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Summary

Farmstead possibly dating to the later medieval period or earlier.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FARMSTEAD (Late Medieval - 1401 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

Three buildings shown on the tithe map.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Buildings shown on Ordnance Survey 1880s-90s First Edition Ordnance Survey Map. The building in the middle of the plot shown on the earlier 1830s-40s tithe map is no longer present. Instead, a building is shown on the far south-west of the plot abutting the southern boundary. The long rectangular building to the north is similar in footprint to the building shown on the earlier tithe map and roughly in a similar position, so could be the same building.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

The buildings shown on the Ordnance Survey 1904-06 maps look to be the same as those shown on the First Edition 1880s-90s map but with some minor additions.

Gent, H, 2017, Higher Southcombe Farmstead, Northlew (Personal Comment). SDV360035.

Gover’s Place-names of Devon refers to an early 16th-century rental agreement for Southcombe (earlier deeds for the property refer to it as Southcombe).
A fireplace lintel in the cob and stone house has mouldings that may well be 16th-century in date. The footpath and lane leading from Northlew to Ashbury, and which runs alongside our garden, is thought to be medieval. It is possible the lane serving the house (that meets the Northlew-Ashbury lane at the the property), which is set well below ground level between high hedgebanks, may be of the same date.
The farmstead may be of late medieval date or earlier, served by a unspoilt possibly medieval lane.

Ordnance Survey, 2017, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV359962.

Position of buildings look similar to those shown on the Ordnance Survey 1904-06 map. Changes to the main buildings are apparent with additions.

Stevens, S., 2025, Archaeological monitoring and recording during ground works at Higher Southcombe, Northlew, Devon (Report - Watching Brief). SDV366704.

Archaeological monitoring of service trenches was undertaken prior to building works associated with a single house plot. Three trench footings were also excavated around the edge of a former lean-to concrete base. No archaeological features or deposits were identified within the excavations and no finds were recovered.

<155> Gover, J. E. B. + Mawer, A. + Stenton, F. M., 1931, The Place-Names of Devon: Part One (Monograph). SDV1312.

The Place-Names of Devon documents Southcombe under Black Torrington Hundred within Northlew Parish. 'Southcombe (6") is Southcombe t. Hy 8 Rental'.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325644	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
SDV359962	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2017. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #77834 ]
SDV360035	Personal Comment: Gent, H. 2017. Higher Southcombe Farmstead, Northlew. Digital.
SDV366704	Report - Watching Brief: Stevens, S.. 2025. Archaeological monitoring and recording during ground works at Higher Southcombe, Northlew, Devon. South West Archaeology. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV1312	Monograph: Gover, J. E. B. + Mawer, A. + Stenton, F. M.. 1931. The Place-Names of Devon: Part One. The Place-Names of Devon: Part One. VIII. A5 Hardback.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV9252 - Archaeological monitoring and recording during ground works at Higher Southcombe, Northlew, Devon (Ref: NHS2-)

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