Source/Archive record SEM8135 - Turf Cutting on Exmoor: An archaeological and historical study - project report
Type | Report |
---|---|
Title | Turf Cutting on Exmoor: An archaeological and historical study - project report |
Author/Originator | Riley, H. |
Date/Year | 2014 |
Hazel Riley report | |
ENPA project name | MIRES |
Digital Object Identifier | 10.5284/1037648 |
Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record caveat document.
Abstract/Summary
A study of the archaeology and history of peat exploitation on Exmoor’s moorlands has examined the documentary evidence for turbary on Exmoor Forest and the commons; looked at turf cutting implements from Exmoor in several museums, researched oral histories and collections of historic photographs, and carried out field investigation and large scale survey of several disused turf pits and associated features.
Turf cutting and the right of turbary is recorded in documents relating to Exmoor Forest and the implementation of Forest Law from the 13th century onwards. The free suitors of Withypool and Hawkridge had the rights of turbary on Exmoor Forest for each suit attached to their respective tenements in the 17th century, but courts and customs had probably existed with little change from the 12th and 13th centuries. Turbary was often part of a ‘package’ of common rights, given with properties from at least as early as the 15th century on the commons.
The turf cutting implements, historic photographs of turf cutting and oral histories from moorland edge farmers and Exmoor Estate workers combine to give a vivid picture of how important turf was a fuel for many of Exmoor’s farms and villages in the early 20th century. The archaeological remains of turf cutting on Exmoor range from large areas of disused turf pits, which can contain details of the last season of cutting in the form of spade marks, to small mounds which are the remains of turf stacks. Some of the moorland edge farms had dedicated stores for turf in the farm yard, known as turf houses and several of these have been identified.
External Links (1)
- https://doi.org/10.5284/1037648 (Report via ADS website)
Referenced Monuments (107)
- MSO7142 19th Century miners cottages at Cornham Ford (Monument)
- MMO2524 19th Century peat cutting above Black Mires (Monument)
- MMO2506 19th Century peat cutting at Alderman's Barrow Allotments (Monument)
- MMO2522 19th Century peat cutting at Black Mires (Monument)
- MMO2523 19th Century peat cutting at Black Mires (Monument)
- MSO10391 19th Century peat cutting at Elsworthy (Monument)
- MMO2534 19th Century peat cutting north of Larkbarrow Farm (Monument)
- MMO2533 19th Century peat cutting northeast of Larkbarrow Farm (Monument)
- MMO2500 19th Century peat cutting northwest of Alderman's Barrow (Monument)
- MMO2535 19th Century peat cutting on Kittuck Hill (Monument)
- MMO2520 19th Century peat cutting on Kittuck Mead (Monument)
- MMO2532 19th Century peat cutting on Lucott Moor (Monument)
- MMO2517 19th Century peat cutting on Madacombe (Monument)
- MMO2518 19th Century peat cutting on Madacombe (Monument)
- MMO2519 19th Century peat cutting on Madacombe (Monument)
- MMO2509 19th Century peat cutting on northwest facing slopes of Lucott Moor (Monument)
- MMO2462 19th Century peat cutting on southern slopes of Swap Hill (Monument)
- MMO2478 19th Century peat cutting on southern slopes of Swap Hill (Monument)
- MMO2766 19th Century peat cutting on western side of Squallacombe (Monument)
- MEM23177 Birchanger Farm (Building)
- MEM23152 Hallslake Farm (Building)
- MEM23149 Higher Tippacott Farm, Brendon (Building)
- MDE20862 Lyshwell Farm, Molland (Building)
- MMO2258 Medieval or later peat cutting pits west of Dunkery Beacon (Monument)
- MMO3201 Medieval or post-medieval peat cutting from Withypool Common to Humbers Ball (Monument)
- MSO10454 Medieval or post-medieval peat cutting northeast of Driver Farm (Monument)
- MMO2266 Medieval or post-medieval peat cutting on Exford Common (Monument)
- MMO1903 Medieval or post-medieval peat cutting on Furzehill Common (Monument)
- MMO1904 Medieval or post-medieval peat cutting on Furzehill Common (Monument)
- MMO2489 Medieval or post-medieval peat cutting on Swap Hill (Monument)
- MSO12685 Medieval or post-medieval peat cuttings on Hadborough (Monument)
- MMO2455 Medieval to 20th Century peat cutting west of Wellshead Plantation (Monument)
- MMO2508 Medieval to modern peat cutting on Lucott Moor (Monument)
- MMO2444 Medieval to modern peat cutting southeast of Alderman's Barrow (Monument)
- MMO2263 Medieval to modern peat cuttings south of Lang Combe Head (Monument)
- MDE12830 Mortuary enclosure east of the Chapman Barrows (Monument)
- MEM22328 North Furzehill Farmhouse (Building)
- MDE8989 Possible Bronze Age barrow or post-medieval peat stack on Furzehill Common (Monument)
- MSO7367 Possible peat cutting site northwest of Horner Gate (Monument)
- MSO10116 Possible post-medieval peat cutting baulk northwest of The Mound (Monument)
- MDE21568 Possible post-medieval peat cutting on Cussacombe Common (Monument)
- MDE21564 Possible post-medieval peat cutting south of Moorhouse Ridge (Monument)
- MMO1709 Post-medieval or modern peat cutting south of Farmcombe Plantation (Monument)
- MSO7138 Post-medieval or modern peat cuttings on The Chains (Monument)
- MSO7387 Post-medieval peat cutting at Lucott Moor (Monument)
- MMO2928 Post-medieval peat cutting between Long Holcombe and Hangley Cleave (Monument)
- MMO2173 Post-medieval peat cutting east of Hoaroak (Monument)
- MSO10465 Post-medieval peat cutting east of The Chains (Monument)
- MMO2172 Post-medieval peat cutting north of Pinkery Farm (Monument)
- MMO2309 Post-medieval peat cutting north of The Warren (Monument)
- MMO2168 Post-medieval peat cutting northeast of Pinkery Farm (Monument)
- MMO2169 Post-medieval peat cutting northeast of Pinkery Farm (Monument)
- MMO2311 Post-medieval peat cutting northwest of Brendon Two Gates (Monument)
- MMO2541 Post-medieval peat cutting northwest of Larkbarrow Farm (Monument)
- MMO2171 Post-medieval peat cutting northwest of Pinkery Farm (Monument)
- MMO2525 Post-medieval peat cutting on Black Mires (Monument)
- MMO2312 Post-medieval peat cutting on Brendon Common (Monument)
- MMO2931 Post-medieval peat cutting on Burcombe (Monument)
- MMO2932 Post-medieval peat cutting on Deer Park and Little Halscombe (Monument)
- MMO2305 Post-medieval peat cutting on Dure Down (Monument)
- MMO2304 Post-medieval peat cutting on Exe Plain (Monument)
- MMO2310 Post-medieval peat cutting on Exe Plain (Monument)
- MMO2162 Post-medieval peat cutting on Furzehill Common (Monument)
- MMO2161 Post-medieval peat cutting on Furzehill Common (Monument)
- MMO2170 Post-medieval peat cutting on Goat Hill (Monument)
- MEM22582 Post-medieval peat cutting on Halscombe (Monument)
- MMO2164 Post-medieval peat cutting on Hoaroak Hill (Monument)
- MMO2767 Post-medieval peat cutting on Horcombe (Monument)
- MMO2930 Post-medieval peat cutting on Horsen Hill (Monument)
- MMO2929 Post-medieval peat cutting on Long Holcombe (Monument)
- MMO2536 Post-medieval peat cutting on Manor Allotment (Monument)
- MSO7954 Post-medieval peat cutting on Porlock Common (Monument)
- MMO1698 Post-medieval peat cutting on Shilstone Hill (Monument)
- MMO2538 Post-medieval peat cutting on Stowey Allotment (Monument)
- MMO2495 Post-medieval peat cutting on Swap Hill (Monument)
- MSO10402 Post-medieval peat cutting on Swap Hill (Monument)
- MEM22605 Post-medieval peat cutting on The Chains (Monument)
- MEM22606 Post-medieval peat cutting on The Chains (Monument)
- MEM22680 Post-medieval peat cutting on The Chains (Monument)
- MEM22681 Post-medieval peat cutting on The Chains (Monument)
- MMO2165 Post-medieval peat cutting on The Chains (Monument)
- MMO2163 Post-medieval peat cutting on Thornworthy Common (Monument)
- MMO1699 Post-medieval peat cutting on Withycombe Ridge (Monument)
- MMO2416 Post-medieval peat cutting south of Larkbarrow Corner (Monument)
- MMO3239 Post-medieval peat cutting south of Long Holcombe (Monument)
- MSO10467 Post-medieval peat cutting southeast of Pinkworthy Pond (Monument)
- MMO2768 Post-medieval peat cutting southwest of Cornham Ford (Monument)
- MMO2927 Post-medieval peat cutting southwest of Long Holcombe Cross (Monument)
- MMO2166 Post-medieval peat cutting southwest of The Chains Valley (Monument)
- MMO2306 Post-medieval peat cutting west of Blackpitts Farm (Monument)
- MMO2632 Post-medieval peat cutting west of Hoar Oak Cottage (Monument)
- MMO3202 Post-medieval peat cuttings at Litton (Monument)
- MSO10401 Post-medieval peat cuttings north of Warren Farm (Monument)
- MMO3240 Post-medieval peat cuttings northeast of Darlick Farm (Monument)
- MSO6983 Post-medieval peat cuttings northwest of Driver Farm (Monument)
- MSO10172 Post-medieval peat stacks north of Larkbarrow Farm (Monument)
- MEM23333 Post-medieval peat stacks on Sherdon (Monument)
- MEM22419 Post-medieval shippon at Cloggs Farm (Building)
- MDE12857 Post-medieval turf cutting at Hoaroak Farm (Monument)
- MEM23334 Post-medieval turf pits on Porlock Allotment (Monument)
- MEM23331 Post-medieval turf stack on Challacombe Common (Monument)
- MSO7019 Post-medieval turf stack on Swap Hill (Monument)
- MEM22675 Post-medieval turf stack on The Chains (Monument)
- MEM22677 Post-medieval turf stack on The Chains (Monument)
- MEM22678 Post-medieval turf stack on The Chains (Monument)
- MEM23332 Post-medieval turf stack south of the Chapman Barows (Monument)
- MEM22592 Undated mound on The Chains (Monument)
Referenced Events (1)
- EEM14519 2013: WS - Exmoor turf cutting
Record last edited
Mar 16 2022 10:24AM