MMO2635 - Possible medieval or post-medieval routeway southwest of Shallowford (Monument)

A number of shallow ditches visible on aerial photographs as earthworks closely resemble the former medieval or post-medieval packhorse road visible to the east. This may represent an alternative route for the road.

A number of shallow ditches visible on aerial photographs as earthworks in a field in south west of Shallowford, Lynton and Lynmouth closely resemble the former medieval or post medieval packhorse road visible to the east. Centred at approximately SS 7122 4486 a number of irregular, criss-crossing ditches are visible, running roughly northeast to southwest. It is possible that the ditches here represent an alternative route for the road, or a separate packhorse road, passing through Shallowford and on around the boundaries of the former Royal Forest. No trackway or road is depicted at this location on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1889, suggesting the routeway had been abandoned prior to this date. Burton (1989) identifies a trackway at Shallowford which he describes as an "ancient routeway" which later became a well used packhorse road, crossing from Lynton to Mole Chamber. Another area of similar trackways can be seen west of Shallowford, possibly a continuation of this road. [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]