MSO8022 - Medieval or post-medieval deserted farmstead of Mene (Monument)

Summary

The remains of the medieval or early post-medieval deserted farmstead of Mene are visible as a building platform within a stone banked enclosure. The only extant building on the site is a post-medieval barn with a stone lined spring.

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Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A good example of a deserted farmstead with earthworks and remains of stone buildings at Mene, Selworthy, SS 916 483. Dated back perhaps to the 15th or 16th Centuries. (The map reference falls at a valley head, where no evidence of the sort described is visible on Ordnance Survey aerial photographs. Possibly the map reference should be SS 926 488, where the ruins of a farm called West Myne are clearly shown on the 1974 Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 map [1, 2] Extensive earthworks of ruined buildings below a number of springs. [3] SS 916 483 Deserted farmstead of Mene. This is shown as a separate estate in 1841 but with only a barn on the farm site. The site lies on a north facing slope where a number of springs emerge. There is a large area of stone and foundations within a squarish, il defined enclosure. The site was bulldozed and destroyed in 1977 (M Aston, fieldwork 19th January and 14th July 1977). This is one of three candidates for the deserted site of Myne, mentioned in Domesday (see also MSO7585 and MMO215). [4-6] A further candidate for Mene or Myne is recorded as MSO7648. [7] Centred at SS 91686 48308 are the very poorly preserved remains of a deserted farmstead. Several episodes have confused the remains. Firstly the bulldozing episode refered to by M. Aston [5]. Secondly the dumping of World War Two date and other material on the site during land improvement after the war. Thirdly the presence of a later phase - the construction of the barn and a stone lined spring. Fourthly, animal erosion on the site. The remains of the farmstead comprise one building platform measuring 15 metres by 7.5 metres, which is cut into the hillslope at its southern end by 1.6 metres. The platform lies within the remains of a stone banked enclosure, largely destroyed (perhaps bulldozed) on the south and east, but discernible as a good field bank 0.5 metres high on the north. The most likely interpretation of this site is that it represents a small farmstead of medieval or early post-medieval date, which later failed and became only a barn with stone lined spring by the time of the Tithe Map of 1841 [4]. [11]

Sources/Archives (12)

  • <1> Article in serial: Aston, M.. 1976. Medieval Village Research Group Report. 24. p 9.
  • <2> Verbal communication: Various. Various. Oral Information. Unknown.
  • <3> Verbal communication: Various. 1900-. Somerset County Council / South West Heritage Trust staff comments. M Aston, 20 January 1977.
  • <4> Map: 1841. Selworthy Tithe Map and Apportionment.
  • <5> Article in serial: Aston, M.. 1983. Deserted Farmsteads on Exmoor and the Lay Subsidy of 1327 in West Somerset. Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. 127. PP. 77, 82, 99.
  • <6> Monograph: edited Caroline and Frank Thorn. 1980. Domesday Book, 8 : Somerset . p 24-5.
  • <7> Verbal communication: Various. Various. Oral Information. Unknown.
  • <8> Aerial photograph: West Air Photography. 1981-1983. Oblique aerial photographs across Exmoor National Park.
  • <9> Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Record Card. Site SS 94 NW 24, 1979.
  • <10> Article in serial: Dyer, C. (Editor). 1976. Research in 1976. Medieval Village Research Group annual report. 24. pp 3-13. p 9.
  • <11> Unpublished document: Wilson-North, R.. Various. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 7 April 1998.
  • <12> Verbal communication: Various. Various. Oral Information. R1 DJG 4 February 1987.

External Links (2)

Other Statuses/References

  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11576
  • Local List Status (No)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 NW24
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • National Trust HER Record: MNA167486
  • NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 36837
  • Somerset SMR PRN (Somerset): 33982

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 916 482 (116m by 115m) Centred on
Map sheet SS94NW
Civil Parish SELWORTHY, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Feb 22 2022 12:44PM

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