Summary
Remains of a small bridge across the stream at the head of the combe N of the farmstead. The bridge carries the track from the farmyard W across the deep gully to the fields on the other side of the combe. The bridge may have doubled as a small dam with culvert as a form of water control. There is a series of leats and field gutters that run off the stream into the fields to the N down the combe. The tithe map shows a ‘kite’ shaped pond above the bridge, and an oval shaped pond is shown on the 1888 map. The track is clearly indicated, and again shown on the 1904 map.
The pond has now silted up, and the bridge is overgrown with vegetation. Some small trees are established on and around the structure. Despite recent clearance work the structure is difficult to assess. The S side still retains some evidence of stone construction, but the N side has clearly slumped and partially collapsed. The bridge is about 6m E-W and varies from 1.6m to 2m wide. As a consequence the bridge is too narrow for modern farm vehicles apart from quadbikes.
The area of the gully to the southeast has been cleared and some earthmoving undertaken to deal with drainage and sewage from the farm. The immediate context for the bridge has been lost on this side. The track from the farmyard has also been widened.
Identification Images (0)
Monument Types
- BRIDGE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Description
Remains of a small bridge across the stream at the head of the combe N of the farmstead. The bridge carries the track from the farmyard W across the deep gully to the fields on the other side of the combe. The bridge may have doubled as a small dam with culvert as a form of water control. There is a series of leats and field gutters that run off the stream into the fields to the N down the combe. The tithe map shows a ‘kite’ shaped pond above the bridge, and an oval shaped pond is shown on the 1888 map. The track is clearly indicated, and again shown on the 1904 map.
The pond has now silted up, and the bridge is overgrown with vegetation. Some small trees are established on and around the structure. Despite recent clearance work the structure is difficult to assess. The S side still retains some evidence of stone construction, but the N side has clearly slumped and partially collapsed. The bridge is about 6m E-W and varies from 1.6m to 2m wide. As a consequence the bridge is too narrow for modern farm vehicles apart from quadbikes.
The area of the gully to the southeast has been cleared and some earthmoving undertaken to deal with drainage and sewage from the farm. The immediate context for the bridge has been lost on this side. The track from the farmyard has also been widened.
References
Countisbury Tithe map
1889 OS 1:2500 map
References
- SNA62446 - Report: Nick Berry. 2004. Archaeological and Historic Landscape Survey of Kipscombe Farm, Countisbury, Devon.
Designations
None Recorded
Other Statuses and References
None Recorded
Associated Events
None Recorded
Associated Finds
None Recorded
Related Records
None Recorded