Combe Martin
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Combe Martin is a village in Devon, England.
[edit] History
The name is derived from Combe, which derives from Old English cumb "wooded valley". The name was recorded as Comer in 1128. The 'Martin' affix on the place-name is from the name of the FitzMartin who held the land from c.1100 to 1326.
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 (The London Inn, Top George, Lion Inn, George and Dragon, The Castle, Pack O' Cards, The Marine, The Dolphin and the Fo'c'stle), enabling customers to progress from one to the other without fear of being knocked down. As part of the annual Carnival celebrations, there is a wheelbarrow race over the length of the village, competitors having to stop at each pub and consume a glass of beer before continuing.
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 England and a character called the Earl of Rone. "The Hunting of the Earl of Rone takes place over a weekend, finishing with a two-mile procession along the main street, featuring, as well as the Hobby Horse and Earl of Rone, a Fool, "Grenadiers", drummers and music, a donkey, and hundreds of dancers in festive dress.
The custom was banned in 1837 (due to 'licenciousness and drunken behaviour') and reconstructed in 1970. Legend has it that the Earl of Tyrone fled Ireland in 1607 and was shipwrecked at Rapparee Beach, in Ilfracombe harbour, to the west of the village. In fact, he made it to the continent. It is an interesting and noisy event which takes place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend each year.
Just to the east of Combe Martin Bay are the Hangman hills, the Hangman cliffs are made up of 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, and can be reached by following the South West Coast Path which runs through the town. Combe Martin lies within the North Devon Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Nearby is Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park. It is similar to a normal wildlife park, containing animals such as wallabies, free-roaming macaws, wolves and lions. However, there are also models and animatronic dinosaurs. The models are in their own area, Domain of the Dinosaurs, whilst the animatronics (T.Rex, Dilophosaurus, Megalosaurus and Velociraptor) have an enclosure in the main area of the park. There is also a Dinosaur Museum with a fossilised skeleton and egg nest of some dinosaurs. Other attractions include a train ride with a massive flood of water, shows with sealions and wolves, a light show and a mock Egyptian tomb with hieroglyphics and mummies.
[edit] External links
- Community Website Combe Martin Community Website
- The Hunting of the Earl of Rone
- The Hunting of the Earl of Rone Website
- North Devon AONB website
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