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Summary

The remains of ridges made for improved drainage and soil depth within an orchard of probable 19th century date were visible as earthwork banks at the head of a west-facing combe, to the east of Ruggadon, Chudleigh, on aerial photographs of 1946 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 XX - 1540 AD to 1946 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The visible earthworks fall within Plot 439, listed as Great Orchard on the Chudleigh Tithe Map and Apportionment.

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

The plot is depicted as an orchard.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 RP 3059-3060 04-NOV-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352344.

Banks are visile as earthworks under tree cover.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX8681 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

Banks are visible as earthworks on two alignments.

Google, 2017, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 02-OCT-2011 ACCESSED 14-AUG-2018 (Aerial Photograph). SDV360456.

Banks are visible as earthworks on two alignments.

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 tree cover on aerial photographs of 1946, on the upper slopes of a west-facing combe to the east of Ruggadon, Chudleigh.
The closely spaced banks, measuring circa 6 metres wide, cross the contours of the combe. The banks are visible in two plots on the Tithe for Chudleigh, plots 439 and 444. These are
listed as Great orchard (plot 439) and Little Orchard (plot 444) on the Tithe Apportionments for Chudleigh and are depicted as a single orchard on the Ordnance Survey 25-inch first edition map. The banks are interpreted as earthworks made to enhance drainage and provide additional depth of soil within the orchard and were probably made prior to 1840. The orchard remained moderately planted in 1946 but is now cleared of tree cover.
The banks in the area of the former Great Orchard are visible as earthworks on two alignments, roughly west to east and north-north-west to south-south-east. This may be evidence of remodelling to more effectively drain the plot at the head of the narrow combe. This has resulted in linear arrangements of small raised islands or mounds where the banks intersect. The banks in the former Little Orchard are aligned roughly west to east, but are slightly narrower in spacing, possibly indicative of a later date of construction.
With the exception of part of the former Little orchard, which was developed after 2000, the banks remain visible as earthworks on images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV352344	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1824. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1824 RP 3059-3060 04-NOV-1946.
SDV359954	Cartographic: South West Heritage Trust. 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Maps and Transcribed Apportionments. Tithe Map and Apportionment. Digital.
SDV360456	Aerial Photograph: Google. 2017. Google Earth Pro. Various. Digital. EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 02-OCT-2011 ACCESSED 14-AUG-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
SDV361470	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2017. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR SX8681 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017. [Mapped feature: #113227 ]

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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