MSO11971 - Deer Park, southwest of Simonsbath (Monument)

Summary

A deer park was set up by John Knight in the 1800s and stocked with fallow deer. The deer proved impossible to confine, doing much damage to neighbouring farms, and were eventually all killed.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

  • None recorded

Full Description

The annotation "Deer park" is printed on the Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division six inch map, to the south of Simonsbath. [1] Exmoor became part of the demesne of the Crown at the time of the Norman Conquest and was converted into a Royal Forest. Additions were made in the reigns of Henry II, Richard I and John. Early in John's reign the Forest included, in addition to the original demesne area, the bordering parishes in Devon and a number of parishes in Somerset. In 1204 John disafforested all land in Devon and in 1316 Edward II confirmed disafforestation of the eastern perlieus in Somerset. There is no evidence of any woodland in the 2000 acres, as defined by the post 1400 boundary. There were no enclosures or settlements in the Forest until a farm was enclosed during the Commonwealth and Simonsbath House was built. The Forest of Exmoor was finally disafforested by the enclosure award of 1819. [2-4] Deer Park is labelled on the 2022 MasterMap data. [5] Orwin states that a deer park was inclosed adjoining the South Molton Road, between Blue Gate and Prayway Head, and stocked with fallow deer. It proved impossible to confine the deer and they did much damage to cultivated land, especially at Warren and Horsen Farms, but also wider “so their destruction was resolved upon, and none have survived.” [6] The 25 inch 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map shows these locations as below: SS76513795: "Deer Park"; SS75833767: "Blue Gate"; SS76944080: "Prayway Head". [7]

Sources/Archives (7)

  • <1> Map: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1962. 6" SS73NE.
  • <2> Map: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1985. SS74SE. 40.
  • <3> Monograph: MacDermot, E T. 1911. A History of Exmoor Forest.
  • <4> Monograph: Page, W. (editor). 1911. The Victoria History of the County of Somerset. Archibald Constable and Company, Limited (London). 2. 563-6.
  • <5>XY Map: Ordnance Survey. 2022. MasterMap data. 1:2,500. [Mapped features: #47782 "Deer Park", ; #47811 "Blue Gate" area, ; #47812 "Prayway Head", ]
  • <6> Monograph: Orwin, C.S. + Sellick, R.J.. 1970. The Reclamation of Exmoor Forest. David and Charles Limited. 2nd Edition. P 54, 62, 110.
  • <7> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1868-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500.

External Links (0)

Other Statuses/References

  • Local List Status (Unassessed)
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 34585

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 7639 3923 (1111m by 3127m) (3 map features)
Map sheet SS73NE
Civil Parish EXMOOR, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jan 24 2022 1:01PM

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