Countess Wear is a district of the city of Exeter in Devon, England. Situated approximately two miles (3 km) southeast of Exeter city centre, it lies on the north bank of the estuary of the River Exe. Historically the area formed part of the manor of Topsham and was known as the estate of Weare.
Etymology
The name derives from a weir that was erected on the River Exe in the late 13th century. The weir is traditionally attributed to Isabella de Fortibus, Countess of Devon, and was consequently called “Countess Wear” (wear being an alternate spelling of “weir”).
Historical Development
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Medieval period – The Countess’s weir, and later additional weirs built by the Earls of Devon, obstructed navigation on the Exe. This forced maritime trade to divert to the downstream port of Topsham, which prospered at Exeter’s expense. Contemporary records note that the weir was constructed either in 1284 or earlier, with variations in the size of the central opening for boat passage.
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13th–14th centuries – The weir’s presence caused conflict between the Courtenay family (Earls of Devon) and Exeter’s civic authorities, notably a dispute in 1307 over the allocation of market fish.
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16th century – The weirs remained until the attainder of Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, in 1538, after which the Crown assumed ownership. An Act of Parliament in 1540 ordered the removal of the obstructions, but navigation could not be fully restored, leading to the construction of the Exeter Canal to bypass the blocked section.
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Industrial use – Isabella de Fortibus is also credited with establishing a corn mill on the site in 1284. The mill was later converted to a paper mill in 1658, destroyed by fire in the early 19th century, rebuilt, and operated until 1885. The mill’s remains survive as a historic structure.
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World War II – The area hosted a United States Navy base. The bridge over the Exeter Canal was used for rehearsals of glider attacks on the Pegasus and Horsa bridges in Normandy. A commemorative plaque was installed on the bridge in 1994. Post‑war, former naval accommodation provided temporary housing for Exeter residents whose homes had been damaged.
Bridges
The district gives its name to a pair of bridges spanning the River Exe and the Exeter Canal.
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River Exe bridge – The first bridge was built in 1774, originally a toll bridge charging one penny for pedestrians and one shilling for a coach with six horses. It featured six arches; in 1842 the two central arches were replaced by a single 60‑foot arch to improve river traffic.
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1935 reconstruction – The bridges were rebuilt to accommodate motor vehicles as part of an Exeter bypass.
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Canal bridge – A bascule (lift) bridge crosses the Exeter Canal, providing a navigable opening for canal traffic.
Modern Context
Countess Wear is now a residential and commercial suburb of Exeter. The former manor house, rebuilt in Georgian style by Sir John Duckworth, 1st Baronet around 1804, serves as the clubhouse of the Exeter Golf and Country Club. The district’s proximity to the River Exe and the Exeter Canal continues to shape its landscape and transport links.
References
- “Countess Wear.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved via Jina AI extraction, 2024.
- Historical accounts of the weir’s construction and subsequent legal disputes recorded in Exeter city council records and contemporary chronicles.
- Acts of Parliament (1540) concerning the removal of river obstructions.
- Local heritage publications detailing the WWII naval base and bridge commemorations.