MMO2455 - Medieval to 20th Century peat cutting west of Wellshead Plantation (Monument)

An area of peat cutting of possible medieval to 20th Century date can be seen as numerous irregularly shaped pits and disturbed ground on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards, centred on circa SS 82344125, approximately 250 metres to the south of Larkbarrow Corner. The identifiable pits vary in shape and size, but most are less than 5 metres across. It is probable that much larger but shallower pits are also to be found in this area, but due to the difficult nature of the evidence on aerial photographs, the transcription attempts only to convey the area and general character of the excavations, and should be taken only as indicative of the extent of individual pits. The heyday of peat cutting on Exmoor was probably in the first half of the 19th Century, although small scale cutting probably continued well into the 20th Century. [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]