MDE20812 - World War Two military training site on Ilkerton Ridge (Monument)

Vegetational mark suggesting a subrectangular banked enclosure was noted on aerial photographs. It was suggested to be associated with World War Two military training earthworks in the area during a subsequent field visit.

Vegetational mark suggesting a subrectangular banked enclosure were noted on aerial photographs on the west side of Ilkerton Ridge. [1-3] SS7180 4444 Vegetational mark suggesting subrectangular banked enclosure seen by McDonnell on aerial photographs [3]. SS7177 4442 A subrectangular embanked feature situated on heather and rough grass clad gentle north facing slopes at about 350 metres above Ordnance Datum on Thornworthy Common. It measures 5.8 metres northeast to southwest by 3.8 metres internally and is about 0.3 metres deep. It has obviously been deeper but the interior had become waterlogged and overgrown with moss and rough grass. The excavated material has been dumped mainly along the southeast side forming an earthen bank (the most prominent feature of the site) which is now overgrown with heather and about 0.5 metres high and up to 1 metres wide. An apparent break in the northeast side may have been an entrance. The area is very wet and the majority of debris on the upper southeast side may have been to deflect water. The feature appears modern and is probably associated with World War Two military training earthworks in the area (see MDE20814), possibly as an observation post for mortar firing. Surveyed at 1:2500. [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]