Upottery or the Ordnance Survey 25 inch first edition map, and therefore any orchard in this location probably passed out of use prior to the early 19th century. The field plots probably underwent some reorganisation during the 19th century and the banks might have previously continued eastwards beyond the north-south possible boundary ditch, but any earthworks in this location are too subtle to transcribe.
The earthworks are therefore interpreted as ridges made for either fruit tree planting, improved drainage or both, dating from the post-medieval period to 19th century in date.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV108742	Migrated Record: APH/R.PALMER.
SDV108743	Migrated Record:
SDV108744	Migrated Record:
SDV108745	Migrated Record:
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RS 2306-2307 11-APR-1947.
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
SDV359714	Cartographic: Bluesky International. 2016. LiDAR DTM data (0.5m resolution) Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs: 3 transects. Not applicable. Digital. LIDAR ST1907 Bluesky International DTM 04-MAY-2016. [Mapped feature: #92994 ]

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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