Combe Sydenham
Encyclopedia
Combe Sydenham is a 15th century manor house south of Monksilver
in the parish of Stogumber
, Somerset
, England. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.
Combe Sydenham is mentioned as a manor belonging to William de Moyon
in the Domesday Book
in 1086.
The porch was added in 1580 to the south front of the building. The west front was refenestrated, and at least 2 stair turrets added in the late 16th or early 17th century. The south front has been refenestrated and buildings to the north and east were demolished.
Combe Sydenham Hall was the home of the Sydenham family from the fourteen hundreds to the mid 18th century.
In 1585, Francis Drake
married Elizabeth Sydenham—born circa 1562, the only child of Sir George Sydenham, who was the High Sheriff of Somerset
. Drake and Elizabeth Sydenham were to be married earlier however he left on a long voyage and her father arranged for her to be married to a son of the Wyndham family of Orchard Wyndham
. On the day of wedding as they were approaching the Church of St Mary
at Stogumber
there was a loud clap of thunder and a large meteorite crashed through the roof. This was seen as a bad omen and the wedding stopped. Drake had arrived back in Plymouth
the same day, and they were later married at the Church of All Saints
in Monksilver. The iron meteorite, which became known as "Drake's cannon ball", is 14 inches (35.6 cm) in diameter. It has been polished when rolled down hills and has remained at the house ever since. After Drake's death, Elizabeth eventually married Sir William Courtenay of Powderham.
The house is set in a 500 acres (202.3 ha) estate which offers a Deer Park and a variety of walks.
Monksilver
Monksilver is a village west of the town of Williton in Somerset, England, on the eastern flank of the Brendon Hills and the border of the Exmoor National Park. It is on the Coleridge Way footpath....
in the parish of Stogumber
Stogumber
Stogumber is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, on the eastern flank of the Brendon Hills. Besides Stogumber village itself, the parish includes the hamlets of Ashbeer, Capton, Escott, Higher Vexford, Kingswood, Lower Vellow, Lower Vexford, Preston, and Vellow.-History:The name comes...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.
Combe Sydenham is mentioned as a manor belonging to William de Moyon
William de Moyon
William de Moyon or William de Moion was seigneur of Moyon and Sheriff of Somerset in 1086. William is mentioned in the Domesday Book where he is shown to control a large number of manors in Somerset centred on Dunster Castle. Manors he controlled included Minehead, West Quantoxhead and Combe...
in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
in 1086.
The porch was added in 1580 to the south front of the building. The west front was refenestrated, and at least 2 stair turrets added in the late 16th or early 17th century. The south front has been refenestrated and buildings to the north and east were demolished.
Combe Sydenham Hall was the home of the Sydenham family from the fourteen hundreds to the mid 18th century.
In 1585, Francis Drake
Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the...
married Elizabeth Sydenham—born circa 1562, the only child of Sir George Sydenham, who was the High Sheriff of Somerset
High Sheriff of Somerset
The Office of High Sheriff of Somerset is an ancient High Sheriff title which has been in existence for over one thousand years. The position was once a powerful position responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing law and order in Somerset a county in South West England. In modern times the...
. Drake and Elizabeth Sydenham were to be married earlier however he left on a long voyage and her father arranged for her to be married to a son of the Wyndham family of Orchard Wyndham
Orchard Wyndham
Orchard Wyndham is a historic house parts of which date from medieval times near Williton, Somerset, England.There is evidence of occupation of the site from Roman and Saxon times....
. On the day of wedding as they were approaching the Church of St Mary
Church of St Mary, Stogumber
The Church of St Mary in Stogumber, Somerset, England dates from the late 13th century. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.The church was founded as a Saxon minster with a chapelry at Bicknoller and other dues payable from property in Monksilver, Clatworthy and Elworthy.The oldest...
at Stogumber
Stogumber
Stogumber is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, on the eastern flank of the Brendon Hills. Besides Stogumber village itself, the parish includes the hamlets of Ashbeer, Capton, Escott, Higher Vexford, Kingswood, Lower Vellow, Lower Vexford, Preston, and Vellow.-History:The name comes...
there was a loud clap of thunder and a large meteorite crashed through the roof. This was seen as a bad omen and the wedding stopped. Drake had arrived back in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
the same day, and they were later married at the Church of All Saints
Church of All Saints, Monksilver
The Church of All Saints in Monksilver, Somerset, England dates from the 12th century and has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building....
in Monksilver. The iron meteorite, which became known as "Drake's cannon ball", is 14 inches (35.6 cm) in diameter. It has been polished when rolled down hills and has remained at the house ever since. After Drake's death, Elizabeth eventually married Sir William Courtenay of Powderham.
The house is set in a 500 acres (202.3 ha) estate which offers a Deer Park and a variety of walks.