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Summary

A field system of possible prehistoric date is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards and images derived from Lidar data, as a fragmentary arrangement of low earthwork banks distributed across Walls Hill. Discrete areas of ridge and furrow cultivation of possible medieval or post-medieval date are identifiable amongst the former field boundaries, as are several small mounds previously interpreted as clearance cairns.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019134: Prehistoric field system at Walls Hill

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 447569
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX96NW/30
• Torbay HER: MTO19210
• Torbay HER: MTO9570

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIELD SYSTEM (Early Bronze Age to Late Medieval - 2200 BC to 1539 AD (Between))
• RIDGE AND FURROW (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV1142.

Vis=5/8/1993 (smith) banks not easy to discern; those identified shown on sketch map (grass longer on n side of old wall). No cairns identified. Height of banks nowhere more than a few centimetres, indicated by slope between levels of adjacent fields (worksheet).

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

Vis=14/9/1950(os) macenery's double entrenchments are curvilinear hollows which have an average depth of 1.5m and no trace of a rampart. The main earthworks on walls hill are the banks of an ancient field system. The downs are divided into two parts by an old rather ruinous stone wall. The banks run under the wall in a few places. Those on the n side are not so pronounced as those on the s side, nor are there so many preserved. Within the area of the field system are nine small mounds and two small shallow ditches (os).

GALLANT + LUXTON + COLLMAN, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV288111.

The plateau is divided into two by an intermittent boundary of varying width consisting of relics of a wall and stony bank, which runs nw from the cliff edge. North of the features recorded here a few others are clear enough to be measured, but at a distance in certain light conditions there is a strong impression of further field banks continuing far to the north. In the tithe apportionment of st. Marychurch it was under grass, but adjacent land was either gardens or arable. By 1890 a rifle range was installed south of the dividing line and by 1904 a golf course existed north of the line according to the os 25" maps. By 1950 these had disappeared. Today it is a pleasure ground. It is occasionally cropped by sheep and is subject to continuous slow erosion by human feet (gallant + luxton + collman).

Pengelly, W., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV30961.

Field system on walls hill. A 'camp' described here by mcenery (pengelly).

TIMMS ET AL, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV318031.

Vis=5/9/1981(timms et al) site is public open space in ownership of borough council and heavily used by the public. Banks and cairns clearly visible under grass but elsewhere obscured by bushes. No sign of site management, but no obvious erosion problems either.

OSA SX96NW19, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV318032.

Vis=17/11/1952 (os) this 'camp' suggested by pengelly is badley sited defensively. The earthworks and hollows may be the result of medieval quarrying.(osa sx96nw19).

BLEWITT, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318033.

Arable cultivation is evidenced by ridge and furrow, particularly at the s of the site. The area was also under plough at the end of the 18th century.(blewitt).

WESTWELL, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318035.

Area of downland c.30 acres. Sketch map divides it into three areas: 'a' has clear evidence of field boundaries and cairns; 'b' also has evidence for these but not so pronounced; 'c' contains naturally occurring 'trough' on n-s axis, c.50ft below adjacent plateau. Areas 'a' + 'b' closely match farm boundaries shown on tithe map. Very little excavation has been carried out at wall's hill and finds from c18 excavation cannot be traced. In c19, two 24-pounder guns installed for 4th devon artillery battery. Site currently designated on sssi (westwell).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318037.

Pengelley, w. /tda/6(1873)65-6/anstey's cove, torquay.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318038.

Osa=sx96nw10.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318039.

Stanes, r. G. F. /tda/96(1964)73/open field agriculture in south devon.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318040.

Pengelly, w. /tda/6(1873)65-68/the literature on the cavern at anstey's cove, torquay.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318041.

Des=gallant, l. /list of field systems/(15/11/1980)in ipplepen parish file.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318042.

Silvester, r. J. /pdas/38(1980)43-44/the prehistoric settlement at dainton, south devon.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318043.

Des=timms, s. C. /as above.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV318044.

Aph=west air photography z705.2/(nd)oblique/in smr.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318045.

Blewitt, o. /panorama of torquay/(1832).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318046.

Gallant, l. + luxton, n. + collman, m. /43(1985)30/ancient fields on the south devon limestone plateau/fig5.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV318047.

Aph=dap/cl 4a,5,6(17/7/1984).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318048.

Osa=sx96nw19.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318049.

Des=tithe map and apportionment of st. Marychurch/(1841).

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV318050.

Aph=dap/hj 12-15/(21/12/1986).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318051.

Des=westwell, j. P. /report(undated)/in pf.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV318052.

Des=smith, c. /worksheet/(23/9/1993).

Stanes, R. G. F., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV39898.

Possible open field cultivation (stanes).

GALLANT, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV943.

One of a group of 13 possible prehistoric field systems which have been identified on the limestone in south devon. Approx 5.5 hectares in extent (gallant).

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, RAF/CPE/UK/1890 4231-4232 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351061.

The field system is visible as low earthwork banks.

Silvester, R. J., 1977, Earthwork (Worksheet). SDV8568.

Field system of similar type to dainton (see sx86ne/37). To the south of the stone wall which bisects it are at least nine fields and eight cairns. Visible remains are slighter to north of wall. Finds from c19 excavations (pengelly) cannot be traced (silvester).

Ordnance Survey, 1988, OS/88198, OS/88198 166-167 25-JUN-1988 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352243.

The field system earthwork banks are clearly visible but appear somewhat eroded.

Environment Agency, 1998-2012, Lidar data JPEG SX96SW DTM (Cartographic). SDV352291.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, Channel Coastal Observatory SX9365_20120918ortho.ecw 18-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

The field system earthwork banks are faintly visible but the ridge and furrow is clearly defined and appears to be in reasonable condition.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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