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HER Number:MDV135581
Name:Garden terraces west of North Tawton castle, North Tawton

Summary

Two rectilinear or L-shaped banks or scarps are visible as earthworks on images derived from lidar data, within gardens to the west of North Tawton castle. It is possible that the earthworks are of medieval origin and associated with North Tawton Castle, but it seems more probable that they represent formal garden landscaping of post-medieval date.

Location

Grid Reference:SS 665 017
Map Sheet:SS60SE
Admin AreaDevon
Civil ParishNorth Tawton
DistrictWest Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishNORTH TAWTON

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • GARDEN TERRACE (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD (Between) to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

A rectangular area of terracing corresponds to a depicted fenced plot or parcel of land.

Environment Agency, 2021, University of Exeter Understanding Landscapes Project - Lidar visualisation (Cartographic). SDV366001.

Two rectilinear or L-shaped banks or scarps defining terraces and a rectilinear area terraced into the slope are visible west of North Tawton Castle.

Hegarty, C., 2025, Comment on Unlocking Landscapes project and related lidar and aerial photograph interpretations (Interpretation). SDV366411.

Two rectilinear or L-shaped banks or scarps approximately 5m to 6m wide are visible as earthworks within gardens to the west of North Tawton castle. The scarps define terracing that follows the gentle north-facing topography and correspond to the general north-west to south-east alignment of property divisions in this area. The earthworks are on a similar alignment to possible ditches recorded as cropmarks (MDV 121191) and it is possible that the earthworks were associated with North Tawton Castle. However, the earthworks are more regular and rectilinear in plan and it seems more probable that they represent formal garden landscaping of post-medieval date.
A rectangular area terraced into the slope immediately to the south-east corresponds to a fenced area depicted on the Ordnance Survey Second Edition 25 inch map, which probably relates to a later, 19th or early 20th century phase of formal garden landscaping.

Horner, B., 2025, Lidar interpretation (Personal Comment). SDV366415.

HER records ditches (MDV 121191) west of castle motte. LiDAR appears to record two banks and ditch.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325644Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV366001Cartographic: Environment Agency. 2021. University of Exeter Understanding Landscapes Project - Lidar visualisation. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. [Mapped feature: #143703 Post-medieval garden landscaping., ]
SDV366411Interpretation: Hegarty, C.. 2025. Comment on Unlocking Landscapes project and related lidar and aerial photograph interpretations. Not Applicable.
SDV366415Personal Comment: Horner, B.. 2025. Lidar interpretation. Not Applicable.

Associated Monuments

MDV121191Related to: Cropmark ditches, Castle Mound. North Tawton (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded


Date Last Edited:Feb 26 2025 4:39PM