MSO11678 - Post-medieval building north of Spire Cross (Monument)

Small enclosure shown on 1962 OS map. [1] This is the site of a cottage. [2] Group of short low banks of broken walls seen on aerial photographs. [3,4] A building depicted but not named on a late 18th Century county map may be this site. [5] On the 1838 tithe map two small enclosures are shown in this area; they are part of "Halse Plantation", and belong to Pitt Farm. This site represents the eastern enclosure, which contains a building at this date. [6] On a late 19th century Ordnance Survey map the eastern enclosure no longer contains a building. [7] In 1973 the eastern enclosure is mapped as an isolated enclosure in woodland. [8] The enclosure lies at the head of a steep sided combe on the southeastern edge of Winsford Hill at SS 8908 3394. It measures approximately 24 metres northeast to southwest by 20 metres northwest to southeast and is defined by a substantial earth and stone bank. A further substantial bank, 1 metre high and 1 metre wide, divides the enclosure, and can be equated with a boundary depicted on the tithe map. There are no obvious remains of the building depicted on the tithe map, although at the time of the visit the area was covered in dense bracken. For the western enclosure, see MSO11677. [9] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [10]