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| Combe Martin | |
|---|---|
 Combe Martin fromLittle Hangman | |
  Combe Martin Location withinDevon | |
| Population | 2,687 (2011 census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SS5846 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ilfracombe |
| Postcode district | EX34 |
| Dialling code | 01271 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Combe Martin Parish Council |
| 51°12′00″N4°01′30″W / 51.200°N 04.025°W /51.200; -04.025 | |
Combe Martin (/kuːmˈmɑːrtɪn/) is a village,civil parish and formermanor on theNorth Devon coast about 4 miles (6.4 km) east ofIlfracombe. It is a smallseaside resort with a shelteredcove on the northwest edge of theExmoorNational Park.
Due to the narrowness of the valley, the village consists principally of one single long street which runs 2 miles (3.2 km) between thevalley head and the sea. Anelectoral ward with the village name exists. The ward population at the2011 census was 3,941.[2]
Evidence of Iron Age occupation includes the nearbyNewberry Castle fort.Thetoponym "Combe" is derived fromOld Englishcumb meaning "wooded valley". It derives ultimately from the sameBrythonic source as the Welsh cwm,Cornishkom also of the same meaning. The name was recorded asComer in 1128.
The 'Martin' suffix on the place name is from the name of theFitzMartin family,feudal barons ofBarnstaple, from which large barony themanor of Combe was held. The FitzMartins held the barony following the marriage of Nicholas FitzMartin (d.1260) to Maud de Tracy, heiress of the barony of Barnstaple, until the death of his grandson William II FitzMartin in 1326 who left his two sisters co-heiresses.[3]
There are several disused silver mines 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 theCrown Jewels made from Combe Martin silver and a large part of the war expenses ofEdward III andHenry V were paid for by the sale of silver mined here.
The unusual dedication of theparish churchSt Peter ad Vincula toSt Peter ad Vincula ("St. Peter in Chains") is derived from the ancientBasilica ofSan Pietro in Vincoli in Rome.
One of the village's unusual features is thePack o' Cardspublic house 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 apack of cards).
In the 19th century, the village name was spelt as Combmartin.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
It is believed that the street is the longest village street in England, but this is actually a myth. It was recently measured at around a mile and a half long. The actual longest street isStewkley, Buckinghamshire. The myth has several possible origins:
At one time there were nine pubs: The Castle, The Dolphin, the Fo'c'stle, the George and Dragon, the Lion Inn, The London Inn, The Marine, thePack o' Cards and the Top George. As part of the annualCarnival celebrations, there was a wheelbarrow race over the length of the village, competitors having to stop at each pub and consume a glass of beer before continuing. In 2008 the wheelbarrow race was replaced by a Fun Run and alcohol free wheelbarrow parade. The wheelbarrow race was reinstated in 2009. The carnival, run in the first week of August, also includes a popular parade whereFloats travel down the long high street for many onlookers. One float named the Uncle Tom Cobley has been entered into the parade since 1911.
The annual procession "The Hunting of the Earl of Rone" features the rarehobby 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 'obby 'oss 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 'licentiousness and drunken behaviour') as well as the death of a drunken parishioner falling off a wall during the celebrations. The Rone custom was reconstructed in 1970. Legend has it that theEarl of Tyrone fled Ireland in 1607 and was shipwrecked at Rapparee Beach, inIlfracombe harbour, to the west of the village. However, he actually made it toContinental Europe. It is an interesting and noisy event which takes place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend each year.
In early June, a traditional strawberry fayre is held, wherestalls are set up to sell local farm produce. Combe Martin was a big producer of strawberries in the past, being sold all over Devon and further afield. Whilst they may not produce many strawberries in the present, the tradition of holding a strawberry fayre remains to celebrate their history. However, other stalls such as charities, crafts and children's entertainment are also usually present. A Farmers Market is also held every 3rd Saturday of the month, which only sells food and is smaller, fitting into the village hall.
Just to the east of Combe Martin Bay are the Hangman hills, theHangman cliffs are made up ofLittle Hangman and theGreat Hangman. The Great Hangman is ahog-backed hill of 1043 ft with a cliff-face of 820 ft, making it the highest cliff in southern Britain, and can be reached by following theSouth West Coast Path which runs through the village. Combe Martin lies within theNorth DevonArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[13]
The Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is similar to a normal wildlife park, containing animals such aswallabies, free-roamingmacaws,wolves and lions, but there are also models andanimatronic dinosaurs. The models are in their own area, Domain of the Dinosaurs, whilst the animatronics (T. rex,Dilophosaurus,Megalosaurus andVelociraptor) 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 mockEgyptian tomb with hieroglyphics and mummies.
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