MDE11723 - Post-medieval granary or mill at Lower East Lyn Farm (Monument)
Summary
Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record caveat document.
Type and Period (4)
Protected Status
Full Description
SS 7340 4804. McDonnell reports a small dam with a leat to the north and a possible house platform seen on aerial photographs. He suggests that it is the site of a mill. [1,2] The 'leat' seen by McDonnell is modern overflow connecting the dammed pond to a stream at SS 7344 4810 and his 'possible house platform' is not a mill site but an amorphous area of disturbed ground at SS 7343 4808. On the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map, a small dammed pond is shown with a leat running north, via an aqueduct, to farm outbuildings on the north side of Lower East Lyn [3]. None of these features are shown on the 1976 Ordnance Survey map; however the dam is still extant, though the pond is now much silted up. The leat, now dry, is traceable through pasture fields to the farm some 230m to the north of the dam. The aqueduct, which took the water over a farm track at SS 73406 48186 and is shown on the 1904 Ordnance Survey map, has gone except for a stone built pillar used to support it [4,5]. The water drove a wheel situated on the southwest wall of a farmbuilding at SS 73408 48192. The wheelpit, still containing part of the iron wheel, is covered with a mass of farm debris and all that can be seen is the central axle of the wheel and one of its spokes. The wheel, which appears from the height of the aqueduct pillar to have been overshot, was about 1m wide and 5.7m in diameter. No machinery could be seen inside the building which is now in use as a cattle byre. No trace of the mill tail-race was found. At the north end of this building on the same side as the wheelpit are the dilapidated remains of a round outbuilding (now overlaid by a rectangular building) which probably once contained a horse whim to work farm machinery. This building probably became redundant when the wheel was introduced, presumably in the 19th century. The mill, dam, leat, etc. are not shown on the 1840 Tithe Map so probably postdate it [6]. [7-9] A derelict building with the remains of an iron wheel, shaft and arms partially buried in the demolished stonework of the mill race. Water was supplied from a pond. The launder apparently used to cross over the lane on raised supports. One stonework support remains. Known to have been in use in 1964. [10] The big buttressed barn to the north of the farmhouse was noted during a site visit in January 1997. [11] A large barn at Lower East Lyn with upper threshing floor and possible former water-driven machinery. A tall backward leaning pillar 25 metres to the north-west of the farmhouse is probably the remains of the aqueduct shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. Lower East Lyn has four 19th Century or earlier farm outbuildings, all built of local stone rubble and shales. The most prominent is a buttressed two-storey granary about 50 metres north-north-west of the farmhouse. This has an external stone stairway to the main upper level, with workshops beneath. The presence of a former aqueduct here suggests the possibility that this building may once have had water driven milling facilities. The more precise history of this interesting building needs further research. [12] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [13]
Sources/Archives (13)
- <1> SEM7406 Unpublished document: McDonnell, R.. 1980. Gazetteer of Sites in the Exmoor National Park Identified through Aerial Photography. SS7347B, SS7348A.
- <2> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/CPE/UK/1980/4049 (April 1947).
- <3> SEM6703 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1868-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500. 1888, Devon Sheet 3(14).
- <4> SEM7737 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1976. 1:2500. 1:25,000. SS 7347.
- <5> SEM7190 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1902-1907. County Series, 2nd Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500. 1904, Devon Sheet 3(14).
- <6> SEM7677 Map: 1840. Lynton and Lynmouth Parish Tithe Map and Apportionment.
- <7> SMO5831 Collection: RCHME Exeter. 1993-1999. Exmoor Project.
- <8> SMO4874 Technical drawing: Sainsbury, I.. 1994. Lower East Lyn Mill/Antiquity Model . 1:2500. Permatrace. Pen and Ink.
- <9> SMO7324 Unpublished document: Sainsbury, I.S.S. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation.
- <10> SDE13174 Monograph: University of the Third Age. 1995. Watermills in North Devon 1994. University of the Third Age. A5 Paperback. 73.
- <11> SEM6996 Report: Schofield, J.. 1997. Exmoor Farmsteads: An evaluation of old steadings within Exmoor National Park. Farm reference 125.
- <12> SEM6961 Report: Fisher, J.. 2005. Exmoor Farmsteads: Conservation Area Appraisal. 7, 8, 14, 15.
- <13> SEM7987 Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 926219, Extant 15 December 2021.
External Links (1)
- http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=926219 (Original Monarch entry: 926219)
Other Statuses/References
- Devon SMR (Devonshire): SS74NW/69
- Devon SMR Monument ID: 18095
- Devon SMR Monument ID: 54319
- Devon SMR: SS74NW/24/1
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MDE20744
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MDE21570
- Local List Status (Unassessed)
- National Monuments Record reference: SS 74 NW63
- National Park
- NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 926219
Location
Grid reference | Centred SS 7335 4807 (121m by 263m) |
---|---|
Map sheet | SS74NW |
Civil Parish | LYNTON AND LYNMOUTH, NORTH DEVON, DEVON |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (2)
Record last edited
Dec 15 2021 1:15PM
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