MMO1228 - Post-medieval or modern trench north of Larkbarrow Farm (Monument)

A linear earthwork consisting ditch and accompanying spoil is visible as an earthwork. It has been interpreted as a slit trench dating from the Second World War but may be earlier in origin, perhaps a 19th Century prospecting trench.

A grass covered linear earthwork, centred SS 8183 4345, lies in rough grassland 500 metres north of Larkbarrow farmhouse, at around 390 metres above Ordnance Datum. The earthwork consists of a ditch, 45 metres in length, 4.5 metres in width and 0.8 metres in depth, with spoil heaps running the length of its southeast edge. The spoil takes the form of two mounds, 1 to 1.3 metres in height, connected by a low bank, 0.3 to 0.4 metres high. The feature is most probably a slit trench constructed during the Second World War when the area was used as a military training ground. [1] The feature was recorded at 1:2500 scale using differential GPS as part of an archaeological survey of the Larkbarrow area. The survey was undertaken by the Exeter office of English Heritage at the request of the Exmoor National Park Authority. A client report was produced as part of the survey work and is available from the NMRC, Swindon. [2,3] A linear earthwork consisting ditch and accompanying spoil is visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards as an earthwork approximately 550 metres north of Larkbarrow farm, centred on circa SS 8183 4345. It may be the remains of a slit trench of Second World War date. However it does not resemble a typical military fieldwork and does not appear recently excavated on aerial photographs of 1946. It may therefore be earlier in origin, perhaps a prospecting trench of nineteenth century date. [4-7] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [8]