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Summary

A series of hollow ways or packhorse ways visible as earthworks near Bat's Castle in Dunster Park. They appear to pre-date the deer park and probably went out of use with the emparking in 1755. They average 3 metres wide and 0.8 metres deep.

Monument Type(s):

• HOLLOW WAY (Medieval to AD 18th Century - 1066 AD to 1755 AD)
• PACKHORSE ROAD (Medieval to AD 18th Century - 1066 AD to 1755 AD)

Description

[SS 9931 4214] Earthworks [NR] [1]

Facing Bat's Castle and commanding the combe running south-west from it is a line of two shallow trenches about 100 yards long cut in the hillside, one about 15-18ft. above the other. In all probability these are trenches made during the investment of the Castle at the time of the Civil War. [2]

These "earthworks" appear to be nothing more than parallel hollow ways. They certainly pre-date the deer park in which they are situated, and probably went out of use with the emparking in 1755. [3]

Additional bibliography. [4]

A series of hollow ways or packhorse ways averaging 3 metres across and 0.8 metres deep. [5]

The hollow ways or packhorse roads described above are clearly visible on aerial photographs. They are very similar to packhorse roads seen elsewhere on Exmoor, such as those around the boundaries of the former Royal Forest (see MMO495). [6-7]

The earthworks were noted by McDonnell as part of a complex of banks and ditches in Dunster Park forming trackways and parts of rectangular enclosures. Some of the curving banks are likely to be the edges of bracken patches (many haven't been plotted).
N.B. The GIS information for this record has not been updated to reflect the McDonnell data, as it is not clear if the enclosures are of the same date. [8-11]

This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [12]

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1962, 6 Inch Map: 1962 (Map). SEM7220.

<2> Page, W. (editor), 1911, The Victoria History of the County of Somerset, 523 (Monograph). SMO5358.

<3> PITCHER, GHP, 1960s, Field Investigators Comments, Ordnance Survey visit, 20 June 1965 (Unpublished document). SMO7319.

<4> Dixon, J., 1980, Somerset Parish Survey 3: Carhampton, 15 (Article in serial). SSO1043.

<5> Wilson-North, R., Various, Field Investigators Comments, RCHME Field Investigation, 4 April 1998 (Unpublished document). SMO7329.

<6> Various, Various, Vertical Aerial Photograph, RAF CPE/UK/1980 3190-91 (11 April 1947) (Aerial photograph). SMO4068.

<7> Toms, K., 2007-2009, Exmoor National Park NMP: SS 94 SE (Archive). SMO7570.

<8> Various, Various, Vertical Aerial Photograph, CEP/UK/1980 3017 (April 1947) (Aerial photograph). SMO4068.

<9> Various, Various, Vertical Aerial Photograph, HSL/UK/71-177 99/8804 (September 1971) (Aerial photograph). SMO4068.

<10> McDonnell, R., 1980, Gazetteer of Sites in the Exmoor National Park Identified through Aerial Photography (Unpublished document). SEM7406.

<11> Various, 1993-, Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Team staff comments, Catherine Dove, 8 January 2020 (Verbal communication). SEM8630.

<12> Historic England, Various, National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry, 36905, Extant 17 May 2022 (Digital archive). SEM7987.

Sources and Further Reading

Related records

Other References

• Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MMO221
• Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11137
• Local List Status (Unassessed)
• National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 SE20
• NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 36905
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)
• Somerset SMR PRN (Somerset): 33444

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