MMO1903 - Medieval or post-medieval peat cutting on Furzehill Common (Monument)

An area of peat cutting and possible drainage can be seen in an area of Furzehill Common enclosed in the post-medieval period, on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards. The cuttings are very irregularly shaped and distributed and have probably been worked over many years, potentially from the medieval period. However, a single very narrow linear cut over 160 metres in length and more regularly shaped pits to the east of the site may support the suggestion that more organised attempts at peat extraction were made in the post-medieval period. The cuttings are centred, roughly, on SS 7340 4527, at an elevation between 350 and 360 metres above Ordnance Datum. A smaller area of turbary can be seen approximately 300 metres to the northwest. [1-3] A study of the archaeology and history of peat exploitation on Exmoor’s moorlands provides additional background on the practice and sites. [4] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [5]