Reasons for Designation
Exmoor is the most easterly of the three main upland areas in the south
western peninsular of England. In contrast to the other two areas, Dartmoor
and Bodmin Moor, there has been no history of antiquarian research and little
excavation of Exmoor monuments. However, detailed survey work by the Royal
Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, has confirmed a comparable
richness of archaeological remains with evidence of human exploitation and
occupation from the Mesolithic period to the present day.
Boundary stones are single free-standing upright stones which were erected in
significant positions as territorial boundary markers and they are usually of
rough, undressed local stone. Edgerley Stone survives well and is sited in a
highly visual location along the route of a major thoroughfare through Exmoor.
Its first known function was to mark the boundary of the Royal Forest of
Exmoor and it continues to mark the county boundary between Devon and Somerset
and the parish boundary between Exmoor and Challacombe. Edgerley Stone is well
documented and is known from 13th century charters to be located in its
present position from at least 1207.
Details
The monument includes a boundary marker stone known as Edgerley Stone located
on the north side of the B3358 between Challacombe and Simonsbath to the south
of Bill Hill. The marker is formed by a rough wedge-shaped stone of local
origin set into a grass verge adjacent to the road. It is 1.5m in height,
0.8m across at its widest point gradually narrowing to 0.45m at the top, and
is up to 0.4m thick. Traces of the names `F Isaac' and `F Bray' have been
inscribed into the front of the stone, probably in antiquity as the formal
lettering and weathered condition of the inscriptions suggests. An Ordnance
Survey benchmark is also visible on the stone.
Edgerley Stone is known to have been in its present position from at least
1207 when it was already marking the boundary of the Royal Forest of Exmoor.
It is referred to in a charter granted by King John at Winchester which
disafforested the men of Devon and confirmed the appointment of William de
Wrotham as warden of the forests of Somerset. Prior to the 13th century the
boundary stone would have stood in open moorland although it is not possible
to establish a closer dating for its origin. Several later records of the 17th
century refer to the stone which was and still remains an important and
well known boundary marker. It forms one of eleven such boundary markers which
defined the Devon county boundary, a boundary which remained unchanged until
the early 19th century.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
35583
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
