Crowcombe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Crowcombe | |
  Crowcombe shown within Somerset |
|
| Population | 50[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Taunton Deane |
| Shire county | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | TA4 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Somerset | |
Crowcombe is a village and parish under the Quantock Hills in Somerset, England, 5.5 miles (9 km) south east of Watchet, and 8 miles (13 km) from Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 500[1].
The first documentary evidence of the village is by Æthelwulf of Wessex in 854, where it was spelt 'Cerawicombe'.[2] At that time the manor belonged to Glastonbury Abbey.[3] Later Gytha Thorkelsdóttir, wife of Earl Godwin, gifted it to the monks of Winchester to make amends for her husband's "treacherous abuses of divers monastic institutions".[4]
The Domesday Book of 1086 lists the village as 'Crawcombe', which is believed to come from the Old English words craw and cumb.[5]
The parish covers the hamlets of Crowcombe Heathfield, Flaxpool, Halsway, Lawford and Triscombe.[6]
Crowcombe Heathfield railway station is two miles from the village on the West Somerset Railway, a heritage railway.
Contents |
[edit] Church
The Church of the Holy Ghost has a tower dating from the 14th century with the rest of the building being dated at the 15th century. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.[7]
In 1724 the spire was damaged by a lightning strike. The top section of the spire was removed and is now planted in the churchyard[8] and stone from the spire was used in the flooring of the church. Inside the church carved bench-ends, dating from 1534,[9] depict such pagan subjects as the Green Man and the legend of the men of Crowcombe fighting a two-headed dragon.[10]
[edit] Church House
The Church House and Pound was built around 1515 for parish functions, later being used to house the poor of the village on the lower floor and a school on the upper. Following an appeal for public funds to repair the building in 1907,[11] the ground floor is now being used as a village hall and the upper to house exhibitions.[10] It is grade II* listed.[12]
[edit] Crowcombe Court
Crowcombe Court is a large country house dating from 1724–39, by Thomas Parker and finished by Nathaniel Ireson of Wincanton. Minor alterations were carried out by Edward Middleton Barry around 1870. It is grade I listed.[13] It has previously been used as a nursing home and today the Court is hired out for weddings and other functions.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Crowcombe. Crowcombe. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ Crowcombe. Whats on Exmoor. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ Crowcombe by Clare Gathercole. Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ Waite, Vincent (1964). Portrait of the Quantocks. London: Robert Hale. ISBN 0709111584.
- ^ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Dovecote Press. ISBN 1874336032.
- ^ a b Crowcombe. Quantock Online. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ Church House and Pound. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ Remains of spire, in churchyard, 15 metres East of chancel, Church of the Holy Ghost. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ Crowcombe. Everything Exmoor. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ a b History. Crowcombe. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ History. Church House Crowcombe. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ Church of the Holy Ghost. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ Crowcombe Court and attached stables to West. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
