Monument record MDO47560 - Prehistoric ditch, Tarrant Launceston

A later Prehistoric linear dyke is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s but has subsequently been ploughed level. The dyke comprises a linear ditch which is flanked to the north by a linear bank, both of which measure between 3m and 6m wide. The dyke is sinuous and extends over a total distance of 775m. It is cut in places by paths and trackways across the common and has suffered bomb damage from the surrounding Second World War bombing range (see ST 91 SW 248). The dyke had been levelled by ploughing on aerial photographs taken in 1953, when it is visible as a cropmark. It is abutted near its western end by a linear dyke recorded as ST 91 SW 249, which is probably later. The dyke climbs the hillside, apparently respecting several Bronze Age round barrows by curving around them (see ST 91 SE 7, 53, 57 & 190). The dyke was described by the RCHME as part of Tarrant Launceston 16 (1972) and forms part of the semi-circular network of linear dykes on Launceston and Hinton Downs noted in the Bokerley Dyke volume (1990). The possible linear dyke described as Tarrant Launceston 54 in the Bokerley Dyke volume extends perpendicularly to its north.

LINEAR DYKES on Launceston Down in the extreme N.E. of the parish, lie between 200 ft. and 350 ft. above OD on the summit and on the E. slopes of the Chalk ridge between the Tarrant and the Crichel brooks. The dykes have been almost totally levelled by cultivation since 1947.

A dyke beginning in Tarrant Hinton parish (94811126) runs approximately WSW-ENE in a sinuous course for just over one mile across Launceston Down; it is lost in Long Crichel parish at 96251150. The dyke formerly consisted of a ditch with a low bank along its N. side and measured about 35 ft. across overall. At a sharp change of direction near the middle of its course (95611123) the earthwork bifurcates, a short length which extends almost due W. for 100 yds. suggesting two phases of construction. <1>

A later Prehistoric linear dyke is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s <4> but has subsequently been ploughed level. The dyke comprises a linear ditch which is flanked to the north by a linear bank, both of which measure between 3m and 6m wide. The dyke is sinuous and extends over a total distance of 775m, between ST 9485 1119 and ST 9561 1123. It is cut in places by paths and trackways across the common and has suffered bomb damage from the surrounding Second World War bombing range (see ST 91 SW 248 / UID: 1481331). The dyke had been levelled by ploughing on aerial photographs taken in 1953 <5> when it is visible as a cropmark.

It is abutted near its western end by a linear dyke recorded as (UID: 1481375), which is probably later. The dyke climbs the hillside, apparently respecting several Bronze Age round barrows by curving around them. The dyke was described by the RCHME <1> as part of Tarrant Launceston 16 and forms part of the semi-circular network of linear dykes on Launceston and Hinton Downs noted in the Bokerley Dyke volume <2>. The possible linear dyke described as Tarrant Launceston 54 in the Bokerley Dyke volume extends perpendicularly to its north. <6>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 106 (Monograph). SDO99.

<2> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke, Area plan 2 (Monograph). SWX800.

<3> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory, 1 (Monograph). SDO14864.

<4> Royal Air Force, 13-JAN-1943, NMR RAF/HLA/651 1136-1137 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20367.

<5> Royal Air Force, 20-APR-1953, NMR RAF/58/1090 F22 0125-0126 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19223.

<6> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1306423 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 15 2023 9:56AM