Combeinteignhead

Combeinteignhead
Population 729 (Haccombe with Combe parish) (2001 Census)
OS grid referenceSX902716
DistrictTeignbridge
Shire countyDevon
RegionSouth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Postcode district TQ12
Dialling code 01626
Police Devon and Cornwall
Fire Devon and Somerset
Ambulance South Western
EU Parliament South West England
UK ParliamentTeignbridge
List of places
UK
England
Devon

Combeinteignhead or Combe-in-Teignhead is a village in Teignbridge, South Devon, England. It lies within the civil parish of Haccombe with Combe, between Newton Abbot and Shaldon, about half a mile (1 km) inland from the estuary of the River Teign.

Despite this closeness to the river, the name Combeinteignhead is not derived from it: in the Domesday Book the district contained thirteen manors which totalled an area of ten hides and the whole area was known as the "Ten Hide". This was later corrupted to Teignhead through the influence of the river name. The name of the nearby village of Stokeinteignhead has a similar derivation.[1]

The village has two historic pubs: the Wild Goose Inn, originally called the Country House Inn, a 17th-century tavern in the centre of the village, and the Coombe Cellars Inn, right on the estuary of the River Teign. Coombe Cellars was an early base for the local fishing industry and was also used by smugglers.[2] The village church (dedicated to All Saints) has ancient origins: Bishop Bronescombe dedicated two altars here in 1259, and the high altar was dedicated in 1339. The present building dates from the 14th and 15th centuries; it was restored in the 1880s, but retains its 12th century font.[2] The nearby almshouses built of red sandstone were founded in 1620 by William Bourchin.[2]

The village was abandoned following the Black Death for nearly 200 years. It is thought that this was because the decimation of the population meant that surviving labourers had more options than to farm the awkward slopes of the valley. The re dedication of the altar and the building of the alms houses brought people back to the village.

From 1940-42 Ronnie Biggs was evacuated to Combeinteignhead.

Related links

References

  1. ↑ Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, A. & Stenton, F.M. (1931). The Place-Names of Devon. English Place-Names Society. Vol viii. Part II. Cambridge University Press. P.459.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harris, Helen (2004). A Handbook of Devon Parishes. Tiverton: Halsgrove. p. 76. ISBN 1-84114-314-6.

Coordinates: 50°32′N 3°33′W / 50.533°N 3.550°W

External links

Media related to Combeinteignhead at Wikimedia Commons

http://www.ronniebiggs.com/?page_id=18