Southleigh – Cultural History and Landscape

If you’re looking for a hotel in Southleigh, deciding what you want to focus on during your trip can help you plan: are you more interested in architectural history, archaeological remains or landscape? The topics below offer different points of interest and can be prioritised according to your interests.

Architectural history and tombs

The Church of St Lawrence has Norman origins and a 15th-century tower. The west tower is the only surviving part of the medieval church. Later alterations can be clearly distinguished by date: the south aisle was added in 1821, the chancel in 1854, followed by a major restoration in 1881. This brings together several building phases, rather than the church belonging to just one period. Anyone interested in architectural history can consider its origins, additions and restoration as distinct layers.

In the churchyard of the Church of St Lawrence, the Willoughby Chest Tomb adds a single monument to this architectural picture. It is dated 1616 and dedicated to Henry Willoughby; a carved coat-of-arms relief is located at the west end. The two Ham Chest Tombs are dedicated to Richard Ham (1752) and Andrew Ham (1667), respectively. Alongside the development of the church building, the dates and dedications of individual tombs are also worth noting.

Landscape and archaeological remains

Blackbury Castle is an Iron Age univallate hillfort. It lies on an east–west spur extending from the Broad-Down plateau, overlooking valleys formed by tributaries of the River Coly. The spur and valleys shape the landscape at different scales: the fort’s distinctive landform and the wider setting of the river valleys. Blackbury Camp offers a seasonal point of interest, too. In spring, bright bluebells cover the ramparts and ditches. The sites therefore differ in their focus: at Blackbury Castle, the landform and views take centre stage; at Blackbury Camp, it is the spring flowers.

The cross-ridge dyke on either side of the Three Horse Shoes Inn is considered a rare surviving earthwork of its kind. It contains archaeological and environmental history information about the landscape in which it was built. The known section measures 640 metres. The northernmost 200 metres can be seen as a low, flat earth bank in the fields behind the inn. The information therefore distinguishes the known section from the northern part, whose form and location are described in more detail.

Wiscombe Park: Country house and hillclimb

Wiscombe Park is a Grade II* listed country house, built in 1826 by J. Power of Colyton. The history of the hillclimb provides a different time reference: the first race at Wiscombe Park took place on 24 August 1958. The construction date and the date of the first race can thus be understood as two distinct historical timelines. Access to the Wiscombe Park Hillclimb is via the spectator car park or the competitors’ upper paddock. If you’re planning a visit, check the details for the specific event before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Uplyme, Stoke Rivers, Little Torrington, Yealmpton, Coffinswell, Westleigh, Dunsford, Halberton.

See the broader travel overview: Devon.