MEM25169 - All Saints Churchyard, Dulverton (Monument)

Summary

The graveyard has been in use since at least medieval times. It shape has been suggested to indicate early Anglo-Saxon origins.

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Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

"Grave Yard" depicted and labelled on the 25 inch 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map. [1] The original church was described by an architect, in 1852, as dating from about 1500. [2] The graveyard has been in use since medieval times. [3] The church was rebuilt in the 1850s by Shewbrooks of Taunton, to designs by Edworth Ashworth, the Exeter diocesan architect. The church was widened but the old columns were reused and the original layout was largely kept. The steep slope of the site has been dug out to accommodate the enlarged church with the area above the church being terraced in 1917 to facilitate burial and prevent land slipping. During archaeolgical monitoring of groundworks at All Saints' Church, five articulated skeletons and disarticulated human bone were uncovered. A small quantity of coffin furniture was recovered, it was plain and undiagnostic. No name plates were recovered, which suggests that all of the burials were pre 18th century. Two fragments of encaustic tile were retrieved and are probably evidence of early building fabric from the pre 1850 building. [4] The churchyard was fenced in 1856, and subsequently terraced. [5] There are a few good examples of ironwork enclosing the churchyard. [6] In 1855, the Trustees spent £48 on the church wall, to improve the churchyard and its approaches. [7] It has been suggested that because it has a circular churchyard, like Carhampton and other early church sites, Dulverton church may have been in existence in the early Anglo-Saxon period. As a royal manor and hundred, Dulverton would have been well placed to serve as an ecclesiastical centre for southeast Exmoor. The Augustinian canons of Taunton Priory had acquired Dulverton church and its land by 1155. [8] The churchyard contains two CWGC war graves, for Pte Frank Gunney (392444, Labour Corps) and Sergeant WC Hayes (32177, Devonshire Regiment). [9] Another gravestone includes an inscription commemorating Private Frederick Parkhouse (29344, East Yorkshire Regiment), who was killed in action near Ypres and buried at Welsh Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen. [9,10] A postcard of the view of the church from Bank Square is held by Historic England. [11] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [12] The Churchyard is depicted but not labelled on the 2022 MasterMap data. [13]

Sources/Archives (13)

  • <1> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1854-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500.
  • <2> Monograph: Eeles F.C.. 1928. Somerset Churches Near Dulverton. P.7-10.
  • <3> Verbal communication: Various. 1900-. Somerset County Council / South West Heritage Trust staff comments. M Aston, Somerset County Council, 29 November 1976.
  • <4> Report: Turner, J.. 2010. All Saints Church, Dulverton.
  • <5> Monograph: Binding, H. + Bonham-Carter, V.. 1986. Old Dulverton and Around: Dulverton - Bury - Brushford - Exebridge. The Exmoor Press. P.6, 28, 55, 64, 65 Photos.
  • <6> Unpublished document: Fisher, J.. c.2003. Dulverton Conservation Area Appraisal. p6, 8, 9, 11, 13, Photo.
  • <7> Monograph: Dulverton and District Civic Society. 2002. The Book of Dulverton, Brushford, Bury and Exebridge. Halsgrove. P.9, 17, 19, 71, 109, 115-119, Photographs.
  • <8> Monograph: Siraut, M.. 2009. Exmoor: The Making of an English Upland. Phillimore & Co. Ltd. 1st Edition. P.39, 56, 65, 67, 145.
  • <9> Website: Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website. Pages accessed 5 March 2013 (see associated files).
  • <10> Verbal communication: Various. 1993-. Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Team staff comments. See attached photograph.
  • <11> Photograph: Catford, H.. 1900-1925. View looking down Bank Square to All Saints' Church, taken form the south-west. B/W. Postcard.
  • <12> Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 36534, Extant 5 April 2022.
  • <13>XY Map: Ordnance Survey. 2022. MasterMap data. 1:2,500. [Mapped feature: #47910 ]

External Links (0)

Other Statuses/References

  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO10834
  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11212
  • Local List Status (Unassessed)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 92 NW5
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 36534
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 31391
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 33544

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 9144 2801 (98m by 94m)
Map sheet SS92NW
Civil Parish DULVERTON, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (1)

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Apr 5 2022 4:31PM

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