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Summary

A pair of cottage homes built by the Devonshire Regiment c.1921 in memory of two soldiers who served in the Boer War and died in the First World War. An ornamental arch which formerly stood at the entrance to the cottages has been relocated to Wyvern Barracks, Exeter.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ALMSHOUSE (Built, Early 20th Century - 1920 AD (Between) to 1930 AD (Between))

Full description

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

A pair of Devonshire Regiment cottage homes built c.1921 in memory of Alfred Joseph Elton Sunderland and Charles James Spencer who were officers in the 2nd Battalion. They both served in the Boer War and died during the First World War. An ornamental arch that formerly stood at the cottages is now at Wyvern Barracks in Exeter.

Ordnance Survey, 2025, Mastermap 2025 (Cartographic). SDV366286.

Marked as Sunderland and Spencer Cottage Homes Devonshire Regiment.

Pope, N., 2025, Sunderland and Spencer Cottages (Correspondence). SDV366480.

The Sunderland & Spencer Cottages are former Devonshire Regiment Cottage Homes built circa 1921 in memory of two officers of the 2nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment who died during the First World War. Both officers had previously served in the 2nd Anglo Boer War in South Africa. Maj. Sunderland was killed in action near Ypres in July 1917 and Captain Spencer was killed in action at the Moated Grange near Levante in December 1914.
Money for the construction of these cottage homes was raised by Captain H G Hawker in memory of his friend Maj. Sunderland and by the wife and relatives of Capt. Spencer. Two hundred pounds was also granted from the surplus of one of the Mayoress of Exeter’s War Funds. It was originally intended to build these cottages alongside the 2nd Anglo Boer War memorial cottage homes at Whipton, Exeter but it was not possible to acquire land nearby.
The cottages were let rent free to wounded servicemen of the Devonshire Regiment and with a preference to those who served in the 2nd Battalion.
They have red brick walls and a slate roof. An ornamental archway that was previously erected at the entrance has since been relocated to Wyvern Barracks, Exeter.
More information on the cottages and the military service undertaken by Maj. Sunderland and Capt. Spencer in the 2nd Anglo Boer War and the First World War, can be found in an article from the Western Morning News dated 19th January 1921.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV366286	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2025. Mastermap 2025. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #144922 ]
SDV366475	Ground Photograph: Pope, N.. 2025. Devonshire Regiment Ornamental Arches. Digital.
	Linked images:3
SDV366480	Correspondence: Pope, N.. 2025. Sunderland and Spencer Cottages. Email to HET. Digital.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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