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Summary

An inscribed memorial stone dated to around 600AD. The inscription, down one edge of the stone, is suggested to read DAPANNOCI NASC FI. It is not known if the stone is in its original location. There was formerly a linhay in the south-west corner of the field and half slots cut into the stone suggest it was used as one of the front supporting posts.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1486968: Early Christian inscribed stone, Uphill, Buckland Monachorum

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NW/90

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• COMMEMORATIVE STONE (Roman to VII - 43 AD to 700 AD)

Full description

Pearce, S. M., 1982, Church and Society in South Devon, AD 350-700, 16-17, Pl. 1d (Article in Serial). SDV336077.

Post Roman inscribed stone identified as memorial stone by Pearce, in an appendix to the article. The inscription is difficult to decipher, but may include the word 'filius'. Pearce suggests date of c.AD550.

French, H., 1985, P.R. Stone (Worksheet). SDV250359.

Notes on the location of the stone at Coombe Farm. The NGR though is given as SX504662.

Okasha, E., 1986, New stone (Worksheet). SDV250360.

The stone looks to be a genuine Early Christian inscribed stone. It is rather illegible, probably due to animals rubbing against it. Oshaka gives a probable reading of the inscription as: [D] A P [. ] [?FI .] [N I C I] N [ ] S C [I], with the X fili Y formula.

Child, P., 2002, Location of stone (Personal Comment). SDV250361.

The NGR is probably SX50136595. The stone is still visible.

Historic England, 2023, Early Christian inscribed stone, Uphill Farm, Yelverton, Devon (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV365538.

Notification that Historic England have been asked to consider the inscribed stone for listing and have completed their initial assessment.
The stone, which dates to about 600AD is a freestanding earth-fast granite pillar, about 1.75m high above ground. There are two half slots cut into the stone and the top, north-east corner has been knocked or chiselled off.
It is not known if the stone is in its original position but is likely to have been in its current location since before 1800. There was formerly an open-fronted linhay in the south-west corner of the field, which is shown on the 1845 Tithe Map, and it is likely that the stone was used as an upright to support the roof. The half slots may have been made for this purpose. The linhay was probably removed prior to the Second World War.
The inscription, down one edge of the stone, is thought to read DAPANNOCI NASC FI, which could translate as Dapannicuius, son of Nascus, although other interpretations are possible. Danpannicius is a 6th century boy's name, of Welsh or Irish origin.
See report for further details.

Historic England, 2025, Early Christian inscribed stone, Uphill, Buckland Monachorum
Buckland Monachorum (Schedule Document). SDV365995.

The inscribed memorial stone at Uphill has been added to the Schedule of Monuments. A measured survey was made in 2000 and it is included in Oshaka’s ‘Corpus of Early Christian Inscribed Stones of South-West Britain’ (1993). The inscribed stone forms part of a wider group with other surviving memorial stones, of which over 30 are designated. It gives a glimpse into local society in the early medieval period and is important evidence for our understanding of the social organisation and the development of literacy and Christianity during that period. It is also an insight into commemorative practices and ritual in early-Christian society. The inscribed stone survives well, although it has eroded to an extent; however, this is not surprising for a stone which has stood exposed to the elements, possibly since the 6th century, and has been used more recently as an animal rubbing-post. Despite this, the inscription remains legible, and its text is instructive evidence towards the study of early inscriptions of this type. The stone's use as a structural post for a linhay or barn has resulted in two wedge cuts near the top of the south face; the technique used to create them predates 1800, adding to our knowledge of the stone’s more-recent history.

The inscribed stone survives as an earth-fast brownish granite pillar, roughly rectangular in section. On the east face of the stone is a string of letters stretching for over 1m. The text, in Latin, is clearly visible but is deteriorated, particularly near the base. The text has been read as DAPANNICI NASC FI where the second ‘I’ is horizontal. This could translate as ‘the stone of Dapannicius, son of Nascus’ but other interpretations are possible, including a reversal of the names. The inscription is worn due to the stone being used by cattle as a rubbing post.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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