MSO10928 - Warren Farm, Exmoor (Monument)

Warren Farmstead was built by John Knight in 1844-45 and is noted as a good and little altered example of a reclamation farmstead. It has been suggested that a settlement existed here prior to the Knight family's acquisition of the land.

Built by John Knight 1844-45 at a cost of £331. [1] Situated in area called "The Warren". Associated sites include seven pillow mounds (E.G. MSO10930), earthworks (MSO10937 and MSO10938), enclosures (MSO10950, MSO10951 and MSO10953) and leats (E.G. MSO10952). Also possible prehistoric settlement and field system as well as post-medieval settlement remains (MSO10929 and MSO10959). [2] A very good and little altered example of one of the reclamation farmsteads. Only the eastern range is missing. Listed building. N.B. This site was not listed in March 2020, and had not been previously. [3,4, 13] Underground chamber revealed during alterations - possibly an icehouse. [5] Behind the house are a quadrangle of farm buildings, sheltered by beech trees. The farm is recorded as measuring 500 acres and employing 6 labourers in 1851. The farm is still in use (in 2013). [7] The farmstead and wider farm is depicted and labelled on the 25 inch 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map. [8] The farmstead is shown on 2018 MasterMap data. Further built additions have been made to the north and northeast of the main farm complex. [9] The farmstead was put up for sale by tender in April 1983. [10] Warren Farm was built by John Knight between 1844 and 1848 in an area known as "The Warren". It is noted as a good and little altered example of one of the reclamation farmsteads. Place name evidence, as well as the presence of numerous pillow mounds and associated earthworks suggests that a settlement existed here prior to the Knight family's acquisition of the land. [1,3,4,11,12] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [14] The heritage asset was assessed for inclusion on the Exmoor Local Heritage List in February 2024. It was noted that it has a moderate distinctive design similar to other Knight farms with farmhouse at one end of courtyard of outbuildings. It's historical association has been assessed as high with known occupants and links to Knights. It's evidential value is also high as house and outbuildings likely to retain a number of original features. It's social communal value is moderate being a well known farmstead on Exmoor and located on a popular public footpath. It's group value has been deemed to be high as the 19th century structures form a good group in an associated contemporary farming landscape including a contour leat. It's collective value is high with other buildings in the Knight Estate. It was decided to add the asset to the Local Heritage List. [15]