Cove Hill

NT82SW 100 from 8166 2423 to 8176 2418

To the N of the Horsely Stream, an extensive area of contour cultivation spreads over the generally steep slopes on the N and W sides of Cove Hill above the modern field-boundaries except on the W, where the cultivation continues down to the crest above Cove Farm (NT82SW 104). Traces of at least three low lynchets are visible over the lower, W-facing slopes between NT 8142 2400 and NT 8141 2384, between NT 8150 2405 and NT 8147 2380 and between NT 8154 2401 and NT 8152 2396. The upper limit of the cultivation is undefined but it lies below the gentle slopes around the summit of Cove Hill. Further contour cultivation on the E side of Cove Hill (NT82SW 66) and to the S of the Horsely Stream (Nt82SW 25) may represent a continuation of the same system. Although covering an extensive area, the cultivation is poorly preserved and often barely visible on the ground. Typically the elements of the cultivation average about 3.5m across although they are by no means regularly spaced or continuous and in relief they are barely discernible.

In the angle between field-boundaries on the NW flank of Cove Hill, air photographs (RAF: 106 G/Scot/UK 121 frames 3143-4, 20 June 1946) suggest that a small area of contour cultivation, again barely discernible on the ground, appears to overlie the lower limits of the above area. The cultivation lies on a moderately steep N-facing slope below steep ground rising to the S and spreads over an area measuring up to 110m from E to W by 40m. The lower limit is bounded by a modern field-boundary beyond which, on the NE, the ground is ill-drained whilst to the N and W lies an improved field.

A small area of later cultivation remains overlying the apparent lower limits of a much more extensive system of contour cultivation occurs again, immediately to the S, over a W-facing slope. Here a small area of contour cultivation, which measures 130m from NNE to SSW by up to 100m, lies on a moderately steep slope. The upper limit of this patch of cultivation is marked by an increase in the gradient above which traces of the earlier phase of agriculture survive. Similarly the lower limit of this patch of cultivation is marked by a lessening of the gradient, marked by a modern field-boundary beyond which an area of narrow regular rigs (NT82SW 99), ploughed obliquely across the moderate slope, has removed the lower limits of the contour cultivation. Over the moderately steep slopes, the cultivation averages about 5m in width between furrows measuring 0.5m in width and up to 0.2m in depth.

Information from RJ Mercer (University of Edinburgh) 25 March 1987

RCAHMS MS 2598, No. 6/042