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Summary

Curvilinear hollows are visible as earthworks to the south of Feniton, Ottery St Mary, on images derived from lidar data. The hollows may represent the ditches of an oval enclosure of prehistoric origin but are more likely to be evidence of horse training of 20th century date.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• OVAL ENCLOSURE? (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC? (Between) to 701 BC? (Between))
• RIDING SCHOOL (Late 20th Century - 1967 AD? (Between) to 2000 AD (Between))

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946 - 1949, Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV342938.

The earthworks are not visible.

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

Curvilinear hollows are visible as earthworks.

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

Curvilinear hollows up to approximately 11m wide are visible as earthworks on images derived from lidar data, under the tree cover of a modern coniferous plantation to the south of Feniton, Ottery St Mary. The earthworks enclose a north-east and south-west aligned oval area circa 77m long and 32m wide. The earthworks are situated within a landscape containing evidence of prehistoric ceremonial activity, and it is possible that they are the partially levelled ditches of an oval enclosure of prehistoric origin, such as a mortuary enclosure of Neolithic to Bronze Age date. However, such monuments are rare nationally, and it is thought more likely that they are evidence of a horse training track or area, commonly called a menage. The earthworks are not visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s and are therefore probably of later 20th century date. A second similar earthwork is visible approximately 250m to the north-west.

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

Two ‘capsule’-shaped features. There are ring ditches/barrows in the wider area, including one just SE of one of the features. Also Neolithic mortuary(?) enclosures found to south in A30 works. But could well be from modern agriculture (e.g. soakaways or external coups from poultry houses) or horse menages.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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