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Summary

17th century - 18th century park and woodland surrounding Combe House.

Location

Protected Status

• Registered Park or Garden (II) 1000691: COMBE HOUSE

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY19NW/6/2
• Old Registered Parks and Gardens Ref (II)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PARK (Post Medieval to XXI - 1540 AD to 2009 AD (Between))

Full description

NMR, SY19NW35 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV117409.

Untitled Source, 89 (Migrated Record). SDV15340.

Hussey, C., 1955, Combe, 1556-9 (Article in Serial). SDV324642.

Hussey, C., 1955, Untitled Source, 1486-9 (Article in Serial). SDV123112.

English Heritage, 1987, Combe House Park (Register of Parks and Gardens in England). SDV324601.

Combe House has a 17C/18C park and woodland, at most extensive c50ha, with 17C walled and terraced gardens of c2ha beside house. Estate in divided use and ownership, with ground of 4 1/2ha attached to house. Woodland - Cross Park Copse and Roadwood Copse - 300m to north and to south of house, and lesser plantations alternating with open parkland and agricultural land elsewhere in the original estate. The park held deer in the 16C, details of subsequent landscaping are uncertain. A remarkable series of walled gardens, of late 17C origin or earlier. A 1787 survey shows the form of the series. There is an 18C orangery or greenhouse 100m to north of house. Remains of shrubbery and small pool. Combe House is now used as a hotel.

Department of Environment, 1988, Gittisham, 108, 110 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV117408.

Fisher, J., 1999, East Devon Conservation Area Appraisals: Gittisham, 4 (Report - non-specific). SDV346641.

The most significant tree group is the fine avenue of mixed species running south-east, which forms part of the historic landscape setting of Combe House.

Reed, S. J. + Collings, A. G., 2000, Archaeological assessment of SWW Chineway to Roundball mains renewal, Honiton, 6 (Report - Assessment). SDV117622.

17C - 18C park & woodland surrounding Combe House.

English Heritage, 2003, Combe House (Register of Parks and Gardens in England). SDV324649.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, 18, Part 1; 134-135, Part 2: Gazetteer, Site No. 380 (Report - Survey). SDV101648.

Combe House (now a hotel) is an Elizabethan mansion with later additions, which has probable earlier parts within it. Series of late 17th century or earlier walled gardens extend from east side of house. The house has a 17th century/18th century park and woodland (Listed Grade II) once covering 50 hectares, the woodland including Cross Park Copse and Roadwood Copse; the park held deer in the 16th century. There are a number of structures and landscape features within the grounds including a cottage, an orangery, stables, ice house, greenhouse, a well, a fishpond, most of which are Listed Grade II. The site is listed in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest (Listed Grade II), the east boundary of which extends to the A375 road on the west side of Gittisham Hill.
The place was probably the home of John de Combe documented in 1311; by association, Combe Farm which lies to the south of it may also be an early site.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 380 (Archive - Survey). SDV358490.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003, East Devon Heathlands Archaeological Survey, Site No. 380 (Report - Survey). SDV359019.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 2511 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Combe House. 16th century or earlier with later additions. Listed Grade I. Extensive grounds contain park, woodland, gardens and other features and buildings of Listed Grade II status.
SMR.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV3329 - Archaeological assessment of SWW Chineway to Roundball mains renewal, Honiton
• EDV3332 - East Devon heathlands archaeological survey

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