See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

The site of a cottage and forge, part of Cross Tenement which is first mentioned in 1524-5. The cottage and smithy were demolished in 1777 when the stable block at Killerton was built and the road rerouted. Test pitting on the site of the tenement in 2022 recovered pottery sherds and slag.

Location

Protected Status

• Registered Park or Garden (II*) 1000694: KILLERTON HOUSE

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX99NE/110

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• COTTAGE NON SPECIFIC (Built, Medieval - 1066 AD (Between) to 1539 AD (Between))
• FORGE (Built, Early Medieval to XVII - 1066 AD (Between) to 1700 AD (Between))

Full description

National Trust, 2000, Killerton Estate Archaeological Survey. Part 1. The Park and Garden, 43 (Report - Survey). SDV341106.

Site of Cross Cottage and forge. Cross Tenement is first mentioned in 1524-5 at which time it held about 16 acres in five small fields. The 1756 Killerton Estate map shows it at the junction of the road from Davids Corner and the Exeter to Bradninch turnpike to the southeast of Killerton House.
The cottage and smithy were removed together with Killerton Francis in 1777 when the stable block at Killerton was built and the road rerouted.

Evis, L., 2022, University of Exeter Archaeological Field Schools 2022. Killerton and Bradninch (Article in Serial). SDV365237.

Two archaeological field schools were run by Exeter University in May and June 2022 at Killerton House and Bradninch. The work at Killerton was threefold, comprising recording arborglyphs on the trees, geophysical surveys and test pitting in search of the' lost village' of Killerton and taking part in a series of events. The two surveys produced good results with the test pits producing slag and pottery sherds.

Greaney, S., 2023, Uncovering the Pre-Parkland History of Killerton Estate, Broadclyst, 3; Fig 1 (Article in Serial). SDV366336.

Two trenches were opened to investigate the line of the Roman Exeter to Cullopmton road and an associated settlement known as Cross Tenement. Historical documents record that the road was diverted, and settlement cleared, in 1777.
Trench 2 was located over the line of linear anomalies recorded by prior resistivity survey, thought to be the road. However, they proved to be linear spreads of demolition rubble and many post-medieval finds of pottery, glass and animal bone wee uncovered, likely to relate to nearby buildings. This sealed a wall and two cobbled surfaces.
In trench 3 just to the south, a number of pits were found, one of which contained a quantity of metalworking debris – slag, molten glass and a metal sprue from casting metal in a sand mould – confirming the presence of a smithy in this area. Ditches containing medieval pottery were also found, along with a silver voided Long Cross Penny from the reign of Henry III, suggesting occupation of the area from at least the 13th century.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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