MMO1697 - World War Two trackway on Brendon Common (Monument)

A looped track of Second World War date is visible on aerial photographs, located at circa SS 766 455 on Brendon Common. The trackway, which abuts a pre existing trackway marked on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map, was probably worn by the passage of military vehicles on training exercises, possibly associated with the firing range in operation on Exmoor during the Second World War. The precise function of this loop of track is unclear, but numerous turning circles visible within its area indicate it was probably used for the manoeuvres of heavy vehicles, possibly Armoured Fighting Vehicles, more commonly known as Tanks. The trackway is no longer visible by 1964. [1-4] 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]