South West Archaeology Projects
South West Archaeology offers a broad range of archaeological services that will help you meet you planning needs. Our skilled team is available for watching briefs and archaeological excavation as well as historic building recording and scheduled monument consent. For each of the archaeological services which we provide we will also co-ordinate and compile the necessary reports to satisfy the requirements of the planning conditions. We have presented the results of hundreds of projects ranging from simple HER (Historic Environment Record) entries up to full-scale excavation reports. If a potential development site can be assessed prior to the drawing up of detailed plans then it should be possible to minimise any costs and delays resulting from archaeology by minimising the impact of the development upon any areas of archaeological significance. Below you will find a cross-section of projects that we have been involved in. Many of these projects are ongoing and we retain a professional interest in.
Appledore
South West Archaeology were asked by a client to conduct a historic building survey, desk-based research and archaeological monitoring and recording on works in advance of and during the proposed development of an area to the rear of a Grade II listed property on Market Street, Appledore. The historic building survey clearly showed that the building although heavily altered in the 19th century was originally a post-medieval dwelling probably of a three-cell plus cross-passage type. In fact Market Street as a whole clearly represents some of the earliest development of the settlement of Appledore.
View the Appledore gallery.
Barnstaple
A desk-based assessment, historic building recording and a series of evaluation trenches formed the assessment carried out by South West Archaeology at Bear Street, Barnstaple in May 2009. The former orchard at the rear of the property provided evidence of primarily 19th and 20th century remains in the area affected by the proposed developments. There was however a large quantity of medieval (primarily early 16th century) pottery. The historic buildings primarily dated to the 19th century, with a few remaining traces of a late 16th/17th century building. The building retained its 19th century seed sorting machinery through all of its three floors, which reflected the buildings former use.
View the Barnstaple Gallery.
Braunton
In March 2010 South West Archaeology prepared a historical and archaeological assessment of the Grade II* listed buildings at Ash Barton, Braunton prior to a planning application being made for the property. Ash Barton is a small courtyard mansion of 16th/17th century appearance, with an adjacent threshing barn, and a further large building known as “the chapel”. The main building appears to have developed from a three-cell cross-passage house with a detached service block of probable medieval date into a courtyard mansion with other significant alterations to the building occurring in the 19th and 20th centuries. The threshing barn dates from the 17th century but the desk-based study shows that originally it was a much larger building that extended further to the west and north prior to 1888. “The chapel” consists of the remains of a two storey lodgings to which a three storey agricultural building was added to the south in the 19th century.
View the Braunton gallery.
Cullompton
In September 2009 South West Archaeology undertook an evaluation on land at Shortlands Lane, Cullompton, in advance of development. The initial documentary and cartographic research indicated we should encounter medieval and post-medieval material and features relating to the town water supply and the locally notable Bilbie bell foundry. In the event, we spent three months excavating part of a very well-preserved Roman settlement occupied from the earlier 2nd century through into the later 4th century. Evidence for structures was limited, and it seems our site lies immediately to the south of any buildings. Unlike many urban or rural sites, the amount of later disturbance was quite limited, and over much of the site Roman soil layers survived, allowing detailed stratigraphical relations to be established. The site was criss-crossed by ditches and features that can provisionally be assigned to at least 5 phases. The earliest feature was a deep prehistoric ditch crossing the site north-to-south. This was followed by four phases of Roman occupation, with evidence for a planned system of land division. In terms of the artefactual evidence, a large assemblage and wide range of Roman ceramics were recovered, including the usual range of local Greywares, as well as imported finewares from elsewhere in Roman Britain and the Continent. A stamped amphora handle could even be traced to a specific location in the lower Guadalavir valley in Spain! Seven coins were recovered from stratified deposits, including a clipped coin of the usurper Magnentius (350-3 AD), indicating occupation on the site continued into the later 4th century AD. The most significant find was a Roman cremation burial encountered on the western edge of the site. Two pottery vessels – the larger surviving intact – were found covered by a decorated shale board. The board was badly damaged and is currently being conserved by the staff of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum. The primary vessel is an unusually large Butt Beaker, an imitation of Black Burnished wares, with almost unique incised decoration. This contained the remains of a cremated individual, together with a range of iron nails and studs, and the neck of a delicate glass unguent bottle. While most Roman cremations are dated to the 1st-2nd centuries AD, there are hints that this burial could be later, and it may form part of a contemporary cemetery on the edge of the Roman settlement. The Roman settlement at Shortlands Lane is highly significant in the context of Roman Devon, as opportunities to excavate such sites on any scale are few and far between. Post-excavation work on the finds is ongoing, and further information will be posted as and when it becomes available.
View the Cullompton gallery.
Doddiscombsleigh
A historic building recording and desk-based assessment were conducted upon a Grade II listed cider barn in Doddiscombsleigh prior to its conversion into a holiday cottage. The documentary evidence and the surviving machinery within Cider Barn both suggest that the present building was probably constructed and the machinery installed between c.1840 and 1860. This ties in with an expansion of the farm and the expansion and adaptation of the other farm buildings at that time, associated with a change in ownership.
View the Doddiscombesleigh gallery.
Kingskerswell
Kingskerswell Manor House.
This long-term conservation project included a desk-based assessment and archaeological monitoring
and recording of works at Kingskerswell Manor House, Devon, from 2001-2010. The work was
commissioned by the Kingskerswell Manor House Trust in order to undertake an archaeological
assessment of the Manor House before and during clearance work prior to opening the site to the
public. Until the summer of 2000 the site of the Manor House was hidden in undergrowth and small trees
and used for the grazing of livestock. During 2000 the ruins were cleared by the Manor House Trust
revealing the remnant structure and fenced from the rest of the enclosure protecting the site from further
animal damage. The work was undertaken to investigate and record any archaeological features and
deposits affected by the conservation work.
The manor is known to have been a residence of the wealthy Dinham family from the 14th-15th
centuries. After the 15th century, the Courtenay family of Powderham held the manor and the buildings
probably declined to the status of a tenanted farm. Further evidence suggests they became ruinous in
the 18th century. The ruined manor house at Kingskerswell is of considerable importance to the
understanding of manor house development in Devon. It possesses the classic English tripartite plan of
hall, integrated parlour cross-wing with associated chapel annexe, and services comprising buttery and
pantry, divided by a through passage to a detached kitchen in line with the main range of buildings. It is
also the only site in Devon where it is possible to move freely through an unaltered 13th-14th century
manor house: all others still being in occupation or having their fabric obscured by later alterations and
additions.
View the Kingskerswell gallery.
Porthleven
The proposed development site for 30 houses on the northeast side of Porthleven was subject to archaeological excavation by the South West Archaeology team in May 2010. The excavations revealed traces of Bronze Age activity including several ditches and a small group of postholes in the northern portion of the site. The finds for the site supported the radio-carbon dates for these features as they include several sherds of Middle/Late Bronze Age Trevisker ware.
View the Porthleven gallery.
South Molton
The old historic fabric of the Gaol building in South Molton was recorded prior to and monitored
throughout the recent renovation and conversion works. The Old Gaol is a purpose-built municipal
prison; part of a small complex of buildings constructed for the administration of justice in South Molton
during the early to mid part of the 19th century. It comprises a rectangular two storey building of
semi-coursed blocky mixed stone rubble with creamy lime pointing and with a recently added modern
pitched slate roof and modern windows at first floor level. The building survey highlighted the utilitarian
ethos of the builders of the gaol in prevention of further crime by either reforming the criminal or
protecting society from him. Here there was a clear emphasis on security, with the impenetrable ceilings
of the cells, the heavy reinforced doors and barred openings, and the lack of openings on three of the
four elevations. The gaol must also have been a far more sanitary place than the former gaol, with
whitewashed walls, lime floors, an exercise yard and day rooms, with the possibility of the inmates
performing useful tasks during daylight hours.
View South Molton gallery.
Stoodleigh
The bell frame at St. Margaret’s Church, Stoodleigh, was recorded by South West Archaeology Ltd prior to its removal and replacement. A desktop assessment was undertaken, and this identified the importance of the patronal Daniel family in the 19th century history of Stoodleigh Church. In particular, Thomas Carew Daniel (1848-1923) seems to have impoverished his family in the 1880s through the extensive rebuilding he undertook at Stoodleigh Church and his home at Stoodleigh Court.
The Church of St. Margaret sits within a rectangular churchyard immediately adjacent to the house and farm of Stoodleigh Barton, one of the original Domesday manors in Stoodleigh parish. While some earlier fragments survive, the fabric of the extant church dates to the 15th century, but was extensively altered and augmented in 1879-80.
The bell frame at Stoodleigh Church is contemporary with the installation of a new ring of six bells installed in c.1867 and paid for by Thomas Carew Daniel’s grandfather Thomas Daniel (1798-1872). The oak frame is fairly simple (Pickford type 6.1), with unpegged joints supplemented by iron draw bolts. This frame had become unsafe due to the damage caused by water ingress impacting on its weak design, a design which unwisely attempted to cram six bells into a space suitable only for five.
The relationship between the church building and the Daniel family forms an interesting local reflection of regional and national trends in architectural fashion and gentle aspirations (Thomas Carew Daniel was High Sheriff in 1883). The renovations at Court and Church proved a step too far for the Daniels, and the family sold up and left the parish almost as soon as their great works were completed.
View the Stoodleigh gallery.
Tiverton
South West Archaeology were asked by to conduct a building survey, cartographic desk-based research, and an archaeological evaluation followed by excavation on the site of the Electric Bingo Hall, Newport Street, Tiverton in advance of the demolition of the building and during the development of the site.
The documentary and cartographic evidence suggests that the former standing building on the site known as the Electric Bingo Hall was primarily used as a drill hall which was converted for use as a cinema in the early 20th century and latterly to a bingo hall with a first floor snooker club. However, the evidence from within the building itself, although unattested within the documentary record, suggests additional possible former uses as both warehouse and theatre.
The initial archaeological evaluation of the site revealed that its southern part contained no deposits or features of archaeological significance. In the northern part of the site, however, various features (generally pits) were found, some of which contained medieval ceramics. This material dated mainly to the 13th century but also included a possible Saxo-Norman sherd. In limited areas shallow deposits, including a possible floor and truncated clay-bonded wall footings, also survived with the pottery again suggesting a medieval origin. Generally these were covered by a layer of modern material relating to the 19th century building that had stood on the site. However, a strip about 7m wide along the eastern edge of the site lay outside the footprint of this building and more substantial archaeological deposits were found to have survived in this area. The lowest of these were later medieval or early modern in date and overlying medieval features cut into the natural or abutting probable medieval footings. Some of these layers were suggestive of demolition in the 17th century. A layer of cobbling that survived in much of the northeastern corner of the site post-dated this demolition. Later layers overlay this and there was considerable disturbance (notably service trenching) from the 19th century. The archaeology of this part of the site thus suggested medieval occupation fronting onto Newport Street with demolition in the 17th century and the subsequent construction of structures and cobbled surfaces, with Victorian and later activity overlaying and, in places, cutting through this.
View the Tiverton gallery.
Treyarnon
South West Archaeology undertook a short programme of archaeological monitoring in September 2009 at Treyarnon which revealed a largely featureless expanse of weathered shale bedrock, into which the foundations and service trenching of the former dwelling had been cut. In the northeast corner of the site, where the soakaway for the new dwelling was to be located, parts of three intersecting linear features were identified. One of these features curved gently to the north and may form part of a penannular ring-ditch of presumed Prehistoric or Romano-British date. With the exception of two small beach pebbles, no finds were recovered from the site.
View the Treyarnon gallery.
West Putford
South West Archaeology were asked to monitor and record repair work at St.Stephen’s Church, West
Putford, Devon. This consisted of three principal elements; the first was the archaeological investigation
and recording of the deposits accumulated between the roof and ceilings, the second element involved
the recording of the roof structures of the nave and transepts and the third element involved the
archaeological recording of the south transept window.
The nave and north transept roof were revealed to have rather finely constructed double arch-braced
trusses, whilst the south transept was of poorer quality, suggesting that this roof had either been altered
or was a re-used structure. The existing lath-and plaster barrel ceilings were demonstrated not to be
original features but later insertions. The east window recorded in the south transept had been subject
to alteration but was likely to have been of late 13th century origin. This was an earlier date than
previously suggested for much of the structure of St Stephen’s.