This report presents the results of an archaeological evaluation that was carried out by South West Archaeology Ltd. (SWARCH) for the construction of a new barn and an attenuation pond on land at Beechlea Industrial Estate, Winkleigh, Torridge, Devon. The work was carried out in accordance with best practice, in line with CIfA guidance, and in line with a trench plan that was agreed in consultation with the Devon County Historic Environment Team (DCHET). The site comprised the north-eastern quadrant of an irregular agricultural enclosure that is located to the south of the Beechlea Industrial Estate, the east of the A3124, and the north of the village of Winkleigh. The site and the surrounding area have been subject to significant change during the past two centuries, much of which is associated with the development of RAF Winkleigh during the Second World War. The area of the proposed development had been stripped to the natural and it had been subject to heavy rain and machinery. The trenches were dug into the natural slightly to create a clean area to look for possible archaeological features. A walkover of the wider area strip was undertaken and any variations were investigated. No archaeological features or deposits were present within either of the trenches or across the wider area strip, with only plough scars, wheel ruts, and natural variations having been observed, though two pieces of post medieval to modern pottery were recovered from a wheel rut within Trench 03; it is likely that these pieces of pottery were pressed through the topsoil and into the natural by heavy machinery. The archaeological evaluation identified no archaeological features or deposits. The archaeological potential of the remaining parts of the site is therefore low.
Paine et al. (2025) studied this question.