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Summary

Eighteenth century landscape park and woodland, with early formal gardens, grounds and woodland. Several of the earthworks and structures within the parkland are visible on aerial photographs and Lidar images between 1945 and 2010.

Location

Protected Status

• Registered Park or Garden (II*) 1000704: TAPELEY PARK

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS42NE/74/12
• Old Registered Parks and Gardens Ref (II*): 1695

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PARK (XVIII to XXI - 1701 AD to 2009 AD (Between))

Full description

Griffiths, D. M., 12/10/1984, Preliminary Archaeological Assessment of the Alternative Routes of the Barnstaple Bypass, Site D (Un-published). SDV356775.

The park is adjacent to the Tapeley alternative route for the Barnstaple bypass.

Ordnance Survey, 1903-1938, 12SE (Cartographic). SDV7724.

Park shown covering larger area than that indicated on Donn's map.

Unknown, 1927, Unknown, 210-213 (Article in Serial). SDV76753.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/LA/132, NMR RAF/106G/LA/132 5064 14-FEB-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349061.

Rides are visible as earthworks and a rectangular structure is visible to the south-west of the obelisk. An earthwork mound and pit are also visible.

Pevsner, N., 1952, The Buildings of England: North Devon, 150-1 (Monograph). SDV336196.

Donn, B., 1965, A Map of the County of Devon, 1765 (Reprint) (Monograph). SDV336413.

Tapeley Park shown.

Jones, P., 1974, Follies and Grottoes, 315 (Monograph). SDV76754.

Gallant, L., 1986, Deer Parks and Paddocks of England (Un-published). SDV656.

English Heritage, 1987, Tapeley Park, Devon (Register of Parks and Gardens in England). SDV323752.

Tapeley Park has 18th century landscape park and woodland, at most extensive c 70ha, with early formal gardens, grounds and woodland round house of 23ha. Approach drive from west. A second drive (now path from south lodge, now includes an 18th century viaduct across a small, steep valley running up to the house from SW. This second approach now disused, is shown on the 1" OS map of 1809. Fine views over the torridge estuary. Woodland for 1 1/2km along the northern slopes. Open parkland with scattered mature trees to west, to south and south east. The 18th century landscape activity at Tapeley Park is not documented, but the outline of the park shown in the 1" OS map of 1809 corresponds to present disposition of wood and parkland. Surviving 18th century features include the ice-house, 150m to east and the grotto or shell house. The early 20th century formal gardens extend south of the house for 200m. They comprise three Italianate terraces with central steps down. To the east a dutch-gabled 'tool shed' and to the west a summerhouse. Upper terrace walk extends westwards into ornamental woodland, with walled kitchen garden beyond. Terraces lead south to rectangular lawn and pool, with statuary and flanking herbaceous borders. Ornamental woodland to east and west. Continued planting of tender and exotic trees and shrubs undertaken since early 20th century.

Department of Environment, 2003, Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (Devon) (Register of Parks and Gardens in England). SDV314512.

Environment Agency, 2006-2007, LiDAR data JPEG image (1 metre resolution), Lidar SS4729sw Environment Agency D0072777 NOV-2006 (Cartographic). SDV349850.

The rides are visible as earthworks and the structures are also clearly distinguishable.

Lauder, R., 2009, The Lost Landscape of Tapeley Park, 30-32 (Article in Serial). SDV347394.

Tapeley Park was built in a commanding position overlooking the Torridge estuary and has been the home of the Clevlands and their descendants since 1702. The red brick house dates from their time. The original driveway from the south became obsolete with the building of the new turnpike road from Bideford to Barnstaple in 1828. The carriage drive was adopted as the main drive and extended to the new road where a new lodge was built. The 1890 Ordnance Survey Map depicts the layout of the park in great details showing many structures that still survive today including the ice house, walled garden, kennels and the brick-built orangery or dairy building. Other features of the park include two large oak trees, a large fish pond constructed in 1840, the remains of an obelisk built in 1855 in memory of Archibald Clevland, killed in the Crimea and also the remains of a ha-ha. The gardens around the house are largely an early 20th century creation.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4729 08-APR-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349899.

A new surface structure is visible west of the obelisk.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011-2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.

The parkland features are visible on aerial photographs from 1945 and on images derived from Lidar data captured in 2006-2007. Those that are not visible on historic mapping are detailed in separate records and include a possible spoilheap and a modern maze-like structure. What appears to be a stone or brick built water trough 100 metres south-west of the obelisk and both a central pit / pond and the rides around the park marked on historic mapping are also visible as a structure and earthworks from 1945 onwards.

Griffiths, D. M., Unknown, Tapeley Park (Personal Comment). SDV5835.

Probably laid out at same time as refurbishing of house.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV314512	Register of Parks and Gardens in England: Department of Environment. 2003. Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (Devon). Historic Houses Register: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic. Unknown.
SDV323752	Register of Parks and Gardens in England: English Heritage. 1987. Tapeley Park, Devon. Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.
SDV336196	Monograph: Pevsner, N.. 1952. The Buildings of England: North Devon. The Buildings of England: North Devon. Paperback Volume. 150-1.
SDV336413	Monograph: Donn, B.. 1965. A Map of the County of Devon, 1765 (Reprint). A Map of the County of Devon, 1765 (Reprint). Hardback Volume.
SDV347394	Article in Serial: Lauder, R.. 2009. The Lost Landscape of Tapeley Park. The Devon Gardens Trust Journal. 2. A4 Paperback + Digital. 30-32.
SDV349018	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S.. 2011-2012. North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. ACD383/2/1. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV349061	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/LA/132. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/LA/132 5064 14-FEB-1945.
SDV349850	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 2006-2007. LiDAR data JPEG image (1 metre resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. Lidar SS4729sw Environment Agency D0072777 NOV-2006.
SDV349899	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref:. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: SS4729 08-APR-2010.
SDV356775	Un-published: Griffiths, D. M.. 12/10/1984. Preliminary Archaeological Assessment of the Alternative Routes of the Barnstaple Bypass. A4 Stapled + Digital. Site D.
SDV5835	Personal Comment: Griffiths, D. M.. Unknown. Tapeley Park.
SDV656	Un-published: Gallant, L.. 1986. Deer Parks and Paddocks of England. Deer Parks and Paddocks of England. Manuscript.
SDV76753	Article in Serial: Unknown. 1927. Unknown. Architectural Review. 61. 210-213.
SDV76754	Monograph: Jones, P.. 1974. Follies and Grottoes. Follies and Grottoes. 315.
SDV7724	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1903-1938. 12SE. 6" County Series.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project (Ref: ACD383/2/1)

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