Venue Type & Location
Performance Spaces
Overview
The late Elizabethan house is located on the edge of the Blackdown Hills in the rolling countryside of E Devon, near the main route through Honiton to Exeter.
It is likely that the present house incorporates some fabric from the original medieval hall. 'The hall, in part at least, is shown by recent discoveries to have been a timber-framed structure clad with ash wattles and cob, and probably thatched; similar to if rather larger than the more substantial houses in Gittisham...' (Hussey, 'Combe--1' 1486).
Performance History
A possible performance venue. Although household accounts for the Beaumont residences do not survive, there is mid-15th c. evidence that Philip Beaumont and his illegitimate nephew John Beaumont each patronized a minstrel or minstrels who toured to Barnstaple in Devon. It is possible that they performed at Combe (and in Philip's case also at Heanton Court near Barnstaple) for their lords.
Current Status
History of the Venue
early 14th c. Gittisham estate acquired by Sir Henry Willington. The original Combe hall was built.
15th c. Estate acquired by the Beaumont family. John Beaumont (d 1487) awarded Gittisham in dispute over the Beaumont inheritance.
later 16th c. Rebuilt by Humphrey Beaumont (d 1591).
1599 Henry Beaumont willed Combe to the unrelated Sir Thomas Beaumont of Leicestershire.
1615 Sir Henry Beaumont, son of Sir Thomas, sold Combe to Nicholas Putt.
17th, 18th and 19th c. Extensive remodellings by various Putt family owners.
mid-19th c. Marker family acquired Combe through marriage.
20th c. Converted for use as a hotel by the Markers.
Late 20th c. Purchased by the present owners for continuing operation as a hotel.
Record Source
REED Devon 31
Patrons who owned this venue
| Name | Date | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont, John | 1450-1487 | |
| Beaumont, Philip | 1432-1473 |
Bibliographic Sources
- Cherry, Bridget, and Nikolaus Pevsner. Devon. London: Penguin Books, 1989
- Hoskins, W.G. Devon. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1973
- Hussey, Christopher. 'Combe, Devon – I: The Home of Mr. Richard Marker.'. Country Life 117 (1955): 1485--9.
- Hussey, Christopher. 'Combe, Devon -- II: The Home of Mr. Richard Marker.'. Country Life 117 (1955): 1556--8.
- Polwhele, Richard. The History of Devonshire. 1st ed. [1793--1806] printed by Trewman and Son for: Cadell, Johnson and Dilly (vol 1); Cadell, Dilly and Murray (vol 2); Cadell and Davies (vol 3); all in London. 3 vols. Dorking: Kohler & Coombes, 1977