MSO8732 - Medieval and post-medieval field system on Bradley Hams (Monument)
Summary
Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record caveat document.
Type and Period (4)
- FIELD SYSTEM (Medieval - 1066 AD (Possible) to 1539 AD (Possible))
- FIELD SYSTEM (AD 19th Century to AD 20th Century - 1841 AD (Possible) to 1900 AD (Possible))
- RACE TRACK (AD 20th Century to Mid 20th Century - 1900 AD? (Possible) to 1950 AD? (Possible))
- BUILDING PLATFORM (Post Medieval - 1540 AD (Possible) to 1900 AD (Possible))
Protected Status
Full Description
This site was originally recorded on Somerset HER as part of PRN 34303 (MSO8676). [1] Centred at SS 8524 3471 on Bradley Hams are the remains of a two-phase field system covering 46.5 hectares. The earliest phase is medieval and is associated with the farmstead at SS 8568 3491 (MSO8676). It is centred around SS 8563 3498 and consists of very slight curving field banks running under the later banks, and cut on the east by Bradley Pond. The second phase consists of effaced field banks associated with the surviving banks prior to the enlargement of the fields. They ran across the whole area of Bradley Hams as one field, therefore suggesting that all of the field banks were constructed later than 1841. The banks have been identified from aerial photographs [3]. Associated with this phase are a series of lynchets to the north centred around SS 8538 3465 measuring around 0.5 metres high and identified from aerial photographs [3]. Downslope of these at SS 8529 3454 are the remains of a building platform measuring 16.6 metres across the slope by 8.7 metres cut into the natural hillside. To the southeast a track runs up the slope from it. During the first half of the century the field containing Bradley Pond and the medieval field system hosted a horse racing track for local farmers, the field being known locally as "the race track" [4]. [2-5] The remains of a two phase field system covering circa 60 hectares can be seen as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards. As described by [5], slightly curving field banks are visible near Bradley Pond, but can also be seen to the west of Bradley Hams at circa SS 8532 3479. These are indicative of a probable medieval phase of enclosure and are overlain by more regular boundary banks of post-medieval, and probably 19th Century date. These boundaries extend to the northeast of Bradley Pond, laterally crossing Bradley Hams dividing the hill into a series of regular subrectangular fields. These earthworks have suffered some erosion from agricultural improvements by the 1970s. [6-10] Geophysical survey of a portion of the site in 2014 noted five linear anomalies running east to west, which were thought to be related to former field boundaries not present on mapping available to the survey team. [11] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [12]
Sources/Archives (12)
- <1> SEM8675 Verbal communication: Various. 1900-. Somerset County Council / South West Heritage Trust staff comments. Chris Webster, December 1997.
- <2> SSO213 Map: 1841. Hawkridge Tithe Map and Apportionment.
- <3> SEM7406 Unpublished document: McDonnell, R.. 1980. Gazetteer of Sites in the Exmoor National Park Identified through Aerial Photography. 8534.
- <4> SMO5308 Verbal communication: Various. Various. Oral Information. Mr AW Baker, Minehead.
- <5> SMO7304 Unpublished document: Chapman, H.P.. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 26 April 1995.
- <6> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR RAF 106G/UK/1655 4386-7 (11 July 1946).
- <7> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR RAF CPE/UK/1980 3358-9 (11 April 1947).
- <8> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR RAF 543/2821 (F61) 0261-2 (27 April 1964).
- <9> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. NMR OS/73086 775-6 (17 April 1973).
- <10> SMO7581 Archive: English Heritage. 2007-2009. Exmoor National Park NMP: SS 83 SE. MD002198.
- <11> SEM8371 Report: Richardson, T.. 2014. Geophysical survey report: Great Bradley, Somerset. 5-6.
- <12> SEM7987 Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 1028677, Extant 1 February 2022.
External Links (1)
- http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1028677 (Pastscape entry: 1028677)
Other Statuses/References
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO456
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO12353
- Local List Status (Unassessed)
- National Monuments Record reference: SS 83 SE52
- National Park
- NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 1028677
- Somerset SMR PRN (Somerset): 35541
Location
Grid reference | Centred SS 8570 3481 (1267m by 1272m) Aerial survey |
---|---|
Map sheet | SS83SE |
Civil Parish | WITHYPOOL AND HAWKRIDGE, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (3)
Record last edited
Feb 1 2022 4:24PM
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