Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Smarmoor
Hob Uid: 36695
Location : Somerset Somerset West and Taunton Brompton Regis
Grid Ref : SS9522033400
Summary : Smarmoor deserted Medieval farmstead, indicated in the lay subsidy of 1327. The farm comprised 187 acres and included a barn and court which are shown on the tithe map of 1840, to the west were the cottages and gardens of Smarmoor Lower Head. The 1904 25" map shows only two buildings in existance. Some earthwork remains, including field banks, possible house platforms, water meadows and medieval ridge and furrow are visible on aerial photographs. The earthworks of at least two buildings are visible on the ground, as are a trackway and other associated earthworks.
More information : Smarmoor, Brompton Regis. SS 952336. Only fragmentary earthworks andenclosures remain of this probable Md farm site. There has been much agricultural improvement nearby. (Deserted farm detail, with 'Smarmoor Farm' to the south shown at SS 95253369 on OS 6" 1962). (1) SS 95337. Deserted Md farmstead of Smarmoor, indicated in the 1327 Lay Subsidy by the entry of John de Smalemor (a). Barn and court shown as part of Smarmoor Farm on tithe map (b). To the west were cottages and gardens called Smarmoor Lower Head. A platform remains with probable longhouse, and earthworks of other buildings and enclosures are nearby. At SS 948337 are the remains of the cottages shown in 1840. (M Aston. Fieldwork 14 5 77) (2) The 1904 25" map shows only two buildings in existance. (3) The fragmentary remains of the farmstead described by the previous authorities, were seen as well preserved earthworks on vertical air photographs and mapped as part of the Brendon Hills Mapping Project. The farmstead is centred at SS 9525 3366 where a small complex of 3 to 4 small rectilinear enclosures and linear banks, probably field boundaries are visible, to the west at SS 951 336 is a field of ridge and furrow. To the south at SS 9525 3325, are cross-contour drainage features, known locally as catch meadow irrigations systems. (10-11) The earthworks identified during the Brendon Hills Mapping Project were confirmed on the ground during RCHME's Exmoor Project. The well defined remains of a two-celled rectangular building is visible at SS 9527 3367 on the north side of an old trackway. Other amorphous earthworks are visible to the south and south-east. In a field to the north are the vestiges of removed field boundaries. At SS 9523 3358 is a second building also identified during the Brendon Hills Mapping Project. It lies on the western side of a marshy gulley and is defined by slight earthworks 0.3 m high. (12)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source : Somerset archaeology and natural history : the proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society
Source details : M Aston
Page(s) : 136
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 122, 1978

Source Number : 2
Source : Somerset archaeology and natural history : the proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society
Source details : M Aston
Page(s) : 78-82, 88
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 27, 1983

Source Number : 9
Source : Vertical aerial photograph reference number
Source details : SCPD HSL.UK.71-177 run 95 8576 September 1971
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 10
Source : Vertical aerial photograph reference number
Source details : CPE/UK/2082/4027-8/19-MAY-1947
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 11
Source : Vertical aerial photograph reference number
Source details : SCC CS969 9697-8 05-NOV-1981
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 12
Source : Field Investigators Comments
Source details : R Wilson-North 7 Sep 1998 RCHME Field Investigation
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 2a
Source : Somerset Record Society [series]
Source details : Editor: Dickinson FH. Kirby's Quest for Somerset
Page(s) : 177
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 3, 1889

Source Number : 2b
Source : Externally held archive reference
Source details : Brompton Regis Tithe Map 1840 (SRO D/D/Rt 387)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 3
Source : Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)
Source details : 25" 1904
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 4
Source : Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)
Source details : 6" 1962
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 5
Source : Somerset archaeology and natural history : the proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society
Source details : Aston M, Deserted Farmsteads on Exmoor
Page(s) : 88
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 127, 1983

Source Number : 6
Source : The lay subsidy of 1334
Source details :
Page(s) : 265
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : new ser, no.11

Source Number : 7
Source : Externally held archive reference
Source details : Slide SCPD 3.003.0004
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 8
Source : Aerial photograph
Source details : SCPD Wat 9533
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Medieval
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Farmstead, Barn, Ridge And Furrow, Field Boundary, Water Meadow, Field, Longhouse, Deserted Settlement, Enclosure
Evidence : Documentary Evidence, Earthwork

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Post Medieval
Monument End Date : 1901
Monument Start Date : 1540
Monument Type : Ridge And Furrow, Field Boundary, Field, Water Meadow, Deserted Settlement, Building, Barn, Farmstead, Enclosure
Evidence : Earthwork, Extant Building, Documentary Evidence

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Somerset)
External Cross Reference Number : 33392
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SS 93 SE 7
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities : Primary, RCHME: BRENDON HILLS MAPPING PROJECT, NMP
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 1998-01-01
End Date : 1998-10-01

Historic England Research Records

Smarmoor