Bowhill: The Archaeological Study of a Building Under Repair in Exeter, Devon, 1977-95

414 Pages·2004·61.078 MB·English

by  Stuart R. Blaylock

BBoowwhh iillll

Bowh ill
The archaeological study of a building under
repair in ExeterJ DevonJ 1977-95
Stuart R Blaylock
with major contributions from
N W Alcock, J P Allan, B M A Ellis, C M Groves, G Edwards, J R Harrison,
A J Hopper-Bishop, R E Howard, B Knight, F P Kelly, R MeNe ilage, N Shiel
and illustrations by
P J F Bishop, D A Garner, T Ives, R W Parker, A Simm and others
a
ENGLISH HERITAGE
Published in association with Exeter Archaeology as Volume 5 in the
Exeter Archaeology Reports series

Contents
5 The standing building: description and
Foreword by Bridget Cherry .... Vll
analysis of the exterior
Acknowledgements .viii
Summary .......... . .... XI East elevation 73
Resume ...................... . .... XI South elevation. . 79
Zusammenfassung .. Xll North elevation of south range 83
Abbreviations .. ..... xiii West elevation . . .... 88
Preface .............. . xiv North elevation of west range. . .... 91
East elevation of west range. . .... 93
West elevation of the east (hall) range, east side
1 Introduction: background and context
of courtyard . . . . 94
The site and its setting. . 1
Early analysis of the building ............ . 1
6 The standing building: description and
State ownership (1976-97) . 3
analysis of the interior
Circumstances of the work . .3
Work methods and report plan .. 5 East range ... 97
The anatomy of the building . 7 South range: ground floor 107
West range: the kitchen ............. 127
South range: first floor . 133
2 Pictorial and cartographic sources 15
West range: the first-floor room .. 142
3 Historical outline 7 The standing building: description and
by N W Alcock and S R Blaylock analysis of the roofs
The Roland family and property in the parish of Introduction 143
St Thomas, Exeter 24 Structural aspects of the roofs. .. 145
The site in late medieval documents . . .. 28 The east range . . . 147
The Holand/Carew marriage .30 The south range .. 151
Sixteenth-century evidence 30 The west range . .. 163
The Civil War - fortification of the site in 1645-6 ... 30 Roof coverings .... 166
Later Carew ownership and residence . 31
Bowhill and Barley houses in the 17th and
8 General discussion of the building
early 18th centuries . 32
The Bowhill and Barley estate . 33 The plan. 169
Size of the Bowhill estate .......... . . 33 Contemporaneity of parts of the building . . 173
The Bowhill cottages . 35 The evidence for a chapel . 174
Management of the estate in the 18th and General discussion of the roofs of Bowh ill .. 177
19th centuries . . 35 Other structural carpentry .. 190
Twentieth-century ownership and occupation . .. 36 Discussion of other architectural features .. 193
The second Bowhill House (Lower Bowhill) . 37
Appendix: the executors' accounts for
9 The finds
Sir Thomas Carew . . . 38
The pottery by John Allan 199
The ridge tiles by John Allan ... 206
4 The excavations
The floor tiles by John Allan . . 211
Sequence of excavations. ........... . . . 43 The clay tobacco pipes by John Allan . 211
Chronology of site periods . . . . 45 Ironwork. . ....... 211
General discussion of the excavations. . . . 69 Non-ferrous metals . ....... 212
v
Two spurs from Bowhill by Blanche M A Ellis ... 212 11 The development of the conservation
Lead musket balls .. . . 214 progamme
Leather shoe fragment by Glynis Edwards 215 by J R Harrison and F P Kelly
Textile fragments by Alison Hopper-Bishop . .215
The coins by Norman Shiel 216 Objectives . .283
Window glass by John Allan and Stuart Blaylock .. 216 Acquisition and chronology of repair campaigns. 283
Lead window cames by Barry Knight. .. 217 Inspectorate proposals 1979-92 . 284
Architectural ironwork . 218 The works. 289
A fragment of architectural sculpture. .223
Architectural fragments 226
12 Concluding discussion
Roofing slates and related materials .230
Other wooden artefacts ...... 236 The development of the site 331
Metal window casement . 242
Appendix: the archive 344
1 0 Dendrochronology and mortar analysis
Dendrochronological analysis of timbers from Bowhill
by Cathy Groves . 243 Notes 346
Tree-ring analysis of timbers from four of the Glossary 375
Exeter group of medieval roofs by Robert Howard) References 377
Robert Laxton and Cliff Litton 267 Index . 386
Classification of mortars and plasters by Stuart Blaylock . 276
vi
Foreword
The story of Bowh ill is that of a once rural gentry mansion that fell on hard
times as the city of Exeter expanded around it. For long recognised by
local antiquarians, the significance of the site was eventually acknowledged
by publicly funded acquisition, study and repair. It is a story that can in
outline be replicated throughout England, especially during the heritage
conscious last quarter of the 20th century, but rarely has it been told with
the attention to detail that is provided here.
For twenty years Bowhill was an exciting and instructive building site.
The conservation work offered many challenges. From the scaffolding in
the great hall one could study at close hand the elegantly moulded roof
timbers and see how the repairs were integrated within the original struc
ture. Piles of straw and earth in the forecourt awaited their transformation
into cob, a Devon building material hitherto little known to conservators of
historic buildings. As work progressed there were experimental cob floors
to examine, different methods of slate roofing to consider, debates on the
best way to repair the window openings and discussion as to whether the
evidence justified the re-creation of the pentice between hall and kitchen.
There was much to learn from the process of repair, both for those
involved practically and for the many visitors who were able to observe the
work in progress. No less interesting, the work on Bowhill encapsulates
more than one approach. This is because the philosophy of conservation
evolved from the 1970s to the 1990s as a concern to retain some indica
tion of its later history replaced the desire to return it to something
approaching the authentic character of the original building.
It became increasingly clear that fundamental both to repair and inter
pretation was a detailed analysis of the evidence, not only of the site, the
standing building, the documentary and graphic records, but also of what
was done during the repair work. This account will provide the answers for
those who want to know exactly what was done and why, but it also does
much more. By bringing together expertise of different kinds on the variety
of buildings materials, styles and techniques, it has been possible to set
Bowhill within the context of related work in the area. Archaeological
examination of the site and associated finds have filled in other parts of the
story: of an earlier house destroyed by fire, of the sequence of construction
when the house was rebuilt for Roger Holand in the early 16th century and
of the parts of this building that disappeared later. The dry archaeological
bones are fleshed out by documentary evidence in the form of wills and
accounts, which throw light on later residents and on their possessions and
furnishings. This exemplary combination of disciplines has resulted in a
comprehensive record that will be of permanent value both to historians
and to conservators. It cannot be the final word, for the building now,
happily, has been secured for the future. The contributions of the 21st
century to its history will, in time, form another chapter in the story.
Bridget Cherry
Vll
Acknowledgements
The summary nature of the present report conceals several diverse The 1977-83 DoE excavations were directed by Stephen
original contributions within an overview. Excavation work, above all, Dunmore, assisted by Tom Loader and Jeremy Haslam (site supervi
is necessarily reliant on teamwork and I wish to acknowledge particu sors), M Dewhurst, M Stockdale and C White Haslam. Preliminary
larly the contributions of colleagues in this aspect of the work. The post-excavation work was done by S L Dunmore and M Dewhurst.
individuals named on the title page as contributors can be identified as Other people offering help or advice at this stage were N W Alcock,
the authors of discrete sections of the text, especially in chapters 9-11. C G Henderson, J M W Laithwaite, B M Morley, S E Rigold,
Several people, however, have made significant contributions to the H G Slade and J R L Thorp.
work without being involved in the production of the text presented The later phases of excavation and fabric recording were carried
here, mainly through their involvement with fieldwork or the produc out by EMAFU/EA staff and volunteers. Fabric recording between
tion of archive reports. Stephen Dunmore, Mark Hall and Peter Stead 1987 and 1990 was directed by Stuart Blaylock, assisted by Keith
made significant contributions to the excavations covered by Chapter Westcott, Laura Templeton, and Aidan Matthews (1987-8) and by
4; similarly Stephen Dunmore and Eerie Morley contributed to the Aidan Matthews, Andrew Simm, Mark Hall, Jenny Norton and Neil
understanding of the standing building discussed in Chapters 5-7 Goodwin (1989-90). Keith Westcott supervised the initial fabric
through their contributions to the analysis of the standing fabric recording in 1987-8. From 1990 service recording was carried out by
during the initial phase of work in the later 1970s and early 1980s. The Aidan Matthews, Richard Parker and Stuart Blaylock.
field survey drawings were done by Chris Gray and Bill Blake for The 1989 excavation of the parlour and service rooms (Areas
AMDO, and by Keith Westcott, Aidan Matthews, Richard Parker and 6-8) was supervised by Mark Hall (March and April 1989), assisted
others for EMAFU. by Neil Goodwin and Eddie Jones. Area 2 (the screens passage) was
In the course of the work on Bowhill, investigations of the docu supervised by Mark Hall and Jenny Norton (November 1989), assisted
mentary evidence for the building's history were commissioned by by Abigail Preston. The 1992 excavation of the eastern courtyard
DoE/DAMHB from Mrs Norma Parfitt (1981) and by English (Area 3) was supervised by Peter Stead, assisted by Jemima Dunkley,
Heritage from Ms Jean Manco ( 1991) and Dr N W Alcock ( 1998-9). Neil Goodwin, Sarah Lunnon, Aidan Matthews and Paul Pearce.
The authors of Chapter 3 have drawn on the work of Mrs Parfitt and Post-excavation work was done by Peter Stead, Pru Manning and
Ms Manco for some aspects of that chapter and gratefully acknowl Stuart Blaylock. The excavation of the south and west ranges (service
edge their contributions, although neither of the historians is respon room and kitchen) in 1993 was supervised by Mark Hall, assisted by
sible for the emphasis and interpretation placed on the material. Neil Goodwin, Aidan Matthews, James Tovey, Jeremy Bell and Allister
I wish to pay tribute to the role of Francis Kelly over the whole Clark. The excavation of the annexe in 19 94 was conducted by Mark
spectrum of work at Bowhill, not only as the sponsor of the work and Hall and Neil Goodwin. Miscellaneous additional observations
as the co-author of Chapter 11, but also as a source of detailed obser between 1993 and 1995 were done mainly by Mark Hall, Neil
vation of the fabric of the building, of many valuable ideas on its inter Goodwin and Richard Parker.
pretation and of substantial improvements to the text of this report. Overall direction of the work and administration of the project
Nat Alcock, Bridget Cherry and Paul Drury acted as referees for was by Christopher Henderson (who also directed some phases of the
the work; I am especially grateful to them for reading it at draft stage, excavations in the author's absence). Others who provided assistance
and for their many valuable comments, observations and suggestions with excavation and fabric recording were John Allan and Graham
for improving the text. Nevertheless, responsibility for the final form of Langman (finds), Graham Langman and volunteers (finds
the text and any remaining errors or omissions, remains with the processing), David Garner and Gary Young (photography, see also
author. As a result of his comments, Nat Alcock was commissioned to below), Pam Wakeham (secretarial assistance), Clare Rance (assistance
carry out further research on documentary sources, greatly to the with documentary research), and Piran Bishop, Neil Goodwin, Tony
benefit of the text of Chapter 3. I am also grateful to others who have Ives, Richard Parker and Andrew Simm (preliminary work on field
read and commented on sections of the text: John Allan, Shirley Blay drawings).
lock, Stephen Dunmore, Ray Harrison and Eerie Morley. The line illustrations have their origins in field drawings by
The work has been funded throughout by English Heritage as an EMAFU and EH surveyors and illustrators mentioned above. They
integral part of the repair process. Many people from English Heritage were originally drawn up by Andrew Simm, Tony Ives and Richard
were involved in the work, and contributed in various ways. I am Parker; most of them have been redrawn for this report by Tony Ives,
grateful to Richard Baker, Bill Blake, Stephen Dunmore, Chris Gray, who has made a substantial contribution to the visual felicity of the
Ray Harrison, John How, Robert Locke, Arthur McCallum, Adam line drawings. Piran Bishop drew the superb 'exploded' drawings of
McKenzie, Eerie Morley, Carole Owen, Harry Slade and, above all, the roofs. Other help with illustrations has been given by John Allan
Francis Kelly. I have also benefitted from useful discussion and coop and Blanche Ellis.
eration from Patrick Hynes, Paul May, Harold Partridge, Mike Perrett, The photographic credits show that David Garner is responsible
Roger Scobie, Charles Smith and Boysel Welham. All of these also for the greater part of the photography used in this report and the
gave valuable help with Chapter 11. volume (as with other Bowhill publications) is greatly enhanced by the
Vlll