'Long-lost' mansion uncovered near Exeter

The remains of a long-lost mansion have been unearthed on an estate near Exeter. A range of historic structures and artefacts have been found, some of which are believed to have links to the Civil War.

Excavation works have been underway at the National Trust-managed Killerton estate since mid-May. It has now been confirmed that University of Exeter archaeologists and Heritage Archaeology and Ranger Team (HART) volunteers have uncovered some remains of Columbjohn, the mansion that originally sat at the heart of the estate.

The house was built by Sir John Acland at the end of the 16th century and later went on to host a garrison of troops loyal to King Charles I during the Civil War. Excavators have found several unused musket balls on the site which they believe indicate that soldiers were once based there.

Later on, the house was taken over by the Parliamentarians and it was used by Thomas Fairfax as a headquarters during the Siege of Exeter. Oliver Cromwell is also thought to have stayed there in October 1645.

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From around 1680, the Acland family made Killerton their main house and the Columbjohn mansion eventually decayed, with just the chapel being used for Sunday services. It was later demolished and a new chapel built in its place in the 1840s.

It's believed that there was a pre-existing house built on the site before it was purchased by Acland. This means the site may have been occupied for 600 years.

Dr Susan Greaney, Project Lead in the Department of Archaeology and History at the University of Exeter said: "The substantive parts of Columbjohn are likely to date from 1580–90, when Sir John Acland is known to have purchased the manor and built a large Elizabethan mansion on the site.

"However, the only standing remains today are an outer gatehouse and some nearby farm buildings. After the family relocated to the main house at Killerton, and the manor was demolished in the early Victorian period, the location and layout of the house were entirely forgotten."

A cobbled courtyard, two ranges of buildings, parts of a demolished outer precinct wall and a probable sunken garden are among the structures that have been found. There are also a number of historical artefacts that have been discovered, including musket balls, 17th century coins, the twisted stem of a drinking glass, a pipe tamper ring, a double-sided bone comb and a large key, located in one of the drains.

The excavation team used previous geophysical and earthwork surveys to guide their work. They opened five different trenches and two test pits in order to locate the manor.

Dr Barbara Wood, National Trust Cultural Heritage Curator, said: "We knew that the original house bought by Sir John Acland was somewhere at Columbjohn and it’s amazing to have the location finally found. The two were joined by an avenue of trees and the family would have regularly walked between them. We’re delighted that so many visitors have seen the excavations underway, and we hope that many more will continue to take the walk between the site of the old house and the new."

Archaeologists will now begin to piece together the more detailed layout of of the house, which they believe was built of local volcanic stone. It's thought that there was a slate roof capped by green glazed ridge tiles and that windows and other architectural features used stone imported from South Devon.

Cat Lodge, National Trust Archaeologist, said: "Our partnership with Exeter is adding more depth to our understanding of the Killerton estate, with its rich historic landscape. Excavating this site has helped shape future plans for Columbjohn, providing us with an opportunity to integrate heritage with landscape recovery. Thank you to everyone who has been involved with the excavation, and we look forward to continuing this exciting partnership."

Dr Greaney said: "It’s been really exciting to excavate in such a beautiful location at a place that has such a significant history. Finding the manor house, the original heart of the Killerton estate, is fantastic, and our students have worked really hard to uncover the structures and finds relating to the house."