See important
guidance on the use of this record.
If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.
| HER Number: | MDV44482 |
|---|
| Name: | Leechwell Lane, Totnes |
|---|
Summary
A medieval route leading out from the south of Shambles Gate of Totnes.
Location
| Grid Reference: | SX 800 602 |
|---|
| Map Sheet: | SX86SW |
|---|
| Admin Area | Devon |
|---|
| Civil Parish | Totnes |
|---|
| District | South Hams |
|---|
| Ecclesiastical Parish | TOTNES |
|---|
Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses
- Old DCC SMR Ref: SX86SW/234
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- ROAD (VIII to Late Medieval - 701 AD to 1539 AD (Between))
Full description
Pye, A. R. + Stead, A. J. + Juddery, J. Z., 1991, An Archaeological Assessment and Evaluation of the Totnes Southern Area Access Road, 2 (Report - Assessment). SDV340797.
Leechwell Lane. A medieval route leading out from the south of Shambles Gate of Totnes. Possibly Saxon in origin.
Gent, T. H., 2001, Archaeological Assessment of land at St Katherine’s Way, Totnes, Devon (Report - Assessment). SDV336261.
Humphreys, C., 2005, The Southern Development Area, Totnes, Devon: Results of an Archaeological Assessment (Report - Assessment). SDV363462.
The land is probably Saxon in origin, its course reflecting the lay-out of an early medieval field-system. It represents access from the early settlement to an important water source, the Leechwell.
A reference to Lydelychewille in the late 12th century (Watkin 1914, 100) may provide the first reference to Leechwell lane. The first undoubted reference was in 1433 in a will which refers to Lechewellhay garden and a pathway from Bastewall to Lechewell. This indicates that Leechwell Lane is at least medieval in origin. The lane would be a means of access to the Leech Well through the field-system with which the lane is probably contemporary.
The lane’s relationship to the town wall and ditch is uncertain, it has been suggested that it provided access to the spring from the South or Shambles gate (Pye et al. 1991, 3). The lane leaves South Street at a point to the east of the South Gate (site of).
Ordnance Survey, 2012, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV348725.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV336261 | Report - Assessment: Gent, T. H.. 2001. Archaeological Assessment of land at St Katherine’s Way, Totnes, Devon. Exeter Archaeology Report. 01.10. A4 Stapled + Digital. |
| |
| | |
| SDV340797 | Report - Assessment: Pye, A. R. + Stead, A. J. + Juddery, J. Z.. 1991. An Archaeological Assessment and Evaluation of the Totnes Southern Area Access Road. Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Report. 91.23. A4 Stapled + Digital. 2. |
| |
| | |
| SDV348725 | Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2012. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey. Map (Digital). [Mapped feature: #92178 ] |
| |
| | |
Associated Monuments
| MDV44483 | Related to: Leechwell Street, Totnes (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- EDV4399 - Assessment of Immersion Bath in Leechwell Gardens, Totnes
- EDV5245 - Archaeological Evaluation and Watching Brief at Leechwell Gardens, Totnes
- EDV8220 - Archaeological Assessment: The Southern Development Area, Totnes (Ref: 050712)
| Date Last Edited: | Jan 15 2020 2:33PM |
|---|
Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.