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| HER Number: | MDV109338 |
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| Name: | Mill Race from St James Weir to Countess Wear |
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Summary
The mill race or leat from St James Weir to Countess Weir is suggested to have been in existence by the 12th century to serve the mills belonging to the priory of St James. It is possible that it was subsequently rebuilt or extended in the 14th century to serve the mills at Countess Wear.
Location
| Grid Reference: | SX 934 906 |
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| Map Sheet: | SX99SW |
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| Admin Area | Devon |
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| Civil Parish | Exeter |
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| Ecclesiastical Parish | TOPSHAM |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- MILL RACE (Early Medieval to XXI - 1066 AD to 2015 AD)
Full description
Weddell, P. J., 1987, St. James' Priory, Exeter, 10-11 (Report - Assessment). SDV347691.
The mill race or leat is suggested by Jackson (TDA 1972) to have built by the Courtenay family in the 14th century. According to Hooker's history of Exeter Edward Courtenay is said to have built a 'wear in Topsham beside the Church of St James. Jackson further suggests that the City of Exeter bought the mills served by the wear and leat in the mid 16th century as it was intended to build a new canal along the line of the leat. At the time the leat served Wear Mills.
However, although the documentary evidence for the sites of the medieval mills associated with St James Priory is not precise it is quite likely that there was a weir and leat here before the late 14th century. A 12th century grant specifically mentions land 'in which is made the leat of the water of their mill'. A lease in the 1260s refers to land which lay between Topsham Road and the road which leads to the church and mill of the house of St James.
Parker, R. W. + Passmore, A. J., 2008, Archaeological Assessment of the St Loye's Foundation, Topsham Road, Exeter, 2, 3, 4 (Report - Assessment). SDV356478.
Medieval corn mills at Countess Wear (at SX93909030) were served by a leat of the River Exe, and by the 18th century it supplied a large paper mill complex.
Eighteenth and nineteenth century maps show an island in the middle of the leat. This is a curious feature, and its presence may indicate that prior to this date there was a further mill along the leat, perhaps within or close to the present site.
Ordnance Survey, 2015, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV357601.
'Mill race' marked.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV347691 | Report - Assessment: Weddell, P. J.. 1987. St. James' Priory, Exeter. Devon Religious Houses Survey. 18. A4 Unbound + Digital. 10-11. |
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| SDV356478 | Report - Assessment: Parker, R. W. + Passmore, A. J.. 2008. Archaeological Assessment of the St Loye's Foundation, Topsham Road, Exeter. Exeter Archaeology. 06.18. Digital. 2, 3, 4. |
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| SDV357601 | Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2015. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #68688 ] |
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Associated Monuments
| MDV73963 | Parent of: Weir to the south of St James Weir, Exeter (Monument) |
| MDV54298 | Related to: St James Mill, Heavitree, Exeter (Monument) |
| MDV16547 | Related to: St James's Weir on the River Exe, Exeter (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events: none recorded
| Date Last Edited: | Oct 17 2025 5:21PM |
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