2,623 research outputs found
Images from a Historic Building Recording Survey at The Old Forge, Monkokehampton, West Devon, Devon, June 2020
No full textThis archive consists of images from a historic building recording survey by South West Archaeology Ltd, of The Old Forge, Monkokehampton, West Devon, in June 2020.The Old Forge is a traditional cob-built Devon building that is of considerable architectural and historical interest. The surviving phases of lateral stack and the forge structures represent a complex and layered domestic and working narrative, however the building has been compromised by repairs during the later 20th century following a devastating fire which resulted in the loss of most of the western elevation and the roof. A lack of maintenance and poor-quality modern repairs have since led to a significant risk to the historic integrity and the structural cohesion of the building. The conversion of the building will ultimately ensure its long-term survival
Land East of Tiverton, Devon (OASIS ID: cotswold2-154888)
No full textAn archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in October and November 2012 at land east of Tiverton, Devon. Thirty trenches were excavated. A pit cluster was identified. Radiocarbon analysis of charcoal fragments recovered from one of the pits indicates an Early Bronze Age date. The pits contained abundant fire-cracked stones and charcoal but their primary function was uncertain. No evidence of archaeological remains associated with an adjacent Scheduled Neolithic Long Barrow were identified. However two of the four trenches in close proximity to the Long Barrow contained a considerable depth of modern overburden originating from the construction of the A351 link road. It is possible this deposit masks underlying archaeological features. Evidence for the agricultural use of the site from the medieval period to the present day was recorded
Radical change in the genre of the detective novel: Raymond Chandler and Paul Auster
No full textThis thesis will examine the careers of authors Raymond Chandler and Paul Auster. The paper will define and examine "hard-boiled" and postmodern literary genres in which Raymond Chandler and Paul Auster have written their crime novels. Topics of discussion in this thesis will include Chandler‘s and Auster‘s biographical backgrounds and the influences on their fiction, the literary genres of detective fiction and mystery fiction, and the narrative structures of Chandler‘s and Auster‘s novels. Raymond Chandler‘s novel, The Big Sleep and Paul Auster‘s novel, City of Glass will also be discussed.M.A.L.S.Includes bibliographical referencesby Devon L. Alle
Buckfast Abbey Archaeological Projects 1982-2016 Photographic Archive
No full textThis photographic archive is intended to augment the two publications on the abbey's archaeology by S.W. Brown (Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society 46, 1988, 13-89; and Devon Archaeological Society Occasional Paper 21, 2018) and the series of more detailed interim archive reports appearing on the ADS website (unpublished grey literature, accessible via author Stewart Brown)
Palaeoecological, archaeological and historical data and the making of Devon landscapes. I. The Blackdown Hills
No full textThis paper presents the first systematic study of the vegetation history of a range of low hills in SW England, UK,lying between more researched fenlands and uplands. After the palaeoecological sites were located bespoke archaeological, historical and documentary studies of the surrounding landscape were undertaken specifically to inform palynological interpretation at each site. The region has a distinctive archaeology with late Mesolithic tool scatters, some evidence of early Neolithic agriculture, many Bronze Age funerary monuments and Romano- British iron-working. Historical studies have suggested that the present landscape pattern is largely early Medieval. However, the pollen evidence suggests a significantly different Holocene vegetation history in comparison with other areas in lowland England, with evidence of incomplete forest clearance in later-Prehistory (Bronze?Iron Age). Woodland persistence on steep, but poorly drained, slopes, was probably due to the unsuitability of these areas for mixed farming. Instead they may have been under woodland management (e.g. coppicing) associated with the iron-working industry. Data from two of the sites also suggest that later Iron Age and Romano-British impact may have been geographically restricted. The documented Medieval land management that maintained the patchwork of small fields, woods and heathlands had its origins in later Prehistory, but there is also evidence of landscape change in the 6th–9th centuries AD. We conclude that the Blackdown Hills area was one of many ‘distinctive subregions’, which due to a combination of edaphic, topographic and cultural factors could qualify as an eco-cultural region or ‘pays’. It is argued that the use of such eco-culturally distinctive regions or pays can provide a spatial and archaeological framework for palaeoecology, which has implications for landscape research, designation and heritage management
Devon design sprint report : June 2023
No full textOver the course of five days, a group of
stakeholders involved in the land use
decision-making process in Devon
worked together as a team to create a
prototype decision support tool aimed
at facilitating carbon-focused land use
decisions in the rural environment. After
the prototype was developed, it was
tested by a range of intended users to
assess its usability and effectiveness.
The work presented here was funded by
the Geospatial Commission as part of
the National Land Data Programme
which fed into the Devon Land Use
Framework. Land is a finite resource. In the UK the
limited land area and growing population
makes managing competing priorities
and land use functions particularly
complex. Land use is often
multifunctional and yet is subject to
various trade-offs.
The design sprint focused on long-term
carbon sequestration and storage in rural
land use decisions, with an
understanding that carbon forms a
component of a range of ecosystem
services. Spatial data and modelling tools provide
an opportunity to support the
assessment, planning and management
of land use. The design sprint team began
by identifying pinch points in the
decision-making process where
geospatial data and tools might support
land managers and their advisors to
make and influence land use decisions.
The team worked collaboratively on
designing a prototype decision support
tool that addressed these pinch points.
The key requirements the team agreed
to incorporate into the prototype were:
›› Baseline and future land cover
options;
›› Clear summary of economic
incentives and impact of any land
use changes;
›› Simple and easy to use;
The user testing demonstrated the need
for shared digital evidence upon which
to base conversations at both the
strategic and granular/ site scale. This
included using field-scale data wherever
possible to facilitate conversations at
both on-farm and landscape scales. Users also said they wanted functionality
that could support the creation of a
‘community of change’ to help people
work together to leverage better
environmental, social and financial
outcomes.
The design sprint and prototype led to an
understanding that a suite of spatially
explicit data and decision support tools
is integral to a land use framework.
Having access to easy-to-use data is a
critical part of having informed
discussions around land use change. A
shared evidence base is central to
ensuring that leaders and local
stakeholders are able to understand and
communicate the benefits, trade-offs
and shared outcomes possible from land
use decision making
Roborough Solar PV Array, Roborough, Devon. Archaeological Evaluation (OASIS ID: cotswold2-316757)
No full textIn January 2017, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation at the proposed site of Roborough Solar PV Array, Devon (centred on NGR: SX 4938 6192). The evaluation was undertaken at the request of Arcus Consultancy Services Ltd on behalf of Verto Energy Ltd and Soventix GmbHm.
The fieldwork comprised the excavation of 34 trenches. All trenches were 20m long and 2m wide. T33 was moved from the location specified in the WSI on order to avoid an area of existing trees and vegetation in the eastern end of the site. The orientation of T27 was adjusted to avoid a steeply sloping area.
Archaeological features were identified in T8, T11, T32 and T33 only. All of these features were undated and are of uncertain function, although the ditches may represent minor drainage and/or boundary features
Industrial Devon: Reflections and learning from schools-based heritage outreach in Scotland
No full text‘Industrial Devon’ is a schools-based heritage engagement initiative that staff at the Centre for Environment, Heritage and Policy at Stirling University, Scotland, undertook in 2013/14. The project’s implementation involved collaboration with a variety of internal and external education and municipal partners, together with student volunteers. The project explored the environmental history of historic industries located along the River Devon in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, and the associated settlements along its route through the ‘eyes’ and activities of the local primary school pupils. The year-long project offered a hands-on, experiential approach to knowledge exchange delivery in schools; supplementing the state curriculum and research design for promoting local heritage across community groups of all ages and locations. The reflective narrative on how the initiative evolved, examines the pitfalls and opportunities encountered during planning and implementation and is designed both to inspire and provide a practical tool kit to all considering embarking on similar activities
Elective surgical referral guidelines : background educational material or essential shared decision making tool? : a survey of GPs' in England
No full textBackground: To investigate general practitioners’ (GPs’) attitudes to guidelines for elective surgical referral in
England. To understand their use of guidelines, and attitudes to shared decision making in the referral decision.
Methods: A questionnaire was developed which investigated attitudes to and use of guidelines. It was given to a
stratified random sample 30% (n = 310) drawn from GP lists of 10 English health districts (primary care trusts
(PCTs)). GPs were invited to respond online, by telephone, fax or post. Data were analysed using descriptive
statistics and backwards stepwise logistic regression.
Results: Responses were representative of GPs in England, but (despite up to 6 contacts per non-responder) the overall
response rate was 41.6% (n = 129; with the range across PCTs of 25-61%). Most responding GPs indicated support for
referral guidelines but 18% reported that they had never used them. Less than three per cent reported use for most or
all referral decisions. The odds of using guidelines decreased with increasing age, with a ten year increase in age
associated with halving odds of use (OR = 0.53, 95%CI = 0.29-0.90). Over 50% of GPs wanted good access to electronic
guidelines with expert information and advice on guideline availability. Almost all (>89%) GPs agreed with sharing
referral decisions with patients. Female doctors (OR = 5.2, 95%CI: 1.02-26.3) were more likely to agree with this than
male GPs as were those working in larger compared to small or single handed practices (OR = 5.3, 95%CI: 1.4-19.9).
Conclusions: This group of responding GPs was supportive of guidelines but used them in different ways. Referral
guidelines should have an educational component for background reading; include key messages for
internalisation and application; and incorporate mechanisms to facilitate accessibility and appropriate shared
decision making with patients
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