MSO11971 - Deer Park, southwest of Simonsbath (Monument)
Summary
Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record caveat document.
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> SSO1602 Map: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1962. 6" SS73NE.
- <2> SSO1677 Map: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1985. SS74SE. 40.
- <3> SSO1302 Monograph: MacDermot, E T. 1911. A History of Exmoor Forest.
- <4> SMO5358 Monograph: Page, W. (editor). 1911. The Victoria History of the County of Somerset. Archibald Constable and Company, Limited (London). 2. 563-6.
- <5>XY SEM340925 Map: Ordnance Survey. 2022. MasterMap data. 1:2,500. [Mapped features: #47782 "Deer Park", ; #47811 "Blue Gate" area, ; #47812 "Prayway Head", ]
- <6> SSO1774 Monograph: Orwin, C.S. + Sellick, R.J.. 1970. The Reclamation of Exmoor Forest. David and Charles Limited. 2nd Edition. P 54, 62, 110.
- <7> SEM6703 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
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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