MSO8694 - Stonecist or Stonchiste, a Bronze Age barrow or cist used as a Royal Forest boundary marker (Monument)

The name "Stonchiste" and variants, recorded in Exmoor Forest boundary perambulations from 1279 onwards, has been thought to indicate the existence of a Bronze Age barrow or cist later reused as a boundary marker.

SS 807 360, Exford 8. What "might or might not" have been a stone lined grave originally enclosed by a round barrow, referred to as `Stonecist' used as a boundary point on the Perambulation of the Forest in 1298 and 1301 known as `Stonechite' or `Stonhunt' in 1279, and `Stonchite' in 1298 as `Stonchute' in 1301, as `Stone Crest' or `Stone Ridge' in 1676 and 1689, as `Stone Christ' in 1678 and `Ridge Stone' in 1815. It was on or near the boundary of the parishes of Exford, Exmoor and Withypool. Another possibility is that it is a corrupt writing of Stanceastel, usually meaning the foundations of a Roman villa, but this seems improbable in a region where Roman remains are exceedingly rare. Site visited by Grinsell 23rd July 1969 when there were several large slabs in the vicinity. N.B. The Somerset HER record mentioned by the NRHE [6] in support of this record as [2] is included on the Exmoor HER as MSO11739. This information does not appear to be included in the latter record, which relates to a Bronze Age barrow and is some distance from either plotted location for this record. The correct PRN for this record was 35529, which has been merged with this record. [1-3] There is no trace of `large slabs' at or near SS 807 360 (the reference given by Grinsell in [1]) and it seems most likely that he is referring to the to the junction of the Exmoor/Exford/Withypool Parish boundaries on White Hill at SS 8068 3752 some 1500 metres due north. This is on the old Forest boundary and some years ago there was `a disturbance of large stones' [4] here on the northern side of the Exford/Withypoole boundary hedge. [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. [6,7]