See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Linear and curvilinear banks interpreted as field boundaries and strip lynchets of an extensive medieval field system which had largely passed out of use by the mid-19th century are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks of medieval field system and sites of former orchards dating to the 19th century or earlier to south of Coffinswell

Other References/Statuses

• National Record of the Historic Environment: 446179
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX86NE/42

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIELD SYSTEM (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV1142.

Vis=28/2/1994 (robinson) lynchets at the eastern end of the system described as 'ploughed out' (worksheet).

Timms, S. C., Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV2.

Vis=28/3/1984 (timms) seen from lane adjacent to milber reservoir. This field system is still well preserved under grass. It covers an extensive area of hillside and is a prominent visual feature.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, Untitled Source (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV24.

Vis=15/11/1952 (os) on kerswell hill a fine series of strip lynchets. Five to seven terraces on hillside from kerswell lane to harpins brake and beers brook. Area under grass.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV303564.

Medieval field system.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV303570.

Osa=sx86ne23.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV303571.

Aph=dapg 3 15-16(7/8/1979).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV303572.

Des=timms, s. /as above and photos.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV303573.

Aph=raf/cpe/uk 1824,4195-6(4/11/1946)/dcc nos 49/106-107.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV303574.

Aph=raf/cpe/uk 1890,2405(10/12/1946)/dcc no 54/81.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV303575.

Des=griffith, f. M. /as above(26/9/1988).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV303576.

Pye, a. R. + simpson, s. J. + pearson, t. /archaeological recording on the fishacre to ashcombe gas pipeline,south devon,1989/(1989)/(emafu report 89.18)9/figs 1,7-9;pls 4+5.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV303577.

Des=worksheet (robinson 1994).

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV303578.

Aph=dap/yz 25,26/(23/8/1995).

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV303579.

Aph=dap/sr 6(10/7/1990).

PYE ET AL, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV7766.

Watching brief by emafu in 1989, in advance of gas pipeline which cuts through 2 of the central furlongs, identified a separate set of lynchets in each of 5 distinct land units. The southernmost is bounded by trackays, church way and kerswell lane, and the 1842 tithe map indicates trackways between the next 3 to the n. This represents the remnants of a medieval open field system, with each of the 5 units probably representing a furlong. A small trench cut into a positive lynchet failed to locate any buried soil horizons (pye et al).

Griffith, F. M., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV8774.

Vis=23/9/1988 (griffith) features still survive as described above and on aps. Photographs taken.

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

A number of the earthworks correspond with field boundaries in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 2404-05 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

A number of linear and curvilinear banks are visible as earthworks.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX8868; SX8968 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

A number of linear and curvilinear banks are visible as earthworks.

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.

A number of linear and curvilinear earthwork banks, between 5m and 15m wide and broadly northwest to southeast aligned, are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017. The extensive earthworks occupy an area of circa 19.65 hectares and are broadly parallel to the north and northeast facing slopes of a prominent spur. A number of the earthworks correspond with field boundaries shown on the mid-19th century Parish Tithe Map, although most are not shown on this map, or on later available historic maps. The surrounding historic field patterns depicted in this location is characterised as medieval enclosures based on strip fields. Their character and topographic setting support the interpretation that the earthworks represent strip lynchets and field boundaries of a relict medieval field system which had largely passed out of use by the mid-19th century.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV1142	Migrated Record:
SDV2	Report - Survey: Timms, S. C..
SDV24	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.
SDV303564	Migrated Record:
SDV303570	Migrated Record:
SDV303571	Aerial Photograph:
SDV303572	Migrated Record:
SDV303573	Aerial Photograph:
SDV303574	Aerial Photograph:
SDV303575	Migrated Record:
SDV303576	Migrated Record:
SDV303577	Migrated Record:
SDV303578	Aerial Photograph:
SDV303579	Aerial Photograph:
SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
SDV351061	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1890. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 2404-05 10-DEC-1946.
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 SX8868; SX8968 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017. [Mapped feature: #108785 ]
SDV7766	Migrated Record: PYE ET AL.
SDV8774	Migrated Record: Griffith, F. M..

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)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.