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Summary

The remains of ridges made for improved drainage and soil depth within an orchard were visible as earthwork banks in three plots at Lower Bramble, Ashton, on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards and images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1840 AD (Between))

Full description

South West Heritage Trust, 1838-1848, Digitised Tithe Maps and Transcribed Apportionments (Cartographic). SDV359954.

The visible earthworks correspond with plots depicted as orchards: plot 283, Back Orchard; plot 279, Shippping Orchard; plot 278 Marl park orchard.

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

Two of the three plots remain depicted as orchards.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1823, RAF/CPE/UK/1823 RP 3028-3029 04-NOV-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV354994.

Orchard banks are visible as earthworks in the former Marl Park Orchard with no tree cover.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1995, RAF/CPE/UK/1995 RS 4330-4331 13-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV354842.

Orchard banks are visible in the former Back Orchard and Shippping Orchard under light and no tree cover.

Fairy Surveys Ltd, 1964, FSL/6412 V, FSL/6412 V 2034-2035 07-FEB-1964 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357115.

Orchard banks are visible under light tree cover.

Ordnance Survey, 1969, OS/69296, OS/69296 V 075-076 29-JUN-1969 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361475.

Orchard banks are visible under light tree cover.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX8682 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

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.

The remains of parallel earthwork ridges were visible as earthworks under moderate tree cover on in three plots at Lower Bramble, Ashton, on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards. The closely spaced banks are between 4 and 8 metres wide, crossing the contours of the combe.
The plots in which the banks are visible are depicted as orchards on the Tithe Map for Ashton (from north to south: plot 283, Back Orchard; plot 279, Shippping Orchard; plot 278 Marl park orchard). The two plots adjacent to Lower Bramble remain depicted as orchards on the 1880s Ordnance Survey 25-inch first edition map, but the former Marl Park Orchard has been cleared by this time.
The banks were therefore probably created prior to circa 1840 and are interpreted as earthworks made to enhance drainage and provide additional depth of soil within the orchard. Only the northernmost plot remains planted with any density of trees into the 1940s
The banks in the northernmost two plots remain visible as subtle earthworks on images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017. The banks in the southernmost plot, the former Marl Park Orchard, are not clearly defined and have probably been almost completely levelled.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital). [Mapped feature: #113214 ]
SDV354842	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1995. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1995 RS 4330-4331 13-APR-1947.
SDV354994	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1823. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1823 RP 3028-3029 04-NOV-1946.
SDV357115	Aerial Photograph: Fairy Surveys Ltd. 1964. FSL/6412 V. Fairy Surveys Ltd aerial photograph. Photograph (Paper). FSL/6412 V 2034-2035 07-FEB-1964.
SDV359954	Cartographic: South West Heritage Trust. 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Maps and Transcribed Apportionments. Tithe Map and Apportionment. Digital.
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 SX8682 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017.
SDV361475	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1969. OS/69296. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/69296 V 075-076 29-JUN-1969.

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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