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Summary

Former field boundaries and tracks of probable medieval origin are visible on the east-facing slopes south of Higher Thornton Farm, Kenn, as earthwork ditches and hollows on aerial photographs of 1946, digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2011 and 2014 and digital images visualised from photogrammetrically derived elevation data captured in 2016. The visible earthworks correspond in part with former field boundaries and tracks depicted on the Tithe Map for Kenn.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX98SW/155

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) BANK (EARTHWORK) (Unknown date)
• FIELD SYSTEM (Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD to 1880 AD (Between))

Full description

167M SW OF E BOUNDARY, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV283681.

At the sw end the depth of ditch from top of terrace is 1.75-2m; terrace becomes less steep towards ne end. Towards sw end (167m sw of e boundary) there is a break in the ditch and bank, c.14m wide, which corresponds with a dip in the terrace.

I.E. GROUND TO S OF IT IS LOWER, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV283682.

To se of, and roughly parallel with, ne/sw ditch/terrace there appears to be an area to either side of the break in ditch which is defined on s side by being terraced (i. E. Ground to s of it is lower). The e side is the most distinct: at e end of field area is c.90m se of ditch/terrace, curving around as runs sw, to finish c.40m from break in bank. There appears to be a corresponding feature on w side of break - but it is less clear (most visible in distance photos).

NO. 290, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV283683.

On tm, the nw/se ditch to n and s of the road can be seen to represent part of a trackway, although it is not shown turning to the ne at its s end as the current ditch does. The ne line of the ditch/terrace, however, is represented on the tm as the s field boundary of 2 fields which were in the area of the terrace. It is possible that the n/s boundary between these 2 fields is approximately in line with the gap in ditch, but this does not explain the existence of the gap. An irregular field boundary (tm) to the se of the ditch appears, at least at the e end, to correspond with the line of the defined area to e of the gap in the ditch. It may also account for the feature on the w side of the gap the field was called `old wall orchard' (no.290).

A HOLLOW WAY, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV283684.

The line of the ne section of ditch (s boundary of tm fields in terrace area) continues as a field boundary on e side of cumberland lane - presumably predating the lane (a hollow way).

NO. 287, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV283685.

On the tm the fields within the terrace area were called `lower orchard' (w field, no.288), and `broom close' (e field, no.289) and the field to w was `croft meadow' (no.287) (ea).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV283686.

Des=ea/(10/2/1997)/haldon ridge survey.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV283687.

Manning, p. T. + walmsley, l. P. /devon county council haldon ridge archaeological survey phase ii/(1997)8; no 266/(ea report 97.43).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV79.

Vis=10/2/1997 (ea) ditches and banks in fields to e & se of thornton cottages, most of which appear to be related to features on tm. To e of cottages a hollow linear feature (ditch) runs for 114m se to the road, and continues to s of road (on a slightly different alignment) for 73m, then turns ne. The rectangle of land enclosed by ditch and road appears as a terrace, and although the section of the ditch which runs ne peters out 87m sw of e hedgebank, the terrace continues to this boundary (overall length of area c.230m ne/sw). There is a low bank to s of the ne/sw ditch.

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

The visible earthworks correspond closely with field boundaries and tracks depicted on the Tithe map for Kenn.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824, RAF/CPE/UK/1823 RP 3019-3020 04-NOV-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352344.

Earthwork hollows and ditches are visible.

Next Perspectives, 2015-2017, Aerial Photography for Great Britain - Digital Elevation Data (DSM), Next Perspectives APGB Elevation Data SX9283 19-JUL-2016 (Cartographic). SDV361521.

Earthwork hollows and ditches are visible.

Google, 2017, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 02-OCT-2011 ACCESSED 15-JUN-2018 (Aerial Photograph). SDV360456.

Earthwork hollows and ditches are visible.

Google, 2017, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 08-MAR-2014 ACCESSED 15-JUN-2018 (Aerial Photograph). SDV360456.

Earthwork hollows and ditches are visible.

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.

Linear and curvilinear ditches and hollows are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946, digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2011 and 2014 and digital images visualised from photogrammetrically derived elevation data captured in 2016, on the east-facing slopes south of Higher Thornton Farm, Kenn. The visible earthworks correspond in part with former field boundaries and tracks depicted on the Tithe Map for Kenn, but not the Ordnance Survey First Edition map of circa 1880. The earthworks are therefore interpreted as the remains of a field system and associated tracks of probable medieval origin, some of which had been removed prior to the 1840s, and the remainder cleared by the 1880s.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV283681	Migrated Record: 167M SW OF E BOUNDARY.
SDV283682	Migrated Record: I.E. GROUND TO S OF IT IS LOWER.
SDV283683	Migrated Record: NO. 290.
SDV283684	Migrated Record: A HOLLOW WAY.
SDV283685	Migrated Record: NO. 287.
SDV283686	Migrated Record:
SDV283687	Migrated Record:
SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
SDV352344	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1824. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1823 RP 3019-3020 04-NOV-1946.
SDV360456	Aerial Photograph: Google. 2017. Google Earth Pro. Various. Digital. EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 08-MAR-2014 ACCESSED 15-JUN-2018.
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
SDV361521	Cartographic: Next Perspectives. 2015-2017. Aerial Photography for Great Britain - Digital Elevation Data (DSM). Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Elevation Data SX9283 19-JUL-2016.
SDV79	Migrated Record:

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7515 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey (Ref: ACD1748)

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