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| HER Number: | MDV21840 |
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| Name: | Colyford Settlement |
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Summary
Colyford was established in the 13th century as a crossing place of the River Coly on the road from Exeter to Dorchester
Location
| Grid Reference: | SY 249 924 |
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| Map Sheet: | SY29SW |
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| Admin Area | Devon |
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| Civil Parish | Colyton |
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| District | East Devon |
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| Ecclesiastical Parish | COLYTON |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses
- Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29SE/72
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- SETTLEMENT (XIII to XIV - 1201 AD to 1400 AD)
Full description
Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, SY29SE15 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV339939.
Excavation by H Miles on the fronts of five tenement plots revealed extensive occupation associated with 13th/14th century pottery.
Hoskins, W. G., 1954, A New Survey of England: Devon, 373 (Monograph). SDV17562.
Colyford faded out (probably during the 15th century) and when Stukeley saw it about 1724, it was only a remnant of its former size.
Beresford, M. W., 1967, New Towns of the Middle Ages, 420-1 (Monograph). SDV51862.
Anon, 1972, Untitled Source, 200 (Article in Serial). SDV339940.
Beresford, M. W. + Finberg, H. P. R., 1973, English Medieval Boroughs. A Handlist, 89 (Monograph). SDV6626.
A Borough was founded at Colyford by Thomas Basset in 1225. A Charter to the Burgesses was granted by Hugh de Courtenay in 1340.
Miles, T. J., 1975, The Shrunken Medieval Town of Colyford, 297-302 (Article in Serial). SDV339938.
Colyford was probably founded between 1225 and 1238 on land which had been part of Colyton parish. A south coast route between Exeter and Dorchester forded the River Coly at this point and a bridge had been built by 1254. In 1274 there were 112 burgage plots but they were never incorporated as a borough. Many medieval artefacts were recovered from two burgage plots in 1971.
Timms, S. C., 1987, The Archaeology of East Devon Towns (Un-published). SDV352537.
Colyford is an example of an East Devon town that was laid out as a new town in the medieval period.
Best, J. + Steinmetzer, M. F. R., 2007, Archaeological Evaluation of Land Adjoining the Old Manor Gardens, Colyford, 1 (Report - Evaluation). SDV339936.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV17562 | Monograph: Hoskins, W. G.. 1954. A New Survey of England: Devon. A New Survey of England: Devon. A5 Hardback. 373. |
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| SDV339936 | Report - Evaluation: Best, J. + Steinmetzer, M. F. R.. 2007. Archaeological Evaluation of Land Adjoining the Old Manor Gardens, Colyford. Exeter Archaeology Report. 07.73. A4 stapled + Digital. 1. |
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| SDV339938 | Article in Serial: Miles, T. J.. 1975. The Shrunken Medieval Town of Colyford. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 33. Paperback Volume. 297-302. |
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| SDV339939 | Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. SY29SE15. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index. |
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| SDV339940 | Article in Serial: Anon. 1972. Medieval Archaeology. 16. Unknown. 200. |
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| SDV352537 | Un-published: Timms, S. C.. 1987. The Archaeology of East Devon Towns. A4 Stapled + Digital. |
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| SDV51862 | Monograph: Beresford, M. W.. 1967. New Towns of the Middle Ages. New Towns of the Middle Ages. Unknown. 420-1. |
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| SDV6626 | Monograph: Beresford, M. W. + Finberg, H. P. R.. 1973. English Medieval Boroughs. A Handlist. English Medieval Boroughs. A Handlist. A5 Hardback. 89. |
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Associated Monuments
| MDV14406 | Related to: Colyford, Burgage Plots (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- EDV4352 - Evaluation of Land adjoining the Old Manor Gardens, Colyton
| Date Last Edited: | Mar 12 2026 6:36PM |
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