MMO2506 - 19th Century peat cutting at Alderman's Barrow Allotments (Monument)
Summary
Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record caveat document.
Type and Period (1)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
A small area of possible peat cutting of probable 19th Century date can be seen as very regular pits within an area of disturbed ground on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards. The pits are centred on circa SS 8403 4242 at the head of Chetsford Water combe, to the west of Aldermans Barrow Allotment. Poorly defined but largely rectilinear in shape, the visible features range up to 10 metres in size. In total, this area of possible cuttings covers circa 0.3 hectares of common land. A more extensive and possibly older area of cuttings can be seen approximately 250 metres to the southwest. Due to the difficult nature of the evidence which can vary in appearance on aerial photographs from year to year, the transcription attempts only to convey the general character and area of the cuttings, and should not be taken as a definitive record of the extent the pits. Peat cutting has probably taken place on Exmoor from the medieval period onwards, but its heyday was probably in the first half of the 19th Century, although small scale cutting probably continued well into the 20th Century. [1-3] A study of the archaeology and history of peat exploitation on Exmoor’s moorlands provides additional background on the practice and sites. [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]
Sources/Archives (5)
- <1> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR RAF 106G/UK/1501 (F20) 4066-7 (13 May 1946).
- <2> SEM7230 Monograph: Burton, R.A.. 1989. The Heritage of Exmoor. Roger A. Burton. p 72, 232.3.
- <3>XY SMO7567 Archive: 2007-2009. Exmoor National Park NMP: SS 84 SW. MD002184. [Mapped feature: #38807 ]
- <4> SEM8135 Report: Riley, H.. 2014. Turf Cutting on Exmoor: An archaeological and historical study - project report.
- <5> SEM7987 Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 1478013, Extant 19 July 2021.
External Links (1)
- http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1478013 (Pastscape entry: 1478013)
Other Statuses/References
- Local List Status (Unassessed)
- National Monuments Record reference: SS 84 SW255
- NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 1478013
Location
Grid reference | Centred SS 8402 4242 (83m by 60m) Aerial Survey |
---|---|
Map sheet | SS84SW |
Civil Parish | LUCCOMBE, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Jul 19 2021 4:01PM
Feedback?
Your feedback is welcome. If you can provide any new information about this record, please contact us.