Farming and Land Use

Exmoor pony being fed by children

Agriculture has always been central to Bampton’s economy. The surrounding countryside supported a network of farms, smallholdings and manorial estates, forming the backbone of local life.

Much of the historical record focuses on farm names, land ownership and early spellings. While valuable as a reference, the key takeaway is that farming was not just subsistence—it was the economic foundation of the town.

Today, many historic farm names survive in place names and property boundaries, reflecting long-standing patterns of land use.