Combe Martin, Devon
Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Combe Martin, Devon
The village consists principally of one single long street which runs 2 miles between the valley head down to the sea and there is evidence of Iron Age occupation including the nearby Newberry Castle fort. 
The name &quot;Combe&quot; is Old English for &quot;wooded valley&quot; with Martin added from that family who held the the village as feudal barons of Barnstaple following the marriage of Nicholas FitzMartin (d.1260) to heiress Maud de Tracy
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.  Items in the Crown Jewels are made from Combe Martin silver and a large part of the war expenses of Edward III and Henry V were paid for by the sale of silver mined here.  It also financed the rood screen 

The church consists of chancel, nave, north and south transepts, north aisle, north and south porches, and west tower.  Possibly built on the site of a Saxon church, the rebuild was probably originally cruciform, the earlier north transept being removed later when a north aisle was added 
Built with stone rubble with ashlar dressings and with a dressed stone façade to the south porch, the structure was constructed in the Early English style with 13c materials surviving in the south transept and on the south side of the chancel and nave.  The first listed rector is of 1309.   

The Impressively tall four stage west tower was begun in the reign of Henry II [1154-1189], and completed later in early 15c  ;  99 feet in height to the battlement.   It has a clock and the 8 bells were recast by Taylor of Oxford in 1827 and by Mears and Stainbank of London in 1922.
Also in early 15c the north chancel chapel &amp; north porch were added followed in late 15c / early 16c by the addition of the rebuilt north transept.
The south porch was rebuilt 1725.  It has a slate sundial above dated 1753. <a href="https://flic.kr/p/cCTiu3" rel="noreferrer nofollow">flic.kr/p/cCTiu3</a>
Restorations took place in 1858 and  1881. 

Over the west window of the tower is a figure of Christ and on the south buttress is a niche with a representation of the Trinity, the north buttress has a figure of St. Michael slaying the Dragon. On the south side of the tower is a niche with a figure of a bishop, possibly St. Peter.   An animal figure on abuttress of south side supports a shield with 3 lions passant, the royal arms from Richard i to 1340 before Edward iii added the fleur-de-lys.

The 15c rood screen its doors, but the groining and cornices have been removed.   In 1727 the churchwardens substituted a cornice of plaster for the original one of wood with their initials and date of the work recorded on the front of the screen — the model taken seems to have been that of an ordinary sitting-room ceiling cornice, and the effect has been described as &quot;truly awful &quot;— However it is redeemed in the lower panels with images of saints and the pier casing retains some fine canopy work.  . <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/PB48484Dwp">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/PB48484Dwp</a>

The parclose screen between the chancel &amp; north (chantry) chapel is carved in Spanish chestnut dates to c 1333 when the chapel was added  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/Z26hU4663m">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/Z26hU4663m</a>

The 15c font bears the remains of colouring; . <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/o8964z1Q21">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/o8964z1Q21</a>

in the chancel south west window survives a medieval fragment of a seraph with wheel below <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/BS4M1p3wV5">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/BS4M1p3wV5</a>

Also In the chancel is a bishop's chair, carved with grapes and corn, , again of Spanish mahogany and is thought to be c1500.  
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/eNLCG8qEt9">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/eNLCG8qEt9</a>

In the vestry is an old oak chest with the usual 3 key holes for the 3 keys which, according to the old injunction of Elizabeth l were to be held by the vicar and churchwardens.

The registers date: baptisms, 1671; marriages, 1680; burials, 1679.

 
Chris Allen CCL <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3443943" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3443943</a>
combe martin combemartin church devon