Promoting awareness of the archaeology and history of north Devon
Promoting awareness of the archaeology and history of north Devon
WEST YEO FARM, WITHERIDGE
Page 1 - April 2009 - Society visit to West Yeo Farm - link
Page 2 - June 2009 - Geophysical survey, Pond Meadow and garden feature
Page 3 - July 2009 - Fieldwalk of New Close - link
Page 4 - October 2009 - Fieldwalk at Long Park - link
Page 5 - March 2010 - Earthwork Survey and Planning, Causeway - April 2010 - Geophysics survey Pond Meadow: barn, cottage site, feature opposite quarry - link
Page 6 – Spring/Summer 2010 – Excavation, gradiometry training and Fieldwalking Long Park - link
Page 7 - Spring/Summer 2011 - Excavatons - link
Page 8 - Autumn 2011 - Excavations - link
WEST YEO FARM – WITHERIDGE WEEK BEGINNING 15 JUNE 2009
A group of members took part in a geophys survey at West Yeo Farm over 5 days in June.
The aim of the survey was twofold:
a) a training exercise to introduce members to the practicalities of using the Society’s TR earth resistance meter. This involved setting out grids with tapes/ranging poles, and using an optical square to obtain right angles. Members learned how to create a datum point and triangulate to a base line. Each member took part in grid layout and walked with the meter, taking data readings.
b) the farm owner Kate Palmer was interested to find
the remains of the original farmhouse which had
burned down in the late 19th century – believed to be located just
behind the current farmhouse.
It seemed to make sense to carry out our first foray into earth resistance surveying on a “known feature”, so that we could check our results against something tangible.
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The geophys survey was carried out on part of the lawned area at the front of the house and into the adjacent field. It was believed that the remains of the old house had been buried under the lawn and a platform built up over it, as a base for the new house, but to the naked eye there was a visible linear structure in the lawn with a sharp return which may be the outline of either a garden or house wall.
Grid layout
Initially 3 grids were lad out to cover this area, and walked East-West. It was then decided to extend the survey, as a “feature” appeared in the first set of geophys results of grid 2 in the field, which appeared to extend beyond the grid. We therefore explored this possibility with grid 4. On consultation with the previous owner and looking at the old maps, it seemed that this feature could be an old drain, which may be worthy of a small trial excavation.
We then extended the survey area further into the field (South) to take in two obvious parallel features running along the rise in the field and adjacent to grid 1?thought to be either an old trackway or hedgeline). We were hoping to get some nice results on the geophys from this.
Results
The “wall” feature in the garden shows intermittently on the
results , with the corner return visible.
It is anticipated that some excavation of the corner of the wall and parts
of the wall length could be done to test the structure/nature of its use.
The parallel lines on the hill rise show clearly on the geophys to the
South: what they represent could only actually be revealed through excavation.
Bob Shrigley had spent a lot of time learning how to set out grids, teaching members in the field, and sorting out how to download data from the equipment to the computer, as well as sourcing equipment such as tapes, strings etc. Many thanks Bob for your hard work and being so thorough!
Results -1
Bob sent me his data results and I had a go at interpreting these using “Snuffler” software which was downloaded from the internet. The results you see are my first attempts at doing this and I am sure we can get a clearer picture with more practice, it is possible to “create” features with the software, so hopefully practice will improve things. However, as an initial exercise I think we did pretty well and we are looking forward to doing plenty more. To have a laptop available on site to download data on the same day would be much more convenient than waiting until we get home – to this end, the Society has applied for some funding from the Council for British Archaeology Challenge Funding scheme. Watch this space..
Results -2
Future Geophys
Following discussions with the previous owner of the farm, there had also been an old barn and some farm cottages with cobbled yards in the vicinity, and the next intention will be to use the earth resistance equipment again to locate the outline of these, and maybe relocate the cobbled yard if possible.
Excavation
Cobbled “patio”
Set into the sloping lawn at the front of the house was a small area of cobbled paving – now used as a patio. Members cleared it of grass and cleaned it back to expose a well made, virtually undamaged cobbled surface which appears to continue to each side under the lawn East-West. The wall sides of the patio were faced with modern stone walling and there was a modern concrete bench across the far end for seating. Inset at the South edge of the cobbles was a gulley made of the same cobbles, running East-West with some stones perpendicular to the main floor, to create a drain effect. The excavated area was extended slightly into the lawn to reveal topsoil with some small finds: nails, glazed pottery sherd/glass/coal/lime mortar. This area was believed to be associated with the original farmhouse, but whether it was at the front or the rear of the property is not possible to tell at this time. We will probably excavate this area more fully. It was noted that a similar area of cobbles exists in one of the stables next to the cider house.
Flints
While we were working at West Yeo a neighbour brought in a collection of worked flints which had been collected on adjoining land. These had had been identified and recorded by Anne and Martin Plummer, who produced a report in 2006. They included Neolithic and Bronze Age tools, scrapers, an awl and an arrow head. Flint scatters and tools had also been reported by M.Dyer of the Exeter Field Unit in 1993/1994, in fields SSW of the farm, as part of the Devon Culm Measures rapid archaeological survey (ref. HER).
Further work to be carried out by NDAS
Fieldwalking:
It is planned to undertake some gridded field walking at the end of July and again in Spring (March?) 2010, to fit in with the farm’s ploughing programme. This may include a walk with metal detectors.
Hedge/boundary survey
It is planned to carry out a survey of old hedges/boundaries at some stage.
Geophys
To survey the area of the old barn and cottages and the drain feature identified in grid 2.
Excavation
The “wall” feature in the front garden and cobbled area
Earthwork survey
The causeway across marshy ground beside the Little Dart river. It is planned to undertake a drawing survey of the causeway leading to the river – this may be the last remnants of the old South Molton to Witheridge road.
Building Recording
It is possible we may be able to undertake some building recording of the old linhay/engine house etc
Thanks:
Thanks go to all who took part in the training week, we had an enjoyable week with fair weather except for one rainy afternoon. Our grateful thanks go to Kate and Robert, the current owners of West Yeo Farm, who made us very welcome and are very enthusiastic about our presence and the future project at West Yeo.
Derry Bryant
July 2009