See important guidance on the use of this record.

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

Summary

A pair of former Devonshire Regiment Cottage Homes built in 1903, following the Second Anglo Boer War. One of the cottages was funded by Alfred Lafone MP whose son died at Ladysmith, South Africa in 1900. An ornamental arch that formerly stood at the entrance has been relocated to Wyvern Barracks.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ALMSHOUSE (Built, Edwardian - 1903 AD to 1903 AD)

Full description

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

A pair of cottages marked as Devonshire Regiment Cottage Homes.

Ordnance Survey, 2024, Mastermap 2024 (Cartographic). SDV365834.

Pope, N., 2024, Nos 416-418 Pinhoe Road, Exeter (Correspondence). SDV365949.

Nos 416-418 Pinhoe Road are former Devonshire Regiment Cottage Homes, built in 1903 to the design of Messrs Wood & Arnshe architects and following the Second Anglo Boer War. One of the cottages was funded by Alfred Lafone MP in memory of his son, Captain William Boutcher Lafone who died in the charge of the Devons at Wagon Hill, Ladysmith, South Africa on 6 January 1900. The other cottage was partly funded by the Devonshire Regiment and public subscription (there are pictures of both Alfred Lafone and Captain William Boutcher Lafone in the National Portrait Gallery. Elsewhere, pictures exist of the charge of the Devons at Wagon Hill).
The properties appear to be the only known Boer War Cottage Homes in Devon. They provide tangible evidence of the role played by Devon servicemen and the impact of this conflict upon the people of Exeter in a now largely forgotten war. The cottages appear on subsequent Census returns as ‘Soldiers Homes’ and were occupied by ex-servicemen. The Devonshire Regiment Cottage Homes charity that owned these cottages ceased to exist in 1993.
More details of these cottage homes can be found in articles from the North Devon Gazette dated 11 August 1903 and the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 4 August 1903. These include reference to a former ornamental arch at the entrance, an oak tablet, the gardens and other information on the accommodation provided, as well as naming the builder as Mr Dart of Crediton.

Pope, N., 2025, 416-418 Pinhoe Road (Ground Photograph). SDV366502.

Photo of the exterior.

Pope, N., 2025, Devonshire Regiment Ornamental Arches (Ground Photograph). SDV366475.

The ornamental arch now stands at Wyvern Barracks. The accompanying brass plaque implies that it was moved here in 1991.

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).
SDV365834	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2024. Mastermap 2024. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #142423 ]
SDV365949	Correspondence: Pope, N.. 2024. Nos 416-418 Pinhoe Road, Exeter. Emails to HET. Email.
SDV366475	Ground Photograph: Pope, N.. 2025. Devonshire Regiment Ornamental Arches. Digital.
	Linked images:3
SDV366502	Ground Photograph: Pope, N.. 2025. 416-418 Pinhoe Road. Digital.
	Linked images:1

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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