PHOTO ALBUM see a slide show of old photos of Thorncombe and its residents
ARTISTS & WRITERS
Harry Banks (1869-1946)
A friend of Lucien Pissarro who lived at Hewood, fellow artist/printmaker Harry Banks
lived at Synderford House for over 40 years during the inter-war period. His work
included the design for Edward VII’s coronation invitation.
By June Ede
Lucien Pissarro (1863-1944)
Recollections of Lucien, son of French impressionist Camille Pissarro, who spent
the wartime years in Hewood, where he died in 1944.
by Heather Roughton , Diana Bradley and Donald Hutchings
FOOTPATHS
Hedge dating Blind Lane
How to date a historic footpath using Hooper’s Rule.
by Eve Higgs
Once Upon a Thorncombe Road
Ponderings on whether the track between Sadborow Pound and Yew Tree Farm was a drover’s
road.
By Eve Higgs
Thorncombe’s Lost Roads & Hidden Holways
Many of Thorncombe parish's footpaths are survivals of an earlier road network consisting
of prehistoric ridgeways, forgotten medieval holloways and lost roads.
By Eve Higgs
GENERAL
Brief History of Thorncombe
From the 12th century to the present day.
by Eve Higgs
First World War Thorncombe Men
Compiled by Heather Roughton, November 2018, to mark the 100th anniversary of the
1918 Armistice.
Heather has compiled a moving account of the 21 young men from the Thorncombe are
who gave up their lives in the First World War.
Thorncombe Changing Boundaries
In 1844 the parish of Thorncombe was transferred from Devon to Dorset but retained
some of its links with Devon for administrative purposes until 1896 when it became
part of Beaminster Rural District. Further changes to Thorncombe’s Somerset boundary
took place in 1966. This introduction draws from Jim Hart’s detailed account of the
legislation which drove these complex changes. His booklet Thorncombe – a tale of
Three Counties is available as a download via this article.
by Jim Hart
When Exeter was Down Thorncombe was a Town Revisited
Thorncombe's population statistics from 1674 to 1881 examined.
By Eve Higgs
POOR RELIEF
Parish Poorhouses and Workhouse
The history of the parish poorhouses and Workhouse, and how the hamlet of School
house got its name
By Eve Higgs
For Want of a Loaf
The story of Thorncombe agricultural Labourer James Hockey’s suicide following the
loss of his poor relief . Drawn from correspondence between the Poor Law Commission
and the Guardians of Axminster Workhouse catalogued by local volunteers.
by Eve Higgs
Life in Thorncombe’s Workhouse
As well bread and cheese washed down with beer, according to its parish workhouse
accounts, Thorncombe’s 18th century paupers, appear to have enjoyed a surprisingly
varied diet which included veal, beef, lamb, pork and bacon, and a regular supply
of tobacco.
by Dr Arnold Shipp on behalf of Beaminster Museum
HOUSES
Chard Street Bakery & Forge
Memories of Thorncombe’s last bakery and the forge next door.
by Richard Holt
Holway Cottage
Bought for £300 in 1935, how Holway Cottage became a much loved rural retreat.
by Raymond Firth
Forde Abbey
Founded in 1141 by the Cistercians, Thorncombe parish grew and prospered under their
care until the Abbey’s dissolution by Henry VIII in 1563. It was transformed from
a ruin to Italian palazzo during the English civil war, and is now owned by the Roper
family. Its gardens and house are open to the public throughout the year.
by June Ede
Gough’s Barton
Dating back to the 17th century, Gough’s Barton, one of Thorncombe’s oldest houses
was sensitively restored during the 1970s.
by Peter Moreland
Holditch Court
Who owned and in some cases lived at Holditch Manor between the 11th century and
1714.
by June Ede
The Story of Upperfold House, Saddle Street
Behind the facade of a grand Georgian residence.
by Caryl Bicknell
Sadborow Hall
For nearly 400 years, the Sadborow estate was owned by the Bragge family. Designed
by John Johnson, the Hall was rebuilt in 1773. A former servant recalls glamorous
dinners and dancing in the new year before death duties resulted in the estate being
broken up
by June Ede
Wayside, Fore Street
Wayside’s residents since 1795.
by John Dalziel
Thomas Place and The Terrace
An account of the Ousley family and their long association with Pinneys and the Terrace
By Eve Higgs
Pinneys
The story of Pinney’s Close in the centre of Thorncombe, dating back to the 17th
century
By Eve Higgs
1 & 2 Church View, Chard Street…Thorncombe’s ‘Great House’.
Reading the architectural clues behind the front doors of 1 & 2 Church View, Chard
Street - Thorncombe's former parish workhouse
By Eve Higgs
IN THE NEWS
Dodgy Local Ice Cream
Thorncombe’s 1937 food poisoning outbreak
by Eve Higgs
Gribb Arsenic Poisoning
In 1847 a Thorncombe grandfather ended up in court, accused of spiking his daughter’s
family’s breakfast broth, was sentenced to hang, then reprieved.
By Eve Higgs
INDUSTRY
Thorncombe’s Industrial Relics
The 19th century story behind the ruined woollen mills in the Synderford Valley.
by Eve Higgs
Westford Mill
Thorncombe parish’s last working mill.
by Peter Moreland
Thorncombe’s Flax & Hemp Industries
By Eve Higgs
PUBS
Broomstick Weddings
Thorncombe’s cut-price wedding venue
by Eve Higgs
Golden Lion
Thorncombe’s last pub
by David Higgins
The Royal Oak, Fore Street
Dating back to the 15th century, Royal Oak was one of three village pubs during the
early 20th century. But it wasn’t always an ale house.
by Pippa & Roger Montague
RELIGION
St Mary’s Church
Dedicated in 1239, the old church was pulled down in 1865 and a new church built
in 1866. Some relics from the old church were incorporated into the new structure
including 17th century pew ends, oak communion table and the Brooke memorials which
are said to be amongst the finest medieval brasses in England.
By June Ede
Thorncombe’s West Gallery Choir
Thomas Hardy's Mellstock had its 'quire' so did Thorncombe! During late 18th and
early 19th century 'divine service', anthems and psalms were sung by a parish choir
probably drawn from local tradesman. It was accompanied by a cello and sat in a specially
built gallery in the old church, under the tower facing the altar. Georgian psalmody
or 'west gallery music' as it is now popularly known predates congregational hymn
singing in the Church of England.
By Eve Higgs
Thorncombe’s Chapels
During the 19th century there were three non-conformist chapels here; Ebenezer where
the Baptists worshiped, the Congregationalist chapel at Venn and Gospel Hall in the
centre of the village which is still used by the Plymouth Brethren.
By June Ede
Thorncombe’s Commonwealth Vicars
During the civil war Thorncombe’s parish priests Robert Gomersall and John Bragge
were found guilty of delinquency for ‘ayding and assisting the Enemy agt. Parliament’,
and paid the price.
By Eve Higgs
Thorncombe’s Quakers
The location of Thorncombe’s Friends Meeting House and burial ground.
by Eve Higgs
Who was William Bragge?
One man’s journey from a Somerset blacksmith’s forge to the outer ranks of Thorncombe’s
gentry.
By Eve Higgs
REMINISCENCES
Hewood
An account of some of this idyllic hamlet’s former residents.
by June Ede
Memories of a Thorncombe Evacuee
Louise Silver vividly recalls her time in Thorncombe, as an evacuee between 1942
and 1943, during World War II.
by Rachael Whitbread
Starting out in 1960s Thorncombe
Early married life in Stonelake Bungalow
by Carolyn Frampton
School days in Holditch
Memories of wartime schooldays in Holditch
by Donald Hutchings
Thorncombe between the wars
Memories of village life in the 1920’s & ‘30’s
By Amy Sweet (nee Hellier)
Village Life in the 1980s
Reflections on how life has changed in Thorncombe in recent decades.
by June Ede
Wartime memories
What life was really like in Thorncombe and Hewood during the war
by Donald Hutchings
Wilfrid Potter (1923-2008)
A neighbour’s recollections.
by Eve Higgs
SCHOOLS
Holditch Memories
Photos and recollections from the early days of Holditch School
by Marilyn and Simon Rose
St Mary’s School
A potted history of education in Thorncombe; former pupils recall their school days
before and during the second war, the day the school burnt down and how it was rebuilt.
by June Ede
St Mary’s School photos
Recently contributed photos of schoolchildren from 1890’s and 1920’s
17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES
Thorncombe’s Forgotten 1644 Epidemic
A hidden story from the parish burial registers revealed.
by Eve Higgs
Thorncombe’s Jacobites
Francis Gwyn of Forde Abbey - secret supporter of the ‘Old Pretender’?
by Eve Higgs
Unless stated photographs are the copyright property of the author, and should not
be reproduced without his or her permission.
Photo Album