Lacoma, Exmoor

Lacoma is a deserted medieval village on Exmoor in North Devon. It is a scheduled monument that sits within the boundaries of Exmoor National Park.

Toponymy

The name Lacoma may be a shortening of "Lank Combe".[1]

Description

There is documentary evidence in the family papers of the Doones of Braemuir that Ensor, a troublesome son of James Stewart, Lord Doune, was in 1616 driven out of Scotland into exile on Exmoor, where he lived under the name of Doone until his death in 1684, producing four sons, who themselves had illegitimate issue. The doings of the family on Exmoor were "not peaceable", and they were recalled to Scotland in 1699.[1]

The site is listed on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register as "Badgworthy deserted medieval village, Doone's Houses".

According to the Domesday Book, a longhouse at the site is identified with farmer named Edwin who worked there in 1096.[2]

References

1. "MDE1258 – Deserted medieval settlement at Badgworthy Water – The Historic Environment Record for Exmoor National Park". www.exmoorher.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
2. Balmond, Faye (2015). Principal Archaeological Landscapes on Moorland in Exmoor National Park (PDF). Exmoor National Park. p. 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 20, 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2023.