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Summary

A ditched bank is visible as an earthwork on images derived from lidar data, crossing the east-west ridge to the east of Langdon, Littleham parish. The bank corresponds to a field boundary depicted on the Tithe Map for Littleham, but might be the remains of a cross-ridge dyke or enclosure of later prehistoric to Roman date.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CROSS DYKE (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 42 AD (Between))
• HILLSLOPE ENCLOSURE? (Early Bronze Age to Roman - 2200 BC (Between) to 409 AD (Between))

Full description

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

A broad earthwork bank flanked by wide ditches is visible as an earthwork.

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

A bank is visible on images derived from lidar data, as an earthwork crossing the contours of the east-west ridge to the east of Langdon, Littleham parish. The earthwork measures up to 12m wide and is visible for approximately 135m, flanked on both sides by the remains of ditches 8 to 10m wide. When compared to the probable medieval boundaries to the west, the relict earthwork is notably broader and in contrast to the typical sinuous west-facing curve, displays a sharp eastern dogleg towards its northern end. The bank corresponds to a field boundary depicted on the Tithe Map for Littleham, but is not shown on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch map, indicating that the boundary was removed between circa 1840 and the 1880s. The bank might simply represent an unusually broad medieval field boundary. However, as suggested by the Horner, the differences to the adjacent field boundaries might indicate that the historic field pattern incorporated a cross-ridge dyke of prehistoric date or, as possibly suggested by the ‘Berry Hill’ field name recorded in the Tithe Apportionments for the plot immediately to the east, an enclosure of later prehistoric to Roman date.

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

Possible cross-ridge dyke or enclosure. LiDAR suggests two banks and ditch. Looks more substantial than normal field boundary. Coincides with boundary on Tithe Map, but not on Ordnance Survey 1st ed. Field on east side of boundary is ‘Berry Hill’ on Tithe Apportionment.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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