MDE8997 - Medieval and post-medieval earthworks east of Girt Down Farm (Monument)

A group of earthworks were reported to represent field boundaries, enclosures, trackways and a deserted farmstead. Most of them can be interpreted as natural features associated with surface run off, with some former field boundary banks.

Low banks forming an irregular group of small enclosures or building remains, and possibly a deserted farm site, were noted on aerial photographs dating from 1946 and 1978. [1-4] SS 6041 4717. The field cited contains substantial earthworks. These appear to represent a combination of natural and artificial agencies. The field lies at the head of a shallow east facing combe which leads down into Sherrycombe and thence to the sea; as such it forms a natural watershed. The majority of the earthworks appear to represent natural surface gulleys resulting from surface run off. The stream bed, runing east to west across the centre of the field, has been deepened perhaps by its use as a track (in the field to the west a terraced way approaches the site). No evidence for the farmstead mentioned by [4] could be found; in several places slight platforming on the hillside is the product of a combination of the above factors. Several linear features - banks and lynchets - were noted, which appear to be removed field boundaries. [5] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [6]