Englishcombe

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Englishcombe

Coordinates: 51.3631° N 2.4071° W

Englishcombe (United Kingdom)
Englishcombe
OS grid reference ST717627
Unitary authority Bath and North East Somerset
Ceremonial county Somerset
Region South West
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Bath
Postcode district BA2
Police Avon and Somerset
Fire Avon
Ambulance Great Western
UK Parliament Wansdyke
(North East Somerset
from next general election)
European Parliament South West England
List of places: UKEnglandSomerset

Englishcombe is a village in Bath and North East Somerset just outside Bath. It is located at grid reference ST717627.

View of Englishcombe
View of Englishcombe

The Domesday Book of 1086 records that Englishcombe was held by Nigel de Gournay, who would have won his lands in Englishcombe, Twerton, Swainswick and Barrow Gurney by fighting for William I of England. His original home must have been Gournay, which was half-way between Dieppe and Paris. The earthwork remains of the Gournay family castle at Englishcombe are visible in the above photo (slightly right of centre). Thomas de Gournay was involved with the murder of Edward II at Berkeley Castle in 1327.[1]

The church, dedicated to St Peter, was probably built by Robert de Gournay in the 12th century.[2]

The church features Norman arches (see middle photo), and leper holes in the porch (right-hand photo) which would have enabled lepers to hear the sermon without coming into contact with the rest of the congregation.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Manco, J. (1995) The Parish of Englishcombe: A History, pp. 2, 4.
  2. ^ Ibid, p. 2
  3. ^ Tour of Englishcombe. Salem Evangelical Centre. Retrieved on March 29, 2007.