MDE1074 - Medieval memorial stone at Parracombe Bridge (Monument)

Summary

An early medieval memorial stone was alleged to have been built into the foundations of Parracombe Bridge. The bridge was destroyed in the 1952 Lynmouth flood disaster and subsequently rebuilt.

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Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

An inscribed stone was built into the foundation of the bridge at Parracombe village in about 1775. It previously stood very near Holwill Castle. [1] A probably early medieval memorial stone possibly still exists in an inaccessible position in the foundations of the bridge in Parracombe Village (SS 6676 4480). A stone which was once at Holwell, Parracombe (SS 667 446), bearing nearly twenty letters with indenting between (and thought to be in Greek), was described by the Reverend Samuel Badcock [2]. He had gone to look at it, but found that it had been removed some years before. [3] The stone is probably still within the bridge, which was widened in 1864. [4] Parracombe Bridge was washed away in the Lynmouth Flood Disaster of 1952. Subsequently the river bed was widened and the bridge rebuilt (local information). There is now no evidence for the alleged memorial stone. [5] The stone is thought to be from the Dark Ages. [6] No further description of the stone exists, nor any drawing of it. [7] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [8]

Sources/Archives (8)

  • <1> Article in serial: Chanter, J.F. + Worth, R.H.. 1905. The Rude Stone Monuments of Exmoor and its Borders. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 37. I. P.386-387.
  • <2> Monograph: Polwhele, R.. 1793. Historical Views of Devonshire. Cadell, Dilly and Murray. 1.
  • <3> Article in serial: Chanter, J.F.. 1913. A Romano-British Inscribed Stone Between Parracombe and Lynton. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 45. P.275.
  • <4> Report: Quinnell, N.V. and Dunn, C.J.. 1992. Lithic monuments within the Exmoor National Park: A new survey for management purposes by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England.. Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. P.32.
  • <5> Unpublished document: Wilson-North, R.. Various. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 1 October 1993.
  • <6> Article in serial: Fowler, M.J.F.. 1993. Standing Stones of Exmoor. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 125. p 170.
  • <7> Monograph: Okasha, E.. 1993. Corpus of Early Christian Inscribed Stones of South-West Britain. 193-4.
  • <8> Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 34753, Extant 10 November 2021.

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Devon SMR Monument ID: 2081
  • Devon SMR: SS64SE/15
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MDE20141
  • Local List Status (Unassessed)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 64 SE32
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 34753

Map

Location

Grid reference SS 6676 4480 (point) Estimated from sources
Map sheet SS64SE
Civil Parish PARRACOMBE, NORTH DEVON, DEVON

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Related Articles (1)

Record last edited

Nov 10 2021 2:33PM

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