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Summary

Probable location of Babeny Chapel, a medieval or earlier chapel that served Cator and Sherril hamlets. This site is included in the local list of Nationally Important Dartmoor sites.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Deserted Medieval settlement and site of building known as Babeny Chapel

Other References/Statuses

• Dartmoor Non-designated Heritage Asset (Evidential): NI Site
• National Monuments Record: SX67NE55
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 442503
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67NE/259

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CHAPEL (Built, Medieval - 1066 AD? (Between) to 1539 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, SX67NE55 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV285876.

1843, Untitled Source (Cartographic). SDV285880.

Lady Mead field No 2248.

Beeson, M. M. R. + Masterman, M. C. H., 1979, An Archaeological Survey of Enclosed Land in Widecombe-In-The-Moor Parish, 63 (Report - Survey). SDV337078.

(Site visited 15/05/1979) In Lady Mead or Lady Meadow Field, centred at SX 676750, concealed by trees is the ruin of a building, referred to locally as the ruin of a chapel, whose foundations are sufficiently rough and massive to suggest an early and perhaps medieval date. The ruin is rectangular, with the walls more or less intact, between knee-and chest-high measuring 3 1 or 32 paces by 10 paces internally. The entrance is to the south-east.
Lady Mead field is L-shaped, with a spinney. There are ruins here, possibly of a chapel, consisting of rectangular foundations at the back of Rogue's Roost cottage, referred to as the remains of a chapel by the local inhabitants. The remains measure 10.2 meters by 3.9 meters by 1.5 meters. At the west end are very rough foundation stones. Some stones taken to build a linhay recently by local farmer.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

Not recorded by RCHME Aerial Photograph Project.

French, C., 1987, Untitled Source (Personal Comment). SDV346479.

Documentary evidence that Cator and Sherril Hamlets had their own chapel in earlier times. Other details: Author's initial not confirmed.

Gerrard, S., 2004, List of Sites Remaining to be Considered for Designation on Dartmoor (Un-published). SDV345444.

This site was considered for designation as a Scheduled Ancient Monument during the Monument Protection Programme. The programme ended before the entire list of sites was successfully scheduled so this is included on a local list of Nationally Important Sites.

GeoInformation Group Ltd, 2010, 1:625 2010 Colour (12.5cm resolution) (Aerial Photograph). SDV346026.

Area of probable foundations visible on aerial photography.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV1249 - An Archaeological Survey of Widecombe-in-the-Moor

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.