Title: |
Archaeological evaluation at Leechwell Gardens, Totnes, Devon |
Series: |
Exeter Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
exeterar1-71345_1.pdf (22 MB)
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Download
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
The site lies north of the St Mary Magdalene leper hospital and 45m east of the Leechwell holy well, while work undertaken by South West Archaeology to the west of the site has uncovered significant medieval remains. The development also includes the site of a 'dipping pool' (Scheduled Monument No. 36031), although a desk-based assessment produced by Exeter Archaeology (EA Report No. 07-71) has raised serious issues about the identification of the pool as a medieval lepers' immersion pond. The development area is nevertheless considered to have clear archaeological potential. The groundworks were mainly restricted to soft landscaping to minimise the impact on underlying archaeological deposits. However, several areas of deep groundwork disturbance were located along the central and western edge of the site. To mitigate the impact of groundworks on archaeological deposits 2 trenches totalling 50m were excavated to a width of 1.8m. The subsequent watching brief monitored excavations for wall and footpath foundations, drainage runs and tree pits. The evaluation revealed no features, deposits or dating evidence to indicate archaeological activity within the two trenches. The alluvial deposit uncovered in Trenches 1 and 2 represent the natural run-off from the Leechwell spring. The watching brief revealed one small pit in the eastern wall foundation trench containing one piece of nineteenth-century pot. The alluvial deposit uncovered in the same trench represents the original stream bed from the Leechwell spring. No other features, finds or deposits indicating archaeological activity were found. In particular, no medieval evidence was revealed, thus weakening the case for a former medieval 'dipping pool'. |
Author: |
Marc F R Steinmetzer
Graeme Young
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Publisher: |
Exeter Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Devon Historic Environment Record (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2010
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Locations: |
Site: |
Leechwell Gardens |
Parish: |
TOTNES |
District: |
South Hams |
County: |
Devon |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 280090, 60190 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
exeterar1-71345 |
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Note: |
HER entry
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
24 Nov 2016 |