Source/Archive record SEM8446 - Archaeological walkover survey at Prayway Meads (EPM11)

A survey was undertaken as part of the historic environment strand of the Exmoor Mires Project (EMP) in advance of mire restoration work at Prayway Meads. There are two restoration areas at the western and eastern ends of the site centred on SS 766 415 and SS 778 413. Fieldwork was undertaken on 20th December, 2011 by Lee Bray, the Exmoor Mires Project Historic Environment Officer. Proposed restoration work at Prayway Meads consists of the blocking of a series of drainage ditches orientated broadly north-south at right angles to the slope that are draining water from the higher ground to the north. The survey identified several features which augment to the picture of agricultural improvement painted by the information from the HER. Prayway Meads contains a range of archaeology in a relatively small area that demonstrates the extent of 19th century efforts to improve the agricultural productivity of Exmoor’s Landscape. These included laying our new fields, draining mires and managing water to increase land quality, all of which were probably part of the establishment of Warren farm in the mid 19th century. As such the archaeology of Prayway Meads has a degree of local significance which should be accounted for in mire restoration mitigation measures on the site. Additionally, the depth of peat, reaching 2m at the western end of the site, is unusual on Exmoor and represents a potentially significant palaeo-environmental and archaeological resource which should be protected by mire restoration, although mitigation measures should be taken during ditch blocking.