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Summary

The church was built in the 13th century, probably as a household chapel. It was enlarged in the 14th century at which time it was consecrated by Bishop Grandisson. It was restored in the 19th century.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (I) 1168193: CHURCH OF ST BLAISE

Other References/Statuses

• Church of England HER: 5085
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX87SE/18
• Old Listed Building Ref (I)
• Old Listed Building Ref (I): 85769
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX87SE19

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PARISH CHURCH (XIII to XIV - 1201 AD to 1400 AD)

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV284540.

Dro=564m/10/93,95,99(illustrations by swete).

Crabbe, W. R, 1862, On Haccombe Church and its monuments, 176-185 (Article in Serial). SDV284525.

Kerslake, T., 1877, Traces of the Ancient Kingdom of Dumnonia outside Cornwall, 429 (Article in Serial). SDV5885.

Author notes the significance of haccombe church's ancient dedication which survived more usual re-dedication

Chanter, J. R., 1890, Second Report of the Committee on Devonshire Records, 61-65 (Article in Serial). SDV35442.

Reichel, O. J., 1902, The Devonshire Domesday (Article in Serial). SDV22298.

Among the archives is the remnant of an old vellum chronicle of the mohun family written in old french in about 1350. Only the introductory portion has survived (lega-weekes).

Bligh Bond, F., 1903, Devonshire Screens and Rood Lofts. Part II, 460 (Article in Serial). SDV6113.

Ordnance Survey, 1906, 110SW (Cartographic). SDV337164.

Lega-Weekes, E., 1906-1907, The Mohun Chronicle at Haccombe, 17-22 (Article in Serial). SDV284534.

Lyte, H. M., 1906-1907, The Mohun Chronicle at Haccombe, 249-252 (Article in Serial). SDV284535.

Thompson, A. H., 1913, Church Architecture in Devon, 460,465,471,473,492 (Article in Serial). SDV15387.

Searley, A. W., 1918, Haccombe. Part I (1086-1330), 331,342-5 (Article in Serial). SDV284518.

Haccombe parish church. A three-pointed sedilia of plain freestone, restored in 1811.

Watkin, H. R., 1918 - 1919, Sepulchral Slabs with Crosses in Devon Churches, 77-78 (Article in Serial). SDV7614.

As the slab is of purbeck marble, which was only used for the earliest memorials in the church, it is unlikely to be the tomb of Robert de Pyl.

Cresswell, B. F., 1918-1919, Sepulchral Slabs with Crosses in Devon Churches, 7 (Article in Serial). SDV7613.

On the north side of the church are four sepulchral arches, in one of which is a coffin-shaped stone with a cross. It is thought to be the grave stone of Robert de Pyl, whose name occurs in the foundation deed of the arch-presbytery, of which he was probably one of the benefactors.

Searley, A. W., 1925, Haccombe. Part VIII. Carew period (continued), 322-3, Pl. 10, Fig. 1 (Article in Serial). SDV284519.

Searley, A. W., 1926, Early Archpriests at Haccombe, 289-298 (Article in Serial). SDV284533.

An account is given of the early archpriests of Haccombe Presbytery following its foundation in 1337.

Watkin, H. R., 1930 - 1934, Seven Hundred Years Ago. AD 1232, 213 (Article in Serial). SDV81790.

The coffin-shaped slab with incised cross probably covered the remains of Isabella, widow of Jordan de Haccombe. Probably carved as a result of the 6th crusade.

Rose-Troup, D., 1936 - 1937, Cartularies of Religious Houses in Devon, 142-144 (Article in Serial). SDV256423.

A transcript of the Cartulary of Haccombe is in the British Museum

Fryer Cornelius, C., 1946, Ancient Devon Parish Churches within a Ten Mile Radius of Newton Abbot, 125, 127, 132 (Article in Serial). SDV312246.

The church comprises a chancel, nave and north aisle dedicated in 1328. The octagonal, red sandstone pier arcades date to the late 13th or early 14th century.

Fryer Cornelius, C., 1947, Fittings, Furnishings and Finishings of the Ancient Devon Parish Churches within a Ten Mile Radius of Newton Abbot, 87 (Article in Serial). SDV312247.

Features within the church include heraldic tiles.

Fryer Cornelius, C., 1951, Mediaeval Effigies and other Sepulchral Memorials in the Parish Churches within a Ten-Mile Radius of Newton Abbot, 217-234 (Article in Serial). SDV339049.

Details of effigies and memorials in the church from the 13th to 17th centuries. The church at Haccombe was the chapel for the manor house. It became an archpresbytery in the early 14th century and is a mausoleum of the Lords of the Manor. A small alabaster effigy has been identified as being of Edward Courtenay and the tomb consequently dated to the early 15th century. However, the apparel of the effigy echoes the fashion of c1377 and so it cannot be that of Edward Courtenay. Other monuments include a large 15th century table tomb with efigies of Sir Hugh Courtenay and his wife, Phillipa and a 17th century brass of Thomas and Ann Carew.

Pevsner, N., 1952, The Buildings of England: South Devon, 173 (Monograph). SDV336217.

Knowles, D. + Hadcock, R. N., 1953, Medieval Religious Houses, 330 (Monograph). SDV296460.

Haccombe parish church of St Blaise. Dedicated by Stephen de Haccombe, whose tomb lies here. It was built in 1233, probably as a household chapel. Enlarged in the Early English style in 1328. It contains a freestone screen, an octagonal font, a three-pointed sedilia, a 19th century chancel screen, tiles bearing coats of arms, memorial brasses, to the Carews and the Courtenays, and an ancient cross in the churchyard brought from Buckland Barton. Pevsner comments that 'an interesting feature of the church is the arms and hands sticking out in various places. To hold banners or torches?' A college of six chantry priests was founded here in 1337 and had died out by 1534.

Hoskins, W. G., 1954, A New Survey of England: Devon, 402 (Monograph). SDV17562.

Smith, J. T., 1958, Untitled Source, 126, Fig. 127 (Article in Serial). SDV284530.

Corbould, P., 1968, The Monumental Brasses of Devon, 34-35 (Article in Serial). SDV84760.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1980, SX87SE19 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV284522.

The church is a small 13th century building of red standstone rubble, said to have been concecrated by Bishop Grandisson in 1328. A secular college, of six chantry priests and an archpriest, was founded here in 1337. They were required to live under the same roof, thought to be the ancient parsonage. The college had died out by 1534-5 but in fact may have ceased some time before. The rector still holds the title of Archpriest (citing various sources).

Department of Environment, 1988, Haccombe with Combe, 71 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV337162.

Church of St Blaise. Probably C13, enlarged in the C14 (consecrated by Bishop Grandisson in 1328), east end fittings of circa 1820 by John Kendall. Restoration by John Hayward in progress in 1861. Red sandstone rubble with freestone dressings; slate roof with crested ridge tiles. Nave, chancel, 4 bay north aisle with lean-to roof, west end bellcote, south porch.Triple sedilia, C13 or C14 in origin, repaired 1811 with simple chamfered arches.
See DoE description for full details.

Ravenhill, M. R. + Rowe, M. M., 2002, Devon Maps and Map-Makers: Manuscript Maps Before 1840 Volume 2, 224 (Monograph). SDV365103.

Simpson, J., 2002, Haccombe Church (Personal Comment). SDV284543.

The church shown in a rectangular enclosure on a facsimile of an early 17th century map.

Tyler, K., 2008, An Archaeological Watching Brief at Haccombe House Estate, Newton Abbot, Devon, 1-2, Fig. 2 (Report - Watching Brief). SDV347399.

Ordnance Survey, 2015, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV357601.

Manning, P. + Goddard, S., 2019, VVWM., 9; Photo (Article in Serial). SDV366333.

A clear example of a double V graffito found at Haccombe, St. Blaise. The symbol is often referred to as a Marian Mark, as it has traditionally been associated with the medieval cult of the Virgin Mary. It has been suggested that the Vs stood for ‘Virgo Virginum’ (Virgin of Virgins), a term found in medieval Marian prayers.
It has been suggested that this form, with intersecting crossed strokes, is more likely to date from the 16th to the early 18th centuries.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV5102 - Archaeological Watching Brief at Haccombe House Estate

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