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Summary

A cairn of Bronze Age date incorporating the early 20th century grave of Sir Edward Channon Wills, on a west-facing spur south of Ducksmoor Covert, Chudleigh. The cairn and grave are enclosed by a modern stone wall and iron railing. The wall is visible as a structure on aerial photographs of 1946.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1317863: WILLS MEMORIAL ABOUT 700 METRES SOUTH EAST OF HARCOMBE HOUSE
• SHINE: Four prehistoric cairns south west of Ducksmoor Covert

Other References/Statuses

• National Record of the Historic Environment: 447241
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX88SE/11

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CAIRN (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC (Between))
• GRAVE (XX - 1921 AD to 1921 AD)

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV1004.

Vis=29/3/1982 (turner + grinsell). Cairn with added material diameter 12m, height 0.7m surmounted by grave of sir edward chaning wills covered by horizontal grave-slab bearing coat-of-arms, and inscribed on long sides: here lieth the body of edward chaning wills, second baronet, of harcombe, chudleigh, devon. Born 25 april 1861. Died 14 october 1921. The cairn is surrounded by stone wall enclosed by an iron railing with gate on west side (grinsell).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV2244.

Vis=12/12/1995 (horner) as above (slide).

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, Untitled Source (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV24.

Vis=25/6/1953(os) two bronze age cairns to which soil has been added to incorporate both into modern grave of sir channon wills and his four grey horses with horizontal grave-slab on top. All now unapproachable as surrounded by modern stone wall and iron railing.

HORNER + MANNING, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV284286.

Vis=-/4/1996 (ea) the unified cairn is roughly 12m diam and 0.7m high. The os 25" map of 1889 records only a single round cairn here so it is unclear where the reference to two cairns first originated (horner + manning).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV284379.

Osa=sx88se8/plan,photograph.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV284380.

Grinsell, l. V. /pdas/41(1983)30.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV284381.

Devon + exeter gazette/brief account of funeral ceremony/(19/10/1921)/ folklore/section g.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV284382.

Des=griffith, f. M. /as above(25/1/1989).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV284383.

Des=slide/(12/12/1995)/in smr.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV284384.

Des=horner, w. + manning, p. /harcombe heath, chudleigh:report on a watching brief by exeter archaeology and devon county council/(april 1996)/in pf.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV284385.

Des=slides/(april 1996)/in smr.

Griffith, F. M., Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV677.

Vis=24/1/1989 (griffith). Condition as above.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3073-3074 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

A circular structure and possible earthwork ditch are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 RP 3013-3014 04-NOV-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352344.

A circular structure and possible earthwork ditch are visible.

Next Perspectives, 2015-2017, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Perspectives APGB Imagery SX8981 23-AUG-2016 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361515.

The structure and earthworks are obscured by dense vegetation.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2018-2019, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley (Interpretation). SDV361305.

A roughly circular walled enclosure circa 13m in diameter is visible as a structure on aerial photographs of 1946, on a west-facing spur south of Ducksmoor Covert, Chudleigh. A possible hollow or ditch is visible surrounding the walled enclosure at a distance of circa 3 to 4m. This possible ditch probably marks the route of the outer iron railing described by the above authority. No evidence of a cairn or mound was visible as an earthwork within the walled enclosure on the images available to the survey. The enclosure is obscured from view by dense tree cover on images derived from aerial photographs of 2016.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV1004	Migrated Record:
SDV2244	Migrated Record:
SDV24	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.
SDV284286	Report - Survey: HORNER + MANNING.
SDV284379	Migrated Record:
SDV284380	Migrated Record:
SDV284381	Migrated Record:
SDV284382	Migrated Record:
SDV284383	Migrated Record:
SDV284384	Migrated Record:
SDV284385	Migrated Record:
SDV352344	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1824. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1824 RP 3013-3014 04-NOV-1946.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3073-3074 13-APR-1946.
SDV361305	Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2018-2019. The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV361515	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2015-2017. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Digital. Perspectives APGB Imagery SX8981 23-AUG-2016.
SDV677	Report - Survey: Griffith, F. M..

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7515 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey (Ref: ACD1748)

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