Exmoor National Park HistoricEnvironmentReview 2019

May 2019 Welcome... to our latest review of work on ’s historic environment focussing on activities in 2017 and 2018. Looking back, we can see a whole variety of outstanding achievements by individuals, groups and organisations across the National Park. Research in every period is represented, from the earliest hunter gatherers to roadside fingerposts! Many projects are on-going, and new projects are emerging, promising many years of exciting results to come.

A new Historic Environment A leat explored ResearchbyDulvertonWeirandLeatConservationTrust Record website! showedtheleatatTownMillswasonceclearlydivided An updated website www.exmoorher.co.uk for the bythetimeitreachedDulvertonLaundry,aformerSilk Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record andCrepeMill,buthowtoinvestigatethisunderwater (ENPHER) was launched in May 2019. wasaproblem.Unconventionalassistancearrivedwith theAvon&PoliceUnderwaterUnit. “WeweredelightedtobeabletohelptheTrust”saidPC DaveAllen,“DulvertonLeatprovidedanexcellent trainingopportunityfortheteam,thoughwewerenot abletofindanyevidenceoftheleatdividingintotwowe wereabletoprovidetheTrustwithphotographsanda filmtakeninsidetheculvert”. Thecurrenthypothesisisthattheleatdividedbetween LeatBridgeandHollandHouse,withthesecondleat beinginfilledinthe1820sor1830s.Moredetailsofthe researchcanbefoundinDulvertonLibraryoronthe Trust’swebsite: www.dulvertonweir.org.uk

Thisdatabaserecordsarchaeologicalsitesandhistoric buildingsdatingfromthePalaeolithictothepresentday. Alltypesofsitesareincluded:earthworks,ruins, buildings,landscapes,industrialremains,militarysites, historicboundariesandroutewaysaswellasartefacts discoveredbychance.Itincludesinformationon archaeologicalinvestigationsanddesignations,together withthesupportingresources-books,journals,websites, maps,photographsandillustrationsprovidingthe evidenceofhowthesesitesdevelopedandchanged throughtime. Thenewwebsiteis‘mobilefriendly’forpeopleoutand aboutandhasadirectlinktotheENPHERdatabase, meaningthatnewinformationisinstantlydisplayedon thewebsite.Datacanbesearchedwithanormaltext ‘searchbox’orbybrowsingamap.Userscanalsoexplore differentaspectsofthearchaeologyofExmoor,suchas differenttimeperiodsandsitetypes,finds,researchand projects,notablefiguresandExmoorlegends.Auseful listofresources,suchasexternalwebsites,linkstolocal groupsandinformationonourloanboxteaching Dulverton Leat resourcesisalsoavailable.

2 Historic Environment Review 2019 The Farley Water An unexpected Landscape Project discovery on Farley Hill Followingasuccessful2016 DerryBryantdiscoveredmorethansheexpectedona excavation,theMesolithicExmoor volunteertrainingdayrunaspartoftheHeritageLottery ResearchGroupreturnedtoFarleyHill funded‘HeartofExmoor’projectinFebruary2014.The in2017and2018forfurther trainingwasonidentifyingandrecordingflintscatters excavationsattheMesolithicsitenearthespringhead. aroundspringheadsandincludedusingahand-held Ageophysicalsurveyin2017,underthedirectionof GPS.ItwasheldattheMesolithicsiteonFarleyHilland JohnOswinoftheBath&CountiesArchaeological provesyoudon’talwaysfindwhatyouarelookingfor. Society,highlightedseveralanomalieswhichwere successfullytestedbyexcavationinsmalltrenches. Farley Hill Pit Burntflintandtwopostholeswerediscovered,although nosuitableorganicmaterialwasrecoveredfordating. Todate529piecesofflinthavebeenrecovered,ofwhich 128areretouchedtoolsfromthelateMesolithic.The majorityofthefindsarewasteproducts(debitage)and thistogetherwithsixcores,fromwhichbladeswere struck,indicatetherawmaterialwasbroughttothesite forknapping.Therawmaterialisbeachpebblewhich wasprobablycollectedfromLynmouthbeach,Wringcliff BayorfurtherdownthecoastatBaggyPoint.

Above: Retouched flake Derryrecalls “therehadbeenheavyrainintheprevious Left: Retouched fewdays.Wewalkedalongthetrack,andstartedtofind blades (top Mesolithicflintflakesandbladeletswhichhadbeen row); microliths washedoutofthesoil.Ipickedupabladeletwhichwas (bottom row) lyingontopofalowbankbesidethetrack.Lookingat with utilised thesideofthebankIponderedonthenaturalsoil/layers flakes and ofpeatonemightexpecttoseeonthemoor,whenI blades. notedadownwardslopingbandofredsoil.Itwas noticeablydarkerthantheyellowishsandynaturaland Eightthousandyearsagohunter-gathererscrossedthe includedsmallredstonesandcharcoal.Itlookedlikea land,carryingbeachpebblesthatweresuitablefor definitecutfeature,coulditbeafirepitorhearth?This knappingintotoolsthatcouldbeusedforhuntingand wasveryexciting!” butchering.Arrowheadsandcompositecuttingtools ThepitwaslaterrecordedbyLeeBrayand2charcoal areamongthosefoundatFarleyWater.Heretheylit samplesradiocarbonweredatedtotheearlyBronzeAge, theirfiresatthetopofanaturalcombeanderecteda around2076–1823BC,indicatingasecondphaseof temporaryshelterforanovernightstay.Thiswasaplace activityonthesite.Derrycontinues “Iwasverypleasedto wheretheycouldobservedeerandotheranimalswho thinkIhadfoundaprehistoricfeatureonthemoor,close mightcometothespringheadtodrink.Thissmallgroup tothespringhead.Itisevidenceonceagainthat ofhuntersmayhavecomefromHawkcombeHeadona archaeologyonExmoorisclosetothesurface,andcan day’shuntingexpedition,ortheymayhaveclimbedup bespottedintherightconditions.It’sgreatfora fromthecoastatLynmouthtoalandscapethatcould volunteertobeabletoaddanintriguingfindtothe offeraregularsupplyoffoodaspartoftheirseasonal archaeologicalrecordofExmoor”. round.Movingbetweenthecoastalplainandthehigh landwouldopenupavarietyofresourcesthatwere Section drawing of the Farley Hill Pit essentialtoasubsistence economy.FarleyWaterisan importantlateMesolithicsite onExmoorandwillbefurther exploredin2019. Dr. Paula Gardiner

Historic Environment Review 2019 3 A Monument to Endeavour The Brendon Hills was a busy mining landscape in the 19th century. Impressively, between 1856 and 1861 a railway was built to transport iron ore from the mines to Watchet for shipment to South Wales, incorporating an incline a kilometre long operated via a winding house on top of the hill. The mines were active until 1883 and then intermittently until the early 20th century, with the railway finally being dismantled in 1917. The incline and winding house are now a Scheduled Monument owned by the National Park. In the past few years unexplained voids had opened up outside the eastern door of Drum Cottage (in the eastern part of the winding house) and in the area of the brake cable duct, requiring the areas to be fenced off for safety reasons. A programme of conservation works began in 2017 with excavations and recording led by ENPA in conjunction with the West Somerset Mineral Line Association. The brake cable duct was found to be constructed of stone side walls capped with half-length sleeper beams, now rotting and collapsing. The position of former steps on the eastern side of Drum Cottage were identified at the site of another void. In 2018, conifer trees were removed from the northern end of the embankment by the B3224, and the imposing incline revetment wall was cleared of damaging vegetation. The National Park Field Services Team installed new cappings of sleeper beams to the Top: The incline 1875 main cable ducts at the Above: Winding House step The West Somerset Mineral top of the incline, Line Association are along with undertaking Below: Winding House volunteers involved in routine vegetation brake duct conserving the industrial control and drain Below left: Winding house sites and explaining the maintenance. brake duct remains to interested Left: Incline revetment people. They lead monthly walks and special walks or talks for interested groups and hold local exhibitions. More information can be found on their website wsmla.org.uk, a valuable resource for walkers and historians with photos and records of all the evidence collected. More volunteers are needed to join this small and friendly group!

4 Historic Environment Review 2019 Conservation works at VisitorstoWithypoolHillwillnoticeadeadgorsehedge likelytherouteissimplyfollowedbythosecrossingthe surroundingthelowstonesofWithypoolStoneCircle. summitofthehill,perhapsunawareoftheancientsitethey MonitoringforENPAin2015raisedconcernsaboutthe arepassingthrough.Thetemporaryringofcutgorsehas impactofawideninganderodingtrackthroughitscentre, beenfixedaroundthecircletogivethesitetimeto andHistoricEnglandincludedthecircleonitsnational regenerateitsprotectiveturfcovering.Accessforwalkers registerof‘Heritageatrisk’. visitingthecircleispossiblethroughsidegapsinthedead AlthoughWithypoolHillisopenaccesslandthereisno hedge.Minorworkshavebeenundertakentominimise designatedpathorbridlewayatthispointanditisclearfrom watererosiondownthetrackandanumberofpostshave aerialphotographsthatthetrackhaddevelopedsincethe beensetuptorestrictvehicleaccesstothehill.Itishoped 1980s.Discussionsbetweenthelandowner,HistoricEngland thesesimplemeasuresandagreaterawarenessoftheissues andENPAledtoaprogrammeofconservationand willhelpprotectthisancientsiteintothefuture. recordingbeginningin2017withfundingfromHistoric England.Supportfortheconservationworkwasvoicedata publicmeetingheldinWithypoolinApril2017. AnewsurveyofthesitebyACArchaeologyrecorded30 stones,reflectingalossof7fromwhenitwasfirstsurveyed byGeorgeStGrayin1906.Ataround36metresitislargerin diameterthanthePorlockcircle(theonlyotherstonecircle recordedonExmoor),althoughmanyofitsstonesarevery small.Ageophysicalsurveyindicatedpossibleevidencefor pits,post-holesandheatingactivityintheareaofthecircle. Archaeologicalremainssuchastheselieclosetothesurface andcanbeeasilydamagedordestroyedthrougherosion andthelossofturf. Breakingthelineofthis6metrewideroute,causedbya combinationofpeopleonfoot,horseridersandtheillegal useofvehicles,isakeyaimoftheconservationwork.Itis

The dead gorse hedge around Withypool Stone Circle

Historic Environment Review 2019 5 CAmongsttoheearlieustbuiltsntructuretsoniExnmooragrestone twhereplaceedingro upSsinclutdingocircles,nrows,anedgrids,sas settings,fromsinglesetstonestogeometricpatternsand wellasseveralformationspossiblyuniquetothearea,such rows.Theyarealsosomeofthemostvulnerablemonuments. asthequincunx-ashapesimilartothe“five”symbolona In2017,ENPAandHistoricEnglandfundedtheplacementof die.Thereislittleevidenceoftheiruse,butitislikelythat aninterntoexaminetheconditionofallofExmoor’s theyservedareligiousorceremonialfunction. recordedstandingstones,thefirst Environmentalevidencesuggeststhelandscapewas comprehensivesurveysince1989.With morewoodedatthistime. thehelpofdedicatedvolunteers,over Overthelast4000years,manysitesmayhave 140siteswereassessedbetweenwinter changedorevendisappeared.Standingstones 2017andsummer2018. wereareadilyavailablesourceofbuilding Exmoorboastsanexceptionalvariety materialinlaterperiods,uprootedforfield anddensityofstonesettings drains,boundaries,andgateposts.Most comparedtootherareasofBritain. remainingsitesaresituatedintheupland Likelyerectedbetween3000-1500BC, moors,inparticulartheformerRoyal theyarerarelyoverhalfametretall, Forest(nowExmoorparish),areas leadingtotheirnickname–“Miniliths”. thatavoidedlateragricultural Somestonesstandalone,butmany improvement.

The long stone on West Anstey Common. Photo by Jack Fuller

6 Historic Environment Review 2019 In1989,theRoyalCommissionontheHistoricalMonuments stonesaremorevulnerabletovehicledamageandthere ofEnglandfoundthatatenthofrecordedstandingstones maybebelowgrounddamagetothesite.Somesites andsettingsonExmoorhadbeenlost,andaquarterwere hiddeninvegetationhavebeenre-discovered,afterbeing lesscompletethantheywerebefore.Theresultsofthe recordedasmissingformanyyears.Otherformsof 2017-2018surveysuggestamuchslowerrateofdecline, damaginghuman-actionincludespathsthroughsites,the evenifmanyareverydifficulttofind.About70%ofsiteshad creationofsmallcairnsandlittering. notdeterioratedsincetheirlastsurvey.However,7%ofsites Thissurveyhasalsoprovidedareviewofthesespecial hadrapidlydeteriorated,andothersarerecommendedfor monuments,providingaccuratelocationsandanew minormanagementchangesorintervention. photographicrecordaswellasanupdatetoinformationon Off-roadvehicleshaveposedthemostsignificantthreat, theHistoricEnvironmentRecord.Additionalstonesand withseveralexamplesofvehiclesdamagingstonesand entirelynewsiteshavealsobeendiscoveredincludinga evenknockingthemover.Livestockrubbingwasthemost standingstoneontheslopesofGoosemoorCommonand frequentthreat,whererepeatedrubbingcauseserosionat cairnsonPorlockAllotment,andsomesitesarealreadyin thebaseofthestone,whichifseverecanleadtoitfalling. theprocessofconservation. Brackenandothervegetationcoverwasalsofrequently Jack Fuller affectingsites,insomewayalesserthreat,butconcealed Historic Environment Intern 2017-2018

Jack at Long Stone West Anstey Common

Erosion hollow around a stone in the quincunx on Brendon Common (MDE1257)

Historic Environment Review 2019 7 Discoveries in the peatlands 2017-18 saw several surveys commissioned by the FurzehillCommonwassurveyedinOctober2017bythe Exmoor Mires Partnership in advance of possible mires CornwallArchaeologicalUnit.Aswellastheabundant restoration. Prehistoric cairns and post-medieval mineral prehistoricfeaturesandpeatcuttingsalreadyknowninthe prospecting pits are the most common new discoveries – areaseveralpreviouslyunknownprehistoricmoundsorlater along with quietly rusting pieces of twentieth-century peatstackswererecorded.Alineofshallowpitswith agricultural machinery. accompanyingspoilheapsarelikelytobefrom19thcentury ironprospecting;theyfollowtheeast-westalignmentof similaractivityrecordednearbyfromthe1850s. Intheautumnof2017HazelRileyalsocarriedoutsurveys aroundHawkridgeCommonandthewesternsideofExmoor. Manynewfeatureswereidentified–mainlyprehistoriccairns, muchlaterpeatstacksandclearancecairns,andalsoseveral hollowways,probablymedievalinorigin. Despitethework,manyancientfeaturesarestilltobe discovered,eveninandaroundtheareasbeingsurveyed. FieldvisitsbytheHistoricEnvironmentOfficerhaveturned upseveralcairnslikelytodatefromprehistory. 2018sawthestartofresearchintothemulti-period Old hay rakes on Castle Common landscapeofCodsendMoorincludinggeophysicalsurvey andpalaeo-environmentalanalysis.Continuingresearch InMarch2017awalkoversurveyofLongHolcombewascarried intothelandscapeofagriculturalimprovementcreatedby outbyHazelRiley.Thiswasperhapsthemost‘productive’of JohnandFredericKnightismuchenhancedbytherecently thatyear’ssurveys–recording24sitesinadditiontonineonthe ExmoorHistoricEnvironmentRecord(HER).Themoststrikingof discoveredarchiveofKnightrecordsandcorrespondence, thesewasaBronzeAgecairn10mwide.Itsstonyfabric nowinthecareoftheSomersetHeritageCentre.Bothof encouragesthegrowthofheathbedstrawandinearly theseresearchprojectsareongoingbuttheresultswill summerthecairnisamassofwhiteflowers.Alsonotableon enhanceourknowledgeofhumanactivityonExmoorfrom thissitewasthecomplexityofdrainageditches,implying theBronzeAgetotheVictorianera. thattheeffortsoftheKnightstodraintheareainthe19th Dr Martin Gillard centurystretchedovermultiplephases. Exmoor Mires Partnership Historic Environment Officer

The newly-discovered cairn on Long Holcombe visible as a Havananda Ombashi coring peat samples at The Chains with Dr. T. Daley change in vegetation (Hazel Riley) and Dr. A. MacLeod

8 Historic Environment Review 2019 Prehistoric grazing patterns and understanding BuscombeandTheChains)onExmoorwerecollectedandare currentlybeingstudiedforthisproject. past changes in vegetation patterns on Exmoor’s can help us manage Thedatacollectedsofarpointstowardsclearphasesofmore intenselandmanagement(particularlygrazingfromthe them in the future. fungalspores)duringthelaterstageoftheperiodat Climaticchangesaswellaschangesinhumanlandusehave Spooners(around2500BC).AreasaroundbothSpoonersand influencedthedevelopmentoftheExmoormiresintohow GreatBuscombealsoseemtohavebeeninuseforpastoral theyaretoday.Previousresearchhasshownthatakeytime activitiesatseveralphasesthroughouttheBronzeAgeand periodofvegetationtransitionsonExmoorhappened IronAge.Phasesofincreasedgrazingindicatedbythefungal betweenthelateNeolithicandthelateIronAge(2500BCto sporesarestronglyassociatedwithincreasesingrassland 43AD).Inordertoreconstructthepastvegetationand understandwhatdriverswereinvolved,aPhDprojectmatch- coverinthepollendatafromthesites. fundedbyExmoorMiresProjectandTheUniversityof Duringpreviouslyfundedresearchin2015carriedoutbyProf. PlymouthbeganinJanuary2016. R.FyfeandDr.K.HeadatTheUniversityofPlymouth,both Theprojectusespalaeoecologicalresearchonpeatsamples arablecultivationandburninghadalsobeenidentifiedat frommires.Amongstdifferenttypesofmaterialthatare GreatBuscombe.Thesephasesarenowbeingcomparedwith preservedinpeatarepollenandfungalspores(alsoknownas thenewlyanalysedfungalsporedataduringthisproject,and non-pollenpalynomorphs),andwhenthepeatremainsare placedalongsidetheknownfieldarchaeologyinareas dated(e.g.withradiocarbondatingmethods),precise surroundingSpoonersandGreatBuscombe. reconstructionsofpastenvironmentalchangecanbemade. Atpresent,samplesarebeinganalysedwithintheprehistoric Fungalsporesfromdatedpeatsequencescanbeparticularly fieldsystemsatCodsendMoors,anditishopedthatthesewill usefulforreconstructingpastlandmanagementpractices, shedlightonmorepreciselywhen,andwhich,activitiestook mostnotablythroughsporesoffungithatareassociatedwith placewithinthem. animaldung.Peatsamplesfromseveralsites(Spooners,Great Havananda Ombashi, University of Plymouth

Signposts past and future Villagesandremotecrossroadshavebeenenhancedbya twoyearprojecttorefurbishExmoor’sdistinctive,traditional roadsidefingerposts.Oncedilapidatedsignsnowstand proudlyasanassettotheareaandablessingtovisitors navigatingrurallanes.Localcommunitiesand100 volunteerstookpartintheproject,withcontractors employedformoredifficultsituationsorwhennewparts wererequired.Atotalof219signposts wererefurbished,with 163ofthesecleanedand paintedbyvolunteers.A newbooklet(right) producedaspartofthe Above: A typical mid-20th century projectcelebratesthe signpost made by the Sheldon signposts’storyand Foundry in Wells at Blue Gate, near includesoldphotographs showinghowvaluedthe Simonsbath, with a 1999 name postsareaspartofExmoor’s collar. heritage.Fundedbythe Above right: Two large late 19th HeritageLotteryFund, century or early 20th century arms ExmoorNationalParkand on the post at Wheddon Cross SomersetCountyCouncil, theprojectcametoanendin Right: Project officer Charlotte February2019.However,theworkofthevolunteers Thomas with volunteers Stuart continuesintoanewphasesupportedbyalocalSteering Lawrence and Mike Neville of the GroupandafundsetupinCareMoorforExmoor. Minehead Team. More details are on our website. Photo: John Kemp

Historic Environment Review 2019 9 Recording Dunster’s

ETheaSormleyrse tBArcuhaeiolldogicianlangdNsat uralHistorySociety BuildingRecordingGrouphasbeenawardedfundingby HistoricEnglandtolookat"EarlyUrbanFabric”inDunster. Thetwoyearproject,namedthe‘EarlyDunsterProject’,was launchedwithpresentationsandanexhibitioninJune2018.

Left: Part of jointed cruck frame with part of an early door frame to a solar . Right: True cruck frame in same house. Areportandpubliceventisplannedfortheendofthe projectin2020.Resultswillincludereportsofallthe buildingsrecordedwithhistoricalrecordswhereavailable andgeneralresearchintothesettlement.Sofartheowners of31buildingshavecomeforwardandworkhasbegunon A house with smoke blackened roof timbers in West Street. Seen here is a 13buildings,with7completed.Anyoneinterestedinbeing involvedisinvitedtocontactusthroughENPA. jointed cruck frame with rod and daub infill. Mary Ewing, Early Dunster Project Volunteersareworkingwithothergroups,includingthe DunsterMuseumArchaeologyGrouptomakeasdetaileda recordofDunster’searlyhistoricbuildingsaspossiblewithin thetimeframe.Thisincludespreparingareportoneach buildingwithdrawnplansandphotographs.Thesupport fromHistoricEnglandincludestrainingandafurther programmeofdendrochronology(tree-ringdating),which shouldcomplementthatalreadycarriedoutbyTimeTeam (seeYouTubeandHistoricEnvironmentReview2016)and earlierwork.Thishasshownearly(pre1600)roofevidence in25buildingswithdendro-datingprovidingsignificant evidencefromthe14thand15thcenturies.Inaddition,the twowingroofsofthePrioryhavebeendendro-datedto 1270-1302and1439-1471respectively. volunteers recording

Further Investigations in Dunster TheDunsterMuseumArchaeologyGrouphavecontinued theirinvestigationsattheRomansiteonDunsterBeach, monitoringclifferosionforfindsandundertakingextensive geophysicalsurveys.Inthevillagefurtherworkand geophysicalsurveyisbeingundertakentoinvestigateburgage plotsandalostgardeninthegroundsofDunsterCastlewith thesupportofHistoricEnglandandtheNationalTrust. TheTimeTeamDigitalDigVillageprojecthascompleteda monumental50testpitsinDunsterandhaveproducedan interimreportontheirresearchwhilstcontinuingtoprocess workontheexcavations,findsandbuildingrecording. A piece of Samian from cliff erosion at Dunster Beach

10 Historic Environment Review 2019 Ashcombe Gardens, Simonsbath In1820JohnKnight,abusinessmanfromWorcestershire removedandthenaturalwoodlandplantingenhanced.The paid£50,000forawild,uninhabitedareaof,the dramaticwhiterocksformingaportaltothewildvalley formerRoyalForestofExmoor.Hemovedtherewithhis gardeninvitevisitorstoexplorethesite. wifeandsixyoungchildrenandbeganaprojecttocolonise andreclaimthe16,000acrewildernesstotransformitintoa greatestatewithamansionatitsheartinSimonsbath. NearbyAshcombegardens,nowownedbyENPA,were begunaspartofthisvision,butwerenevercompleted. Tracesofgardenterraces,bridgesandpathsremain,but littleisdocumentedaboutwhatthegardenswereintended tobelike.Agroupofvolunteershavebegunrevealingthe frameworkofthegarden.Workisfocussedonclearingand re-establishingthepathsandrecordingandaddingtothe White Rock, Ashcombe existingplantingscheme.Invasivespeciesarebeing Photo by Bob Walters

Exmoor’s Historic Buildings in 2018 2018wasmyfirstfullyearastheHistoricBuildingsOfficerfor theNationalParkandIcontinuetobeamazedatthediverse rangeofbuildings,frommilestonemarkerstomedieval Packhorsebridges. Alargepartofmyworkhasbeentoundertakeexternal,visual conditionsurveysofthelistedbuildingswithintheNational Park.Thisisundertakenevery5yearsandgivesanideaofwhat theconditiontrendisandtheissuesthatareacauseof concernforowners.Thesurveyalsolooksatwhetherthe buildingisoccupiedorinuse.Thismaysoundlikea straightforwardquestionbutthereareoccasionswhereitisn’t soclear,forexampleisa chesttomboccupiedor inuse!!?? Withjustunder750 structurestoinspectthis isnosmalltask. Althoughnotyet Lyncombe Packhorse Bridge complete,itislikelyto showthatlisted Datingfrom1820,thebuildinghasbeenaddedtoand buildingsonExmoorare adapted.Firstoccupiedbythegardenerandestatesurveyor, generallywelllooked itwaslaterextendedtoformaschoolbeforebecomingan afterbutthatcertain outdooreducation buildingsaremore centrebutithassat Blackford Dovecote vulnerable.Exmoorhas derelictforthebest 34listedbridges,the partof20years.In majorityofwhichhavetowithstandfastflowingandhigh 2018theNational riversandrepairsarescheduledtotakeplacetoatleastfive Parkwasawarded listedbridgesinthecomingmonths. LEADERfunding Unfortunatelyatthetimeofwritingwehaveonelesslisted thatwillgosome buildingthanwedidin2017...thegradeIIlistedred waytoconserving telephoneboxinDulvertonistemporarilyremovedbyBT thebuildingand afterbeingdamagedinanaccident. White Rock Cottage in Ashcombe Gardens removinglater additionstoshow Muchofmytimein2018wasfocusedonSimonsbath.This thebuildingasitwasoriginallyintendedtoappearfromthe 19thcenturyestatevillageformedthehubofJohnKnight’s surroundingdesignedgardenlandscapeinAshcombe. reclamationoftheRoyalForest.WhiteRockCottageisoneof theearliestandbestpreservedofallthebuildingsheerected. Thomas Thurlow, Historic Buildings Officer

Historic Environment Review 2019 11 Longstone Landscape Group Award In 2017 the Parracombe Archaeology and History Society received a Partnership Award from the National Park for the important contribution they have made to the study of Exmoor’s past. The group recorded the prehistoric landscape on Challacombe Common and the deserted settlement of Radworthy as part of the Longstone Landscape Project (see previous HE Reviews). 2017 also saw them begin mapping and researching the individuals and families buried in the graveyard at St Petrock’s Church, now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. Abandoned in the 1870s, the church retains its fine Georgian interior.

Publications: Contact us: Seethepublicationssectiononourwebsiteformore The Historic Environment Team is based in detailedreports.Recentpublicationsinclude Exmoor National Park Authority’s offices: ourRapidCoastalZone Exmoor National Park Authority

l Park or Nationa s No 27 Exmo eport Serie ironment R AssessmentSurvey,anoutline Historic Env Exmoor House Dulverton TA22 9HL. STANDING EXMOOR VEY DITION SUR Main switchboard: 01398 323665. biographyofJohnKnightandthe STONE CON 17-2018 StandingStoneConditionSurvey. 20 Shirley Blaylock YoucanalsodownloadaPDFversion ConservationOfficer(HistoricEnvironment) ofthisreviewat: DirectLine:01398322289 www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/ [email protected] Whats-Special/history/publications. Catherine Dove ConservationAdvisor(HistoricEnvironment) DirectLine:01398322273 [email protected] Martin Gillard Coming up: HistoricEnvironmentOfficer Theeventslistedbelowareaselection.Forbookingand (ExmoorMiresPartnership) moreinformation,detailsoffurthereventsonExmoorand DirectLine:01398315011 opendaysatSimonsbathSawmillsee [email protected] In order to minimise the www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/visiting/events environmental impact of Thomas Thurlow this publication, it has HistoricBuildingsOfficer Barlynch Priory Open Day 2pm - 4pm been printed locally by May 22 DirectLine:01398322285 Toptown Printers Ltd. using vegetable based inks May 26 North Hill Guided Walk 10.30am [email protected] on FSC ® certified paper. June 5 Walk to Timberscombe Iron Age enclosure 5pm HistoricEnvironmentRecordenquiriescanbemadeby Exmoor Mires walk to Horsen Hill and Ferny Ball June 15 emailing[email protected] 10am - 2pm Furtherinformationabouttheprojectsinthisreviewcan July 12 Ralegh’s Cross Mineral Line Long Walk 9.45am - beobtainedfromtheHistoricEnvironmentteamorfrom 2.45pm www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

July 24 Archaeological walk on The Chains 12noon - 4pm @archaeologyenpa Aug 21 A 2 hour walk around historic Exford 10am - 12pm Historic Environment Review 2019: Sept 16-22 CompiledandeditedbyShirleyBlaylock Exmoor’s Historic Buildings Festival Front cover: LongStone,ChallacombeCommonbyLeoDavey check the website for events throughout the week. helps conserve Exmoor’s Sept 16 Barlynch Priory Open Day 11am - 2pm fantastic heritage by Sept 21 North Hill on the Radar 10am - 3.30pm family supporting general event with military vehicles, displays and walks. Radar conservation of the historic Station open. environment, as well as special projects such as CareMoor for Ashcombe Gardens, restoration work at Simonsbath Oct 12 Exmoor’s 19th Archaeology Forum, Dunster and our CareMoor for Historic Signposts appeal. Tithe Barn, focus on Exmoor’s historic buildings. www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/caremoor

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