Monument record MDO45304 - Dewpond on Launceston Down, Tarrant Launceston

A probable Post Medieval dewpond is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1943. The site was being levelled by ploughing on aerial photographs taken in 1953. The site comprised a rectangular embanked enclosure within which was an oval hollow; perhaps the remnants of a clay-lined pond. The probable dewpond is similar to those found in other chalkland areas and was probably constructed in the 19th century to serve livestock on the open common of Launceston Down.

A probable Post Medieval dewpond is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1943 but was subsequently levelled by ploughing. The site is centred at ST 9511 1088 and comprised a rectangular embanked enclosure within which was an oval hollow; perhaps the remnants of a clay-lined pond. The enclosure was defined by a bank measuring 7m wide which nearly enclosed a rectangular area measuring 20m long by 15m wide and orientated roughly WSW / ENE.

The probable dewpond is similar to those found in other chalkland areas (eg ST 90 NW 133 / UID: 1478855) and was probably constructed in the 19th century to serve livestock on the open common of Launceston Down. The site was being levelled by ploughing on aerial photographs taken in 1953. <1-2>

<1> Royal Air Force, 13-JAN-1943, RAF/HLA/651 1137-1138 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18390.

<2> Royal Air Force, 20-APR-1953, NMR RAF/58/1090 F22 0126-0127 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19231.

<3> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis, Object Number: MD002384 (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1480742 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 24 2023 9:27AM