Stile And Flanking Walls 200 Metres North-East Of The Great Sluice

Stile and flanking walls, built around 1815, are located 200 metres north-east of the Great Sluice in Braunton Marsh. These walls are constructed from shale rubble and feature vertical stone capping, sloping down on either side of the dyke. At the top, there is an opening with a large slate placed on edge to create a stile between brick piers topped with rounded stone rubble. Below the stile, there is a stone step that has been repaired with concrete. The flanking walls serve to fence sections of the dyke, allowing for separate grazing.

Braunton Marsh was likely reclaimed from the tidal waters of the River Taw during the Middle Ages. However, between 1811 and 1815, the marsh underwent more extensive drainage authorized by an Act of Parliament, driven by the Lords of the Manors of Braunton Garges, Braunton Abbotts, Braunton Arundel, and Saunton, who held grazing rights on the marshes. This reclamation project resulted in the recovery of 949 acres of land, overseen by surveyor John Pascoe and engineer James Green. The nearby Horsey Island was reclaimed later, between 1852 and 1857.

The late enclosures in Braunton are historically significant, particularly as the Great Field, located immediately north of the marsh, is one of only three surviving open field systems in England. As of 1984, there were only five farmers operating in the Great Field, with their holdings still widely dispersed, reminiscent of the medieval period when there were about 100 farmers.