Shute Piers, Shute

Location: A35, Dalwood, Devon EX13 7QW

Locality: Shute
Local Authority: East Devon
County: Devon
Country: England

(left click on photos to enlarge and then again for even more enlargement)

Mr Youlden, a grocer, on the Shute to Dalwood road, c 1908.

History:
Shute Piers are a pair of former 18th Century gate-piers on either side of the Dalwood to Colyton road. Presumably they were originally the main gateway to the Shute Estate, positioned as they are at the edge of the old Roman road as it descended the hill from Kilmington.
Rusticated ashlar on plan – ( In classical architecture, rustication is a feature that contrasts in texture with the smoothly finished, squared block masonry surfaces called ashlar. Rusticated masonry is usually squared-off but left with a more or less rough outer surface and wide joints which  emphasize the edges of each block ) –  with large moulded caps and ball finials.

Graffiti shows the date 1763.

Raymond Quick’s grandmother

Jilletta Broom at Shute Piers c1932

The re-built east pier 2012

The west pier 2012

Damage to the east pier March 2011

From EDP24: March 9th 2011:

HIGHWAYS chiefs have been accused of ignoring safety warnings after an historic Shute pillar was demolished by a car for the second time on March 3rd 2011.

The stone post was completely flattened in last week’s accident, but despite the massive impact the driver escaped without serious injury.

Angry local councillors say their calls for road safety improvements on the bend have been ignored.

This week Shute Parish Council chairman Peter Rugg said the village now faced more delays in getting the ancient gateway repaired.

He told The Herald: “Three years ago it got knocked down and it took ages to get it back up because no one would own up to doing it. Eventually they found the owner and his insurance company finally paid out the £34,000 it cost to rebuild the pillar, which is made from special stone.”

A MEETING is being arranged to discuss the way forward for a Shute landmark turned into a pile of rubble. Shute Parish Council is calling for the landmark’s restoration plus extra road safety measures to prevent more incidents, and Devon County Council has agreed to send an elected member and an officer for talks.

One of the two historic Shute Pillars, just off the A35, was repaired towards the end of 2008 after having been hit by a car. Shute Parish Council campaigned for the repair and involved Devon County Council in the process. The repair, understood to have cost more than £30,000, was paid for by the insurer of the motorist involved, and road safety measures were put in place. The safety measures included the relocation of a chevron and a ‘SLOW’ marking painted on the approach to the bend.

But another car crashed into the pillar on Thursday, March 3rd, completely demolishing the landmark, which is a listed structure. Shute Parish Council chairman Peter Rugg said: “I’m relieved nobody was seriously injured or killed — these things weigh tonnes.” But he wants to prevent further incidents and said: “The road looks wide and drivers don’t realise until the last moment that the road turns.” He will suggest to highway bosses that a chevron is added and located next to the pillar. About the pillars he said: “They are pretty ancient and part of our heritage. It is beatiful stone.”

Local county councillor Andrew Moulding has confirmed that he is trying to organise a meeting. A Devon County Council spokesman said: “A meeting is being arranged between our local highways engineer, local county councillor and the parish chairman to discuss the issues. “We are still looking into how this latest incident happened and what more can be done to prevent further damage at this location.”
Police say the car involved in the crash suffered extensive damage, but the driver did not require medical attention. When asked if the driver is under investigation for any road traffic offence in relation to the accident, a police spokesperson said there had been no offence.

From Yeovil-Clarion-Today 22nd Novemeber 2011 by Anders Larsson

TWO parish councillors have praised Devon County Council (DCC) for acting on their road safety proposal. Peter Rugg and Rick Wood — both members of Shute Parish Council — say the new chevron at the sharp bend at Shute Pillars, just off the A35, is just what the doctor ordered. They are also delighted that DCC will restore the stricken pillar before Christmas.
It was on March 3rd that one of the two landmark pillars was flattened by a car and turned into a pile of rubble when a car failed to negotiate the sharp bend. Nobody was seriously hurt but a similar accident happened in 2008, which is why Mr Rugg asked for something to be done. At the time he suggested an added chevron, which is precisely what he got.
His fellow councillor Mr Wood was very pleased and said of the new chevron: “It stops the eyeline going straight on.” Both of them praised county councillor Andrew Moulding, council officers Brian Hoare and Tony Matthews — and the county council as a whole for taking their concerns seriously and getting something done.
Mr Rugg also explained that he had been told that DCC hopes to have the flattened pillar back to its former glory before Christmas. This was subsequently confrmed by a DCC spokesperson, who told Pulman’s View: “Stone masons are currently working on the new sections of stone and reconstruction is scheduled to be carried out before Christmas.”

Rick Wood