Deserted Farmsteads on Exmoor

There are many reasons why farmsteads become abandoned. In southern Exmoor, as elsewhere, the pressure for larger farms led to the amalgamation of farmsteads in the 19th century. A small unnamed farm on Holmoor at Exford was abandoned c.1840 as were Castle Farm in Hawkridge and Road Farm at Winsford. Other small farms became agricultural labourers’ cottages about the same date, including Slade in Hawkridge. Riscombe in Winsford was two farms in 1839, but shortly afterwards became two labourers’ cottage.