A little bit about Monkton Combe
Map Location
In the lovely valley of Limpley Stoke, just three miles
from the City of Bath, the village of Monkton Combe nestles
harmoniously into the south-facing slope of a tree-studded
hill, commanding some spectacular views.
The word 'Cume' means a hollow or low situation, similar to
the Welsh 'cwm' so that the connection with an early British
settlement becomes apparent. Throughout the mediaeval period,
the monks from Bath Abbey continued to supervise their
demesne, grinding their corn in the mills, tending the Prior's
flock of prime wethers, and carrying their produce by mule and
packhorse up the drungs, as the hill footpaths are called,
year after year for more than five centuries, to their Priory
in Bath. Cume thus became known as 'Moncken Cume.
The village itself occupies a curving main street with most
of the houses on one side of the road belonging to Monkton
Combe School. At the end of the street is a late 19th century
Church, cheek-by-jowl with the former brewery, which has been
turned into flats. Also next to it is a group of the oldest
buildings in the village. These include a farmhouse with
mullioned windows, part of which can be shown from documents
to pre-date 1490, together with an ancient dovecot and stone
barn.
A few yards from the Church is Mill Lane, down which you
will find the lock up, built in 1776, with its domed roof,
strong walls and stout iron studded door. It is thought to be
one of the few lock ups having two cells.
|
