MMO2778 - Prehistoric or medieval earthworks on Henthitchen (Monument)

A low curvilinear bank is visible on aerial photographs as an earthwork. It appears similar to the medieval field boundaries visible to the southeast, although more curved, but it is substantially larger and more irregular, and may be prehistoric.

Low banks forming old field boundaries were noted on aerial photographs on Henthitchen. [1-3] A low curvilinear bank is visible on aerial photographs as an earthwork on Henthitchen, Brayford. Centred at approximately SS 7134 3860, the bank runs approximately east to west, against the contours of the slope for approximately 500 metres. The bank itself, which curves to the north, measures between 2 and 3 metres wide. At the eastern end of this boundary, a second length of bank can be seen as a spread earthwork, running southwest to northeast. This bank is less curved, and measures approximately 135 metres in length. Neither feature is depicted on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1890, which shows this area as open moorland. This suggests that after the enclosure was abandoned, the area had sufficient time to revert to moorland. The bank appears similar to the medieval field boundaries visible on Great Melcombe to the southeast, although more curved, and may well be part of the same attempt to enclose the moor. However, it is substantially larger and more irregular, and the possibility of a prehistoric date cannot be ruled out. [4-6] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [7]