East of Carew

If you look to the left of the Carew Arms there is a wooden window that use to be used for pushing down hay or straw on to a cart.

One of the families who use to live in the Carew Arms was Charles Gernmiup, aged 36, who was head of the family, his wife Emma Gernmiup, aged 30.They had two children,Ethel Gernmiup, aged 22 and Harold Gernmiup, aged 19. The family also had two servants,Henry Moules, aged 39 and Charles Summers, aged 23.

The left side of the Carew Arms use to be a stable for horses and today, if you go for a pint and a delicious meal, you will now see it has become the skittle ally and part of the restaurant!!!

A Buttercross, also known as Butter Cross, is a type of market cross associated with English market towns and dating from medieval times. Its name originates from the fact that they were located at the market place, where people from neighbouring villages would gather to buy locally produced butter, milk and eggs. The fresh produce was laid out and displayed on the circular stepped bases of the cross.
(Wikipedia)

The building you are standing outside now is called The Pound . The Pound was used to lock up people if they got too drunk; they were locked in The Pound for a night and released in the morning. Another use of the Pound was to lock up animals if the owner had not paid their debts. The animals would be released when the owner had paid the fine.

As you probably know, the building attached to The Pound is called Church House. There has been some sort of Pound in Crowcombe since 1642.

The word 'pound' actually comes from the word 'pund' which is a Saxon origin word, meaning 'enclosure'. It is thought that Crowcombe Pound ceased work in the 1920s or 30s.

Why was Church house built?

Up to the 15th century, the village church was the only place large enough to hold community events, such as church Ales - festivities held to raise money for good cause like church repairs.

Creating Church house.

Church house was built c1515 with stone from a nearby quarry. The Lords of the Crowcombe manors made a joint gift to enable the building of the Community Church House, opposite the church.. The churchwardens became responsible for the building and paid an annual Lord's rent of 4d to each manor. That's the equivalent of just over £10 a year today.

A building of many uses.

Within 150 years of opening. Puritan influence led to the destitute being housed downstairs and the charity school opening upstairs. Crowcombe's poor were relocated to Williton Workhouse in 1838, followed by the opening of Crowcombe School in 1872. Church House then fell into disuse and structural disrepair.

Crowcombe Court was built as a statement of wealth and a house in which to entertain, by Thomas Carew. It was first lived in about 1725 but the roof was not put on until 1727. Surprisingly,Thomas Carew sold six manors to pay for this house, which was completed in 1739.

The gardens at Crowcombe Court, which runs over 10 acres, includes a woodland, a walled garden, and a vast lake!

The Great Hall makes for a grand entrance with fine examples of Italian plasterwork throughout. The ballroom is a riot of early Victorian colour and style. The superb marble fireplace is thought to have come from Stowe. The Dining Room floor is painted with the arms of the Carew Family.The house also benefits from a Vaulted Undercroft, which would have held the winter stores for the household.

In 1725 there was a tremendous storm, the church spire was struck by lightning and a section came crashing down into the church. Luckily, there was no one inside, they were outside standing in the porch waiting to go in to worship. No one was hurt. After careful consideration the church steeple was placed in the churchyard because it was far too difficult to put back in place. The west tower originally top a height of 80 feet tall.

This freestanding War memorial is made for the brave men of Crowcombe who died in the First World War and the Second World War. It was made in 1920 and lists the names of the people who died in the village. For example John Stark age 22 who died in the year 21/03/1918 his rank was a private and was in the 6th Bn Somerset Light Infantry. He risked his life for his country and he will now be remembered. It is a pillar made out of stone and rock. It is still standing here today, right in front of you!

When you pass an old house look up and there might be 6 rectangular shaped holes.
They are for doves to breed,nest or perch in .
Doves can be a sign of love.
People keep them in the cotes so they feel loved and watched over.

Timewell and Timewell Cottage (formerly listed as Shute Cottage and Timewell Cottage).
Pair of cottages.
Late C16 - early C17, altered subsequently, in late C20 street entrances removed to rear additions and facade refenestrated.
Rendered over random rubble, thatched roof half hipped to left, brick stacks in cross gable end left, centre right and gable end right.
Original plan not clear, long range fronting road has had many internal rearrangements.

(British Listed Buildings)

On this part of the walk there is some interesting facts about Crowcombe Primary School.

Did you know that Crowcombe School was built in 1872, the same time as it was opened.

The head of crowcombe school in 1901 was William. B. Priddy.

Some of the people that are mentioned in a book called "The book of Crowcombe, Bicknoller and Sampford Brett" had surnames of people today, e.g. Rexworthy, Mackie and so on.

Extracts from Crowcombe school's logbook:

1. 1929 15th of February - Only 12 students came to school owing to a blizzard, therefore, the school was closed.

For this next extract I thought it would be good to tell because Crowcombe has not had a flood for ages. Have you?
2. 1937 18th of January - School was closed owing to a flood.