MMO1667 - Post-medieval field boundaries south of Copper Wood (Monument)

A series of post-medieval field boundaries are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. They are similar in size and form to other extant boundaries in the area and appear to be part of a post-medieval enclosure.

A series of post-medieval field boundaries are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs to the south of Copper Wood. Between five and ten boundaries are centred at SS 8062 4624 on a steep east facing slope defining regular rectangular and sub rectangular fields of varying sizes. The boundaries range in length from 100 metres to 400 metres and are on average 2 metres wide. They are similar in size and form to other boundaries in the area which are still in use, and appear to be part of a post-medieval enclosure, removed to create a larger single field sometime around the end of the 19th Century. However, to the east of this field system a deserted farmstead known as Withycombe is visible (see MSO7746) and it is possible that the field system is associated with this settlement. Several of the boundaries are depicted on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map, suggesting that this field system was partially in use when the map was published in 1889. Further examination will be required to assess when the other boundaries passed out of use. [1-3] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [4]