MMO2213 - 19th Century drains northwest of the Chains Barrow (Monument)

A pair of 19th Century parallel drains are visible on aerial photographs northwest of The Chains Barrow, Exmoor Parish. Beginning at SS 7326 4218, the drains run south-south-west for approximately 360 metres, disappearing from view at SS 7313 4186. They appear to be a continuation of the extant parallel drains visible to the north and shown on the modern Ordnance Survey map. The majority of the drainage in this area was originally constructed by the Knight Family in the mid 19th Century in an attempt to enclose the moor, and it seems likely that these drains were also constructed at this point, but abandoned shortly afterwards. Part of these drains are depicted on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map, suggesting that they were already in decline by the time the map was published in 1890. [1-4] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [5]