MMO3379 - World War Two military training damage on East and West Anstey Commons (Monument)

On aerial photographs of the 1940 and 1950s an extensive area of moorland is visibly covered by surface disturbances; areas of deep rutting created by vehicle tracks probably caused by military training activities during the Second World War.

The area from West Anstey Common to East Anstey Common can be seen to be covered by surface disturbances of Second World War date. The disturbance is clearest on aerial photographs of the 1940s and 1950s. The disturbance is probably caused by Second World War military training activities and is visible as deep rutting from vehicle tracks crossing the common. It is most apparent as circular tracks, apparently created by vehicles repeating turns in tight circles causing erosion of the ground surface. In the years following the war the tracks are soon obscured by vegetation and many have probably been levelled, but some may have left lasting scars on the ground surface and caused damage to historic features. [1,2] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [3]