Site Event/Activity record EEM14161 - 2012 - TS: Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond, Mires Project

Technique(s)

Organisation

Hazel Riley

Date

May 2012

Description

Pinkery Pond is an artificial body of water, created by the construction of a massive earth and stone dam across the valley of the River Barle, by John Knight who had purchased the Exmoor Forest Estate by 1820. Knight envisaged the moorlands of the Royal Forest as a productive estate, centred around his new mansion house in Simonsbath, with reclaimed moorland producing corn and fine livestock. The pond has been previously interpreted as providing water for irrigation, for recreational or for industrial purposes. This survey was carried out in advance of mire restoration by the Exmoor Mires Project, recorded were areas of peat extraction, stone quarries, leats, a massive earth and stone dam and trial trenches and pits associated with mineral extraction. An alternative purpose for Pinkery Pond is suggested: a reservoir or header pond to provide water power for John Knight’s original agricultural enterprises on his Exmoor Forest estate.

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Report: Riley, H.. 2012. Metric survey of Pinkery pond and its environs.
  • <2> Monograph: Bray, L. S.. 2015. The Past and The Peat: Archaeology and peatland restoration on Exmoor. Exmoor National Park Authority. 1st Edition.
  • <3> Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 1609390, Extant 19 January 2022.

Map

Location

Location Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond, Exmoor
Grid reference Centred SS 7239 4235 (629m by 512m) Surveyed
Map sheet SS74SW
Civil Parish EXMOOR, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Related Monuments/Buildings (33)

  • Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval dam on Pinkworthy (Pinkery) Pond (Building)
  • Post-medieval drainage channel near Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval drainage ditches east and southeast of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval drainage on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval drainage system north and west of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval leat east of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval leat on the east side of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval leat south of Pinkworthy Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval mound and pit near Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval mound and pit near Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval mound and pit near Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval mound and pit near Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval mound on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval mound on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval peat cutting on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval peat cutting on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval peat cutting southeast of Pinkworthy Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval prospecting pit on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval prospecting trench on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval prospecting trench on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval quarries and mineral prospecting on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval quarry on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval quarry on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval stone quarries near Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval stone quarries near Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval stone quarry near Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval stone quarry next to Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval track near Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)
  • Post-medieval turf stack on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval turf stack on The Chains (Monument)
  • Post-medieval turf stack on The Chains (Monument)
  • Undated mound on The Chains (Monument)

Record last edited

Jan 19 2022 5:35PM