MMO1702 - Medieval or post-medieval field boundaries west of Oare Common (Monument)

The remains of field boundaries of medieval or post-medieval date are visible on aerial photographs as earthworks on Oare Common, Turf Allotment and Cloud Allotment, centred on circa SS 7976 4575. The boundaries follow the contours of the hills and combes on the eastern side of Badgeworhy Water from Farmcombe plantation in the north to Land Combe in the south. The boundaries are not marked on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map and the curvilinear shape of the earthwork defined fields and enclosures might support an interpretation of a date prior to the 19th Century, possibly even of medieval origins. This may be strengthened by the apparent slighting of the boundary earthworks in several places by the course of a catchwater system carriage leat of probable 19th Century date (see MMO1705). Some of the boundaries on the higher slopes haven been levelled by ploughing following postwar enclosure. An earthwork enclosure and further similar field boundaries are visible approximately 200 and 400 metres to the north. [1-5] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [6]