MSO9254 - Medieval or post-medieval deserted settlement in Mansley Combe (Monument)
Summary
Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record caveat document.
Type and Period (2)
Protected Status
Full Description
Strip lynchets seen from aerial photograph marks and plotted on SMR map. [1] A deserted farm site in an area of enclosed land named 'Ham' on the southern slopes of Dunkery, thought to equate with the unlocated site of Mansley in Aston's list. [2-4] The rhododendron and Scots pine in the valley were planted in the middle of the last century to provide cover for red deer. [5] Local memories suggest that the farm was occupied until the mid 19th Century. [6] The site lies in a sheltered, south-facing wooded hollow and consists of earthworks of three to four ruined buildings set around a small yard. Nearby is a further square building footing situated within a well-preserved contemporary field system. Elements of the fields survive across much of the present enclosed area, and include a series of small narrow plots defined by stone rubble, having a prehistoric appearance but overlying a probably post-medieval boundary lynchet. There is a suggestion of later emparkment around the farm site, with a 'deer fence' type boundary. [8] The site is centred at SS 9029 4059 and consists of at least six buildings arranged in a linear spread within a sheltered hollow on the south facing slopes of Mansley Combe. The buildings are all defined by rubbly banks usually 0.5 metres high and up to 2 metres wide (fully described below). They are mostly single celled and have single or opposed entrances. Their relatively simple plan and arrangement suggest a medieval or early post-medieval date, and there are too many structures to support the previous assertions that this is a single farmstead. An association between this site and the unlocated "Mansley" mentioned in Aston [4] is also by no means certain. BUILDING TABULATION Building 1 (SS 9029 4061) is 11.3 metres by 3 metres (internal). A two celled platform defined by stony banks and scarps up to 0.6 metres high. No entrance visible. Building 2 (SS 9028 4060) is 11 metres by 5.5 metres (internal). A rectangular building defined by a combination of rubbly banks, wall footings and scarps. The building has been cut through by a path which has caused some erosion but has also revealed the footing of the southeast wall which is 0.7 metres wide. The entrance is obscured by the path. Building 3 (SS 9028 4059) is 11.2 metres by 2.5 metres (internal). A rectangular building running across the slope defined by rubbly banks. An entrance 1.5 metres wide is visible on the south side. Building 4 (SS 9027 4057) is 10.9 metres by 3.6 metres (internal). It is a rectangular building running down the slope, defined by rubbly banks up to 0.8 metres high and 1.6 metres wide. The entrance is on the east with a large stone block on its north side. Building 5 (SS 9028 4055) is 7.4 metres by 4.1 metres (internal). It is a rectangular building sited across the slope, and defined by rubbly banks 1 metre wide and 0.7 metres high. Building 6 (SS 9031 4058) is 8 metres by 3.2 metres (internal) It is a probable building, defined by earthen scarps with some stone visible. The interior is very disturbed and uneven. There is a possible entrance on the west side. Buildings surveyed at 1:2500 scale with GPS in July 1997. The buildings lie within an extensive, presumably contemporary, field system (SS 94 SW 35) containing strip lynchets. [10,11] Surveyed at 1:500 scale in April 1998. [12-14] This area was surveyed as part of the Exmoor National Mapping Programme. Evidence for at least three of the structures listed above (Building 3, 4 and 5) was visible on specialist oblique aerial photographs, but little more could be confidently identified. Very little was apparent on the vertical coverage. [15, 16] A digital reconstruction drawing was created in 2013 by Peter Lorimer. [17]
Sources/Archives (17)
- <1> SSO708 Survey: Western Archaeological Trust. 1980s. Exmoor Aerial Photograph Survey. SS9040.
- <2> SSO289 Aerial photograph: 1947. LHL CPE/UK/1980. 4174.
- <3> SSO243 Aerial photograph: September 19. HSL.UK.71-177 Run. 8688.
- <4> SSO743 Article in serial: Aston, M. 1983. Deserted Farmsteads on Exmoor and the 1327 lay subsidy. Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Society. 127. 71-104.
- <5> SMO5308 Verbal communication: Various. Various. Oral Information. J Carslake, The National Trust. 1992.
- <6> SMO5308 Verbal communication: Various. Various. Oral Information. Mr. Bawden, 1992.
- <7> SMO4068 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Vertical Aerial Photograph. 1988. IR 6588 146..
- <8> SSO1803 Article in serial: Preece, A.. 1993. in Webster, CJ and Croft, RA "Somerset Archaeology 1993". Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. 137. 150-1.
- <9> SSO1871 Survey: RCHME. 1997. Exmoor survey. NMR Site SS 94 SW 94.
- <10> SMO5111 Unpublished document: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. Field Investigators Comment. R Wilson-North and H Riley, 23 July 1997.
- <11> SMO5831 Collection: RCHME Exeter. 1993-1999. Exmoor Project.
- <12> SMO7329 Unpublished document: Wilson-North, R.. Various. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 21 April 1998.
- <13> SMO5793 Survey: Mansley Copse/pencil survey . 1:500. General: Permatrace. Pencil.
- <14> SMO5792 Survey: Mansley Copse/ink survey . 1:500. General: Permatrace. Pen and Ink.
- <15>XY SMO7569 Archive: 2007-2009. Exmoor National Park NMP: SS 94 SW. MD002186. [Mapped feature: #38264 ]
- <16> SMO4069 Aerial photograph: Various. Various. Oblique Aerial Photograph. NMR SS 9040/09 (15869/19), 20 January 1998.
- <17> SEM8020 Artwork: Lorimer, P.. 2013. Mansley Combe, Exmoor: Digital reconstruction drawing. Digital.
External Links (1)
- http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1087864 (Pastscape entry: 1087864)
Other Statuses/References
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO547
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11863
- Local List Status (Proposed)
- National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 SW94
- National Park: Exmoor National Park
- NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 1087864
- Somerset SMR PRN: 34441
Location
Grid reference | Centred SS 9029 4054 (82m by 159m) |
---|---|
Map sheet | SS94SW |
Civil Parish | CUTCOMBE, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (2)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Related Articles (2)
Record last edited
Mar 16 2022 3:00PM
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