| Holcombe Rogus | |
|---|---|
 All Saints' Church, Holcombe Rogus, viewed from the east; the porch tower ofHolcombe Court is visible behind at right | |
  Holcombe Rogus Location withinDevon | |
| Population | 503 (2001 Census) |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WELLINGTON |
| Postcode district | TA21 |
| UK Parliament | |
| 50°57′40″N3°20′35″W / 50.961°N 3.343°W /50.961; -3.343 | |
Holcombe Rogus is a village,civil parish and ecclesiasticalparish in the English county ofDevon. In 2001 the population of the parish was 503.[1]
The first element of the place-name is derived fromOld English for a deep or hollow coomb (valley) and the second element refers to the holder of the land – at the time of theDomesday Book (1086) the tenant was Rogo or Rogus.[2][3]
The northern boundary of the parish forms part of the county boundary withSomerset and clockwise from the east it is bordered by the Devon parishes ofCulmstock,Burlescombe,Sampford Peverell, andHockworthy.[4]
At the time of the Domesday survey of 1086, Holcombe Rogus was assessed at 43 households under the tenancy of Baldwin the Sheriff, and included ploughlands, meadows, pasture, woodland, livestock and two mills, altogether valued at an annual £10.[2]
By 1812, progress was being made with the construction of theGrand Western Canal, but it was hampered by rock cuttings at Holcombe Rogus, from which springs of water gushed, and there was a need to line some sections with puddle clay to prevent leakage. Lime kilns were constructed to provide the materials, which can still be seen beside the canal,[5] close to the Waytown Tunnel.[6]
In White'sDevonshire Directory of 1850, the parish was 3,024 acres (1,224 ha), and had a population of 843. A market and fair, granted in 1343, were no longer held.[7]
Themanor house known asHolcombe Court was the seat of the Bluett family for centuries.[7] It is situated to the immediate west of the parish church, hidden behind a high boundary wall, and was described byW. G. Hoskins as "perhaps the finestTudor house in Devon".[8]
The parish church is dedicated to All Saints and is predominantly 15th-century. It contains several monuments to the Bluett family, including the 1615 tomb of Richard Bluett, his wife, Mary and their eleven children. There are also several mural monuments of the 18th century.[8]
