Combe Martin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Combe Martin is a village in Devon, England.
[edit] History
The name is derived from "Combe" meaning a small wooded valley and "Martin" from the name of the Norman family who inherited the manor from one of the supporters of William the Conqueror.
The village is a small seaside resort with a sheltered cove on the edge of the Exmoor national park. Due to the narrowness of the valley, it is composed principally of one single long street which runs two miles from the valley head to the sea. The population is over 2500, with many Domesday Book families still in the area.
The street is the longest village street in England, and at one time there were nine pubs all on the same side of the road, enabling customers to progress from one to the other without fear of being knocked down.
Combe Martin is famous for its strawberries, which are said to be the finest in the world
Several disused Silver mines are located on the eastern ridge and evidence of tunnels can still be seen, as well as the remains of a wheelhouse used to lift ore from the mine. There are items in the Crown Jewels made from Combe Martin silver.
One of the village's unusual features is the "Pack o' Cards" pub built around 1700 by George Ley. Reputed to have been funded by his gambling successes, it originally had 52 windows, 13 rooms and four floors (matching the numbers from a pack of cards).
The "The Hunting of the Earl of Rone" annual procession features the rare hobby horse of Pagan England mixed in with the capturing and multiple shootings of the 'Earl of Tyrone' im around 1607. The "Hunting of the Earl of Rone" takes place over a week, finishing in a two-mile procession along the closed-off main street, featuring Redcoats, music and hundreds of dancers in traditional dress.
Unfortunately the procession was banned in 1838 (due to drunken behaviour) and the modern version from 1970 features Red Coats (first seen in the English Civil War in 1644) and disregards the fact the Earl of Tyrone (Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone) escaped to the Continent. It is an interesting and noisy week-long event in early May each year.
Just to the east of Combe Martin Bay are the Hangman hills, the Little Hangman and the Great Hangman. The Great Hangman is a hog-backed hill of 1043ft with a cliff-face of 820ft, making it the highest cliff in southern Britain.
[edit] External links
- Community Website Combe Martin Community Website
- The South West Coast Path National Trail
- The Hunting of the Earl of Rone
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| Appledore | Barnstaple | Berrynarbor | Bideford | Braunton | Clovelly | Combe Martin | Croyde | Dolton | Fremington | Georgeham | Great Torrington | Hele Bay | Ilfracombe | Instow | Kentisbury | Knowle | Saunton | Landkey | Lee Bay | Little Torrington | Lynmouth | Lynton | Mortehoe | Northam | Parracombe | West Down | Westward Ho! | Woolacombe | Yelland | |
