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Last modified on December 12, 2024
Combe Martin Community Centre
Originally a Medieval Church House and Poorhouse (Pre-1640)
Abstract
Combe Martin Community Centre, a Grade 2 listed building dated to pre-1640, was originally a Church House. Located at High Cross, where Castle Street meets Church Street in the Head Town, it remains a significant local landmark.
In medieval and early modern England, it was common for charitable institutions to be situated near places of worship, reflecting the church's role in providing for disadvantaged groups.
Many of the houses on Combe Martin's Church Street —also known locally as 'Figgy Street'— date back to the 1600s, indicating that the centre of the village has a rich history and architectural heritage.
Introduction
Listed at Grade II (2) by Historic England, over the past four centuries the old Combe Martin Church House has quadrupled in size, evolving into a multi-purpose complex for religious and community purposes:
- A Market and Church Almshouse
- Poorhouse and Workhouse
- Public House and brewery
- Village Boys Schoolroom and Co-Ed
- Meetings and committee rooms
- An accessible space for various groups
- Combe Martin Parish Council office
This historic complex now serves as our village Community Centre, and includes the Combe Martin Parish Council office.
Reasons for Official Listed Status
The Community Centre in Combe Martin is listed at Grade II (2) by Historic England for several principal reasons. Firstly, its significant historic interest is due to its origins as a church house dating back to pre-1640 (LEN1106803).
It was subsequently used as an almshouse, workhouse, poorhouse, and school (Historic England, LEN1106803).
The complex possesses architectural interest, due to the external architectural detailing, introduced during its conversion to a school in the mid-19th century (ibid).
Lastly, its group value is noteworthy for the visual and functional relationship it maintains with the former church house, and the 13th-century Church of St Peter Ad Vincula designated as Grade I (Historic England, LEN1106803).
Church Houses and High Crosses in Community Life
For good reasons, church houses were built at crossroads to parish churches. Situated in West Country villages, a 'High Cross' was typically a free-standing Christian cross, made of stone and often richly decorated.
Medieval church houses, often with a brewery, served as community centres and ale houses for church worshippers. High Crosses were common in the medieval period, particularly in Devon, serving both religious and social functions.
Many almshouses were funded or managed by the church or local parish, making a central location practical for administration and oversight.
The second oldest building in Combe Martin, our pre-1640 community hub housed the village school from the early eighteenth-century. Also serving as a Poorhouse, it later joined with Barnstaple Poor Law Union which was formally established in 1835.
An Integral Part of Combe Martin's History
Over centuries the building has played an integral role in Combe Martin's social and communal life. According to Combe Martin archaeologist Trevor Dunkerley, it may originally have been attached to the Olde George and Dragon public house, which is some four hundred years old.
There is a visual and functional relationship between the former Church House and the Grade I, 13th century Combe Martin Church of St Peter Ad Vincula. Church house ales sold to local worshippers helped to fund the parish church.
The exterior of our Community Centre has a number of infilled doorways and window openings to the left-hand range. There is evidence of the roof line of a former attached building. All of these features relate to the building’s previous uses.
The historic group value includes the iconic red George V Jubilee K6 box, standing outside the building on Church Street.
Dive into Combe Martin's long and eventful history˃
Combe Martin's King George V K6 Jubilee Phone Box
The King George V Jubilee Box, designated Group Value 2, is still used as a public call box today. It was the sixth version of the kiosk introduced by the United Kingdom General Post Office.
In 1935, the General Post Office commissioned the K6 Kiosk to celebrate King George V’s Silver Jubilee. The design aimed for universal usability, avoiding the problems with previous kiosks. These K6 kiosks weighed 3/4 of a tonne.
Made by various contractors in the 1930s, the K6 is cast iron with a domed roof. Its features include unperforated crowns to the top panels, and margin glazing.
While the K2 and K3 had appealing designs, the K2 was too large and costly, and the K3 too fragile. Renowned architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott stepped in, and his successful new kiosk, the K6, made its debut in 1936.
Early Modern History
Typically between the mid-C15 and the early C17, parish church houses or cottages -tied with and sited close to churches– contained breweries and public houses funding the church.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1553-1602), parishes were designated as areas of taxation, partly to generate funds for the relief of the poor. From 1834, with an aim to improve care for the impoverished, parishes were organized into Poor Law Unions under Boards of Guardians.
In Devonshire, such unions were each equipped with a workhouse originally intended as places where able-bodied poor individuals could find employment.
Probably, Combe Martin's Community Centre originally had a large hall with an upper floor reached by a staircase. Early in its life the building was an almshouse, a pre-1664 poorhouse or 'pogey', and a workhouse
The Community Centre was extensively altered and extended in the 19th century. It was once a market place; and it has quadrupled in size during its life. Between the 19th and 20th centuries the building served as a village school.
Combe Martin School House
Kelly's Directory (1902) reported that in 1716, the National Boys School was founded here, and endowed by George Ley esq.
In the Episcopal Visitation Returns of 1774, Combe Martin rector George Gregory raised objections about the management and morality at the village's Free School. Read more >
The building was rebuilt and enlarged in 1820 and enlarged in 1854, for 70 boys. The old school house was sold in 1876, and the proceeds were applied to a school for 120 girls and infants.
According to W. White’s Gazetteer of Devon (pp. 234-235) published 1898-1879, the NATIONAL SCHOOL was originally founded in 1783, by George Ley, who endowed it, called Waterlake. Let for about £40 a year in 1878-7189, subject to 20s. a year for poor parishioners.
White’s Gazette for 1878-1879 states the boys' school was erected in 1854, and enlarged in 1877, by the addition of a girls' school and class rooms, at an outlay of £600, of which £300 was raised by the sale of the old building.
There was about half an acre of land attached to it, and the rest by subscriptions. In 1878-1879 the school was attended by 220 children (White's Gazette, 1879). In the early 1900s, meetings of the Parish Council were held in the Boys’ School-room, and the Council School managers met in the Girls' schoolroom.
Barnstaple Poor Law Union
A parliamentary report dated 1777 recorded two parish workhouses in Combe Martin. These became part of Barnstaple Poor Law Union which seems to have been inaugurated in early December 1835.
A Brewery, Church House and Community Hub
Points of reference for Combe Martin Community Centre’s history are Historic England’s Archive ref: 97047 and List entry No. 1106803 (online).
According to the Combe Martin Local History Group (1997), in 1668 the Church House lost its brewing facility to a fire. It then became a Market House, where pork and mutton were sold under a thatched roof supported on oak posts.
From 1751 the Church House became a Poor House where poor villagers and families received care under one roof. They earned their keep by making thread from locally grown hemp (CMLHG, 1997).
Functioning as community hubs, charities and markets: medieval church houses were particularly prevalent in Devon.
From 1662-1800 it was used a poorhouse, and from 1800-1834 as a workhouse. Then in 1856 it became a national school for boys only.
The Education Act was passed in England in 1870, the very first piece of legislation setting out provisions for education in England and Wales. Thereafter, males and females were required to undergo elementary education.
The school was taken over by the local education authority in 1906. Since around 1970, that which began as Combmartin's medieval Church House has been our Community Centre.
Charitable Housing and Alms Houses
From the Middle ages, charitable housing provided people with accommodation and employment. Early almshouses were intended as a 'ticket to salvation' for the donor, requiring the alms people to regularly attend church to pray for their charitable landlord's soul.
In the Carolean era, the reign of Charles II, our old church house converted to an almshouse (charitable housing). It also served as a Georgian workhouse between 1800 and 1834 (Historic England).
The Bell Turret
An 1882 photograph shows a bell-turret (this has been moved) to the west gable of the Community Centre, and a bell is mounted on the gable end apex. Further alterations were carried out in 1936.
The bell on the gable end apex of the right-hand range can be seen further down Church Street. The gable end of the inner range has a three-light transomed mullion window, set within a two-centred arch surround with ashlar dressed stonework impost band.
The End of Church Houses in England
Religious didactics and injunctions impacted on church breweries, 'imbibery', and religious houses. Church houses ceased to be built in England after the Reformation, and they declined during Cromwell’s Commonwealth.
Church houses and their breweries gradually disappeared under successive taxes and sobriety laws. 17th century Acts of Repression on drunkenness (including “restraint on haunting ale houses”) were other nails in the coffin.
An early documented reference to the demise of Combe Martin’s former medieval church house is in the will of Richard Harding, dated 1640. Money was bequeathed for its conversion to an almshouse and this detail can be found at Historic England online.
Conclusion
Combe Martin Community Centre, and its King George V K6 Jubilee Telephone kiosk, represent our heritage from pre-1640 to twentieth centuries.
With its origins as a pre-1640 church house, the complex has evolved significantly, serving as an almshouse, workhouse, poorhouse, and school. Its Grade II listing highlights its historical and architectural importance.
The history of the Village Boys School and its transition to a Co-Ed institution illustrates the evolution of educational practices, highlighting the community's adaptability and commitment to inclusivity.
Combe Martin Parish Council now occupies its oldest part, and alterations and additions over the centuries, particularly to the doors and windows, can still be seen in the outer stonework.
Today, the Community Centre is an accessible community hub for various local groups. Bridging the past and present, it is preserved for local heritage, reinforcing its significance in the social fabric of Combe Martin.
Further Information
For more local histories and old photographs researched and published by Combe Martin's local historians, visit Combe Martin Museum and Information Point on Cross Street EX34 0DH, near Combe Martin beach.
Combe Martin archaeologist Trevor Dunkerley wrote a treatise of the old Community Centre. Trevor suggests the medieval structure was once connected to what is now the Ye Olde George and Dragon Sports Bar, next door (2011).
Mr Dunkerley's thoroughly recommended book is available to read from the reference library at Combe Martin Museum and Information Point.
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