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Summary

Site of a road and other features identified in the garden of 2 Southgate Cottages to the west of South Gate in 1981

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX58SW/83

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ROAD (XV to Post Medieval - 1500 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

Weddell, P. J., 1981, Excavations at Southgate Cottages, Lydford, 119-140 (Article in Serial). SDV254239.

A small excavation was carried out in advance of development in the garden of 2 Southgate Cottages in Lydford in March/April 1981. The site lies immediately inside the presumed line of the southern wall of the town and some 25 metres from the presumed site of the South Gate. The earliest features consisted of rock-cut post holes, a pit and a shallow linear feature possibly related to a timber building. These features contained no dateable material but are likely to date to the late Saxon or Early Medieval period. Subsequent to this the main evidence of occupation on the site consisted of a series of street surfaces, some associated with possible buildings, running east-west along the inside of the town wall. This suggests that an important street may have followed this course from the Late Medieval period to the 18th or early 19th century when the property was divided into two. Pottery included Medieval cooking pots and a high proportion of 17th century North Devon wares. The site may not have been occupied during the Medieval period; perhaps reflecting Lydford's decline. The earliest dateable street surface was laid down after 1600, so by then at least, the South Gate was in use.

Weddell, P. J., 1981, Interim Excavation Report (Report - Excavation). SDV254238.

Report dated 28th April 1981.

National Monuments Record, 2013, 901361 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV254240.

Excavations at 2 Southgate Cottages in Lydford. The site lies just within the presumed line of the eastern Saxon defences. The earliest, undated features comprised a gully, timber-slot, pit, drain and six post-holes, but no discernable pattern emerged. An east-west hollow-way was laid across the site post-1600. This developed into a constructed street, used as a throughfare to, presumably, the South Gate of Lydford, until circa 1800. Overall, seven phases of activity were detectable.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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