People with pebble structures on their properties are being asked to help with a four-year survey which will take place in the local area.
Chris Tilley, Professor of Anthropology at University College London, is heading the team which is researching the landscape and archaeology of the East Devon Pebblebeds. He is interested in the present day value and significance of the heathlands as well as the use of pebbles in contemporary architecture.
Chris Tilley, Professor of Anthropology at University College London, is heading the team which is researching the landscape and archaeology of the East Devon Pebblebeds. He is interested in the present day value and significance of the heathlands as well as the use of pebbles in contemporary architecture.
Above: East Devon’s pebbles have long fascinated geologists. Here a group of students is visiting the Budleigh Pebblebeds.
Pebble structures form an important part of the contemporary domestic architecture and local heritage of east Devon. Team member Jill Cobley is currently recording all structures built out of pebbles in the area of East Devon between the river Exe and the River Otter from Ottery St Mary in the north to Budleigh Salterton in the south. Local pebbles are great for wall-building
With others she has been recording pebble walls, pebble pavements and courtyards, wall footings, drains, paths, house walls and pebble decorative features – in short anything made of pebbles. The aim is to create a comprehensive record of the use of pebbles in this area of East Devon which eventually will form a digital photographic archive on the web. Pebbles make useful rockery ornaments
“There are probably many hidden pebble structures not visible from roads or paths in people's back gardens or in sheds and barns and in older houses, for example cellar floors, walls, barns and so on,” says Professor Tilley. “If you have or know of such structures we would like to hear from you so that we can record them. Please email Jill Cobley at jillcobley@tiscali.co.uk or telephone her on 01404 814406.”
“There are probably many hidden pebble structures not visible from roads or paths in people's back gardens or in sheds and barns and in older houses, for example cellar floors, walls, barns and so on,” says Professor Tilley. “If you have or know of such structures we would like to hear from you so that we can record them. Please email Jill Cobley at jillcobley@tiscali.co.uk or telephone her on 01404 814406.”
In addition, excavations will be taking place between 29 August 2009 and 20 September 2009 on Aylesbeare and Colaton Raleigh Commons. Further research will be carried out by team member Kate Cameron Daum. Kate will be carrying out brief car park surveys of visitors this year to find out the views of the pebbles from the public using the Commons.
“What do you like, or dislike, about our Pebblebed heathlands? Where do you like to walk, or cycle, or ride? What are your favourite places? How would you like the heathlands to be in the future?” are some of the questions to which Kate will be seeking answers.
Professor Tilley said today that very little research has been done into the heathlands since the 1930s, when a retired civil servant George Carter settled in Budleigh to write about the pebblebeds, having spent much of his career with the Indian Civil Service studying the history, archaeology and folklore of Pakistan.
“What do you like, or dislike, about our Pebblebed heathlands? Where do you like to walk, or cycle, or ride? What are your favourite places? How would you like the heathlands to be in the future?” are some of the questions to which Kate will be seeking answers.
Professor Tilley said today that very little research has been done into the heathlands since the 1930s, when a retired civil servant George Carter settled in Budleigh to write about the pebblebeds, having spent much of his career with the Indian Civil Service studying the history, archaeology and folklore of Pakistan.
Above: A simple drainage channel using pebbles outside a house in Budleigh
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