MMO3369 - Medieval and post-medieval field system around East Anstey Common (Monument)

Field boundaries and narrow ridge and furrow of probable medieval to post-medieval date can be seen as earthworks. The enclosure seems less regular in character, and may be earlier in date, than that visible further west.

The CRAAGS aerial photograph survey noted low banks forming fragments of fields associated with narrow rig ploughing on Venford Allotment, East Anstey Common and Whiterocks Down. [1,2] Field boundaries and narrow ridge and furrow of probable medieval to post-medieval date can be seen as earthworks across the north and east facing slopes of East Anstey Common, Venford Allotment and Whiterocks Down. The earthworks cover an area of at least 90 hectares, or almost 1 square kilometre, centred very approximately on SS 8697 2895, although the poor earthwork visibility and undulating topography makes an accurate estimate of area difficult. The enclosure is less regular in character than that visible further west on Anstey Money Common, and appears more typical of an aggregate field system, particularly on the upper slopes of East Anstey Common. As is typical for medieval agriculture in this area, the ridge and furrow can be seen to mostly run perpendicular to the contours. However, at 2 to 4 metres between each ridge-top, it is more probable that the visible ridge and furrow is post-medieval in date, and may in fact represent a phase of deliberate levelling of field boundary banks following the abandonment of the field system. The earthworks were transcribed from a combination of original aerial survey and from plans previously transcribed in advance of field survey. [3-7] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [8]