Summary
The farmstead at Selworthy is set at the lower end of the village and the farm is an amalgam of many small farms. Most of the farmland is in Selworthy Parish, apart from the southern most fields south of the river Aller.
Identification Images (0)
Monument Types
- FARM (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Description
The farmstead at Selworthy is set at the lower end of the village and the farm is an amalgam of many small farms. Most of the farmland is in Selworthy Parish, apart from the southern most fields south of the river Aller which is in Luccombe Parish. [1]
This farmland includes HBSMR 115645 - flint find spot.
A Heritage Impact Assessment (SNA69060 / ENA10084) and Geophysical Survey (SNA69061 / ENA10085) were commissioned in 2021 over the southern most area of the farm either side of the River Aller. These were undertaken to assess the impact of "Stage 0 river restoration" project that aims to restore natural processes to a length of the River Aller as it flows northwest.
In summary the restoration proposals included:
- areas of excavation/ regrading to achieve a more varied landform across the flood plain
- areas of infilling of the channel with material won from excavations
- thinning of the riparian corridor vegetation and partial removal of a hedge bank
- replanting of a hedgerow along the line of a former hedgerow and additional planting within the wider site
In the HIA a 1km buffer around the site boundary was used as the study area to assess the known archaeological context of the site (event drawn on HBSMR as 1km from approx centre - see report for detailed area).
SNA69060 HIA
The greatest impact would be the removal of the 19th century footbridge. It is recommended that a record of the structure be made, in order to preserve it by record. A series of five late 19th or early 20th century sluices are recorded within the site, one of which is no longer extant. The report discusses the relative merits of these assets and the impact to the heritage significance is discussed. The replanting of the hedgerow/bank would enhance the character of the landscape by restoring former field patterns. The site has not been subject to archaeological investigation, so the potential for below-ground remains is not known. A geophysical survey was undertaken to address this.
The proposals would alter the character of the river, but it is not considered that the changes would represent significant harm to the historic landscape character of the area, or to the setting of any designated heritage assets (see LVA).
SNA69060 Geophysical Survey
The survey identified ten groups of anomalies comprising 32 anomalies: a historic field boundary; a modern service pipe; two short linear anomalies probably associated with shallow ground disturbance and a palaeochannel; a possible pond or hollow probably associated with the formerly/periodically west ground either side of the river, 22 discrete anomalies probably indicative of natural features such as tree throws or geological variation; two areas of possible modern and magnetic disturbance or thermoremanent debris; and three modern features or deposits with metallic material. Geological variation on the site is associated with a possible band of geology but more likely former channels or flood plain of the River Aller.
It did not identify obviously significant archaeological remains, and historical features on the site have largely been removed of obscured from the geophysical record. This may indicate severe truncation of any buried archaeological resource, but is also a result of the underlying geology. Areas of magnetic or shallow disturbance on the site may also relate to the 19th-20th century management/utilization of the river across the site. Further archaeological mitigation is probably not warranted for this site, given the nature of the results and the proposed development. [2-3]
Selworthy's farm buildings were surveyed in detail in 1993. [4]
An archaeological assessment of Selworthy Farm prepared by Isabel Richardson in 2008 includes comprehensive historical information relating to ownership and occupation of the farm. [5]
References
- SNA65286 - Unpublished document: Isabel J Richardson. 2008. Selworthy Farm Archaeological Survey.
- SNA69060 - Unpublished document: Toop, N. 2021. River Aller Floodplain Reconnection, Heritage Impact Assessment, Holnicote Estate, Somerset.
- SNA69061 - Geophysical Survey Report: South West Archaeology Ltd. 2021. Land west of Venn Plantation Selworthy, Exmoor, Somerset: Results of a geophysical survey.
- SZN48220 - Unpublished document: Isabel Richardson. 2001. Holnicote Estate Archaeological Survey, Somerset. 115209.
- SZN8363 - Vernacular Building Survey: Isabel J Richardson. 1992. VBS: Selworthy Farm.
Designations
None Recorded
Other Statuses and References
- HER/SMR Reference (External) (Exmoor NP HER): MEM15281
- National Park (Exmoor)
Associated Events
- ENA6837 - Field Survey, Selworthy Farm, Archaeological Survey
- ENA10084 - Heritage Assessment, River Aller Floodplain Reconnection, Heritage Impact Assessment
- ENA10085 - Archaeological Intervention, Geophysical Survey - Land West of Venn Plantation, Selworthy (Ref: 211007)
Associated Finds
None Recorded
Related Records
- Related to: Bridge over River Aller, Selworthy Farm, Holnicote Estate (Routeway) - 115644 / MNA168179
- Related to: Flint finds, Selworthy Farm, Holnicote Estate (Find Spot) - 115645 / MNA168180