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HER Number:MDV135589
Name:Prehistoric field system to the south of Stoke Woods, Stoke Rivers parish

Summary

A field system of probable Bronze Age to Iron Age date is visible on images derived from lidar data, as a series of near levelled curvilinear earthwork banks crossing the contours of the north facing slopes between Stoke Wood and Higher Birch farm.

Location

Grid Reference:SS 638 362
Map Sheet:SS63NW
Admin AreaDevon
Civil ParishStoke Rivers
DistrictNorth Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishSTOKE RIVERS

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • FIELD SYSTEM (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 42 AD (Between))

Full description

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

A series of near levelled and roughly parallel curvilinear earthwork banks are visible as earthworks crossing the north facing slopes between Stoke Wood and Higher Birch farm.

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

A field system of probable prehistoric date is visible on images derived from lidar data, as a series of near levelled curvilinear earthwork banks, crossing the contours of the north facing slopes between Stoke Wood and Higher Birch farm. The subtle earthworks measure between 6 and 11m wide with three or four primary banks visible for up to 750m on a broadly north-west to south-east aligned axis. For circa 400m these are roughly parallel and spaced 30m to 40 metres apart, before fanning out across the promontory to the north of a point at approximately SS63873615. Lateral banks define smaller plots or fields and define a possible enclosure located at SS636364 (MDV135588). The relict boundaries probably originated in the Bronze Age or Iron Age and are overlain by the extant, medieval field pattern.

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

Pale marks on LiDAR may be former field system underlying current pattern. Possible enclosure at NGR SS636364. There are a number of Scheduled enclosures in the wider landscape.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV366001Cartographic: Environment Agency. 2021. University of Exeter Understanding Landscapes Project - Lidar visualisation. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. [Mapped feature: #143720 ]
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

MDV135588Related to: Curvilinear enclosure to the south of Stoke Woods, Stoke Rivers parish (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded


Date Last Edited:Feb 26 2025 6:00PM