Granite Trough and Recess in South Wall of Church Style Garden About 27 Metres South of Trough Lane

GRANITE TROUGH AND RECESS IN SOUTH WALL OF CHURCH STYLE GARDEN ABOUT 27 METRES SOUTH OF TROUGH LANE, BRADLEY ROAD

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1165637
Date first listed:
04-Apr-1978
List Entry Name:
Granite Trough and Recess in South Wall of Church Style Garden About 27 Metres South of Trough Lane
Statutory Address:
GRANITE TROUGH AND RECESS IN SOUTH WALL OF CHURCH STYLE GARDEN ABOUT 27 METRES SOUTH OF TROUGH LANE, BRADLEY ROAD
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Date:
1999-08-30
Reference:
IOE01/00069/17
Rights:
© Mr M J Medley. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1165637
Date first listed:
04-Apr-1978
List Entry Name:
Granite Trough and Recess in South Wall of Church Style Garden About 27 Metres South of Trough Lane
Statutory Address 1:
GRANITE TROUGH AND RECESS IN SOUTH WALL OF CHURCH STYLE GARDEN ABOUT 27 METRES SOUTH OF TROUGH LANE, BRADLEY ROAD

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
GRANITE TROUGH AND RECESS IN SOUTH WALL OF CHURCH STYLE GARDEN ABOUT 27 METRES SOUTH OF TROUGH LANE, BRADLEY ROAD

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Devon
District:
Teignbridge (District Authority)
Parish:
Bovey Tracey
National Grid Reference:
SX 82010 78590

Details

BOVEY TRACEY

1633/12/42 BRADLEY ROAD 04-APR-78 BOVEY TRACEY GRANITE TROUGH AND RECESS IN SOUTH WAL L OF CHURCH STYLE GARDEN ABOUT 27 METR ES SOUTH OF TROUGH LANE

II St Mary's holy well is built into the south facing garden wall of Church Style Cottage. The basin survives as a large water trough, roughly hewn out of a single piece of granite. A small cement patch in front probably replaces a former outlet pipe and another at a lower level leads out of the south western corner. A gulley cut into the upper part of the north western corner of the trough may represent an overflow or alternatively an inlet channel. The trough occupies a recess with jambs formed of large squared granite blocks topped by a round red brick arch. The lower part of left-hand jamb is moved outwards a little, perhaps to insert an alternative outlet pipe. In the rear wall of the recess is a small granite spout, presumably designed to bring water into the trough. In front of trough is a pavement of granite sets with a kerb of large pieces of granite.

HISTORY: Apart from a legend no definite historical information is known regarding this holy well. In common with many wells, the early history of St Mary's Well, Bovey Tracey is based on speculation. It's position within the Anglo-Saxon settlement known as Boffa suggests that it would have been utilised from this date, but the form of the original structure and whether the well had pre-Christian significance or was first established for domestic purposes only is not known. The nearby church is now dedicated to St Peter, St Paul and St Thomas but was previously dedicated to St Mary. The legend surrounding the well states that the priest of the parish church (St. Mary's as it was then) returned home to find a visitor. The pious priest and his wife shared their meagre supper with the visitor (St Mary), ensuring she was cared for and sheltered. In return for his kindness, she bestowed good fortune on the priest and his family for generations to come and by way to remind them she turned the frogs in the spring golden coloured.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION St Mary's Well, Bovey Tracey is designated at Grade II, for the following principal reasons: * A sound historical pedigree reflecting its use as a well. * The survival of original medieval fabric. * The survival of the substantial trough. * The direct association with the nearby Grade I listed church and other listed buildings. * It provides a strong visual contribution to the streetscape.

SOURCES: www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=15231 Accessed 6th June 2007 www.bbc.co.uk/devon/outdoors/walks/holy_wells.shtml Accessed 6th June 2007

NGR:- SX8201078590

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
84485
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Granite Trough and Recess in South Wall of Church Style Garden About 27 Metres South of Trough Lane

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End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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