Medieval or Post medieval routeways crossing Countisbury Common, Watersmeet

Record ID:  101003 / MNA149646
Record type:  Routeway
Protected Status: None Recorded
NT Property:  Watersmeet; South West
Civil Parish:  Countisbury; North Devon; Devon
Grid Reference:  SS 76017 49410
Choose which type of base map appears on the map Choose map:
Choose which type of labels appear on the map features Choose labels:

Summary

Two roads or tracks of post-medieval or earlier date can be seen historic mapping (one was visible as an earthwork during field survey in 2004). They appear to have been amalgamated to form a single road to Kipscombe Farm from the south by the end of the 19th Century.

Identification Images (0)

Most Recent Monitoring

None Recorded

Monument Types

  • TRACKWAY (Medieval to Late 19th C - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)

Description

Slight dip in the pasture marking the line of an old track to the farm from the main road. The track runs SSE from the farm entrance then veers SE towards the junction of the A39 with the minor road to Brendon. The line of the track is 2 – 2.5m wide. The track is shown on all the historic maps, and has probably only gone out of use in the last 50 years. [1]
A ditch defined road or track across Countisbury Common can be seen as a cropmark on aerial photographs, at circa SS 7599 4934. The route is marked on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1889 and is therefore, at the latest, of post-medieval date. Prior to the enclosure of much of Countisbury Common following the Second World War this was probably the main route from Kipscombe Farm to the road now known as the A39. The farm approach is now via a track to west. Kipscombe Farmhouse is thought to date from the 17th Century. Nonetheless, the sinuous and curvilinear boundaries of many of the adjoining fields indicate, in the opinion of this authority, a probably medieval origin for this farmstead. Indeed, the pattern of small and somewhat irregular fields to the south of Kipscombe Farmhouse, with larger fields arrayed behind, plus cropmark evidence for abandoned fields immediately to the east, may support the interpretation that Kipscombe Farm previously was the location of a small hamlet at the head of Kipscombe Combe. Hints of a possible junction or crossroads at circa SS 7599 4934, not marked on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map, may also indicate the road predated the A39. [2]

References

  • <1> SNA62446 - Report: Nick Berry. 2004. Archaeological and Historic Landscape Survey of Kipscombe Farm, Countisbury, Devon.

  • <2>XY SNA69541 - Report: Hegarty, C and Toms, K. 2009. Exmoor National Park National Mapping Programme Management and Summary Report. 1461867. [Mapped feature: #201107 Trackway/road, ]

Designations

None Recorded

Other Statuses and References

  • HER/SMR Reference (External): MMO1787
  • National Monuments Record Reference: SS 74 NE133
  • Pastscape Reference: 1461867

Associated Events

  • ENA10533 - Heritage Assessment, Exmoor National Park National Mapping Programme

Associated Finds

None Recorded

Related Records

None Recorded