Principal Archaeological Landscape: Winsford Hill (30)

Location Winsford Hill is a south east to north west ridge rising to 428m above sea level, abutting enclosed land on the south east side. On the north west side a series of deep combes run out of Winsford Hill, including the Punchbowl. The B3223 from Dulverton to Exford runs along the spine of the hill bisecting the PAL. Description of archaeology The area of Winsford Hill PAL is extensive, reaching approximately 4km in length. It contains significant relict medieval field systems comprising ridge and furrow and field banks within a system of fossilised route ways. There are a number of prehistoric landscape features in the form of Bronze Age round barrows, notably Wambarrows, and the Caractacus stone, an inscribed memorial stone (possibly early Christian). Principal significance This PAL is significant due to the extent and preservation of the relict medieval field systems, which are distinctive of the southern commons of Exmoor. It is also notable as a well preserved prehistoric funerary landscape.