Thorncombe, Dorset Family History Guide
Thorncombe is an Ancient Parish in the county of Dorset.
Other places in the parish include: Ford Abbey and Forde Abbey.
Alternative names:
Parish church: St. Mary
Parish registers begin:
- Parish registers: 1551
- Bishop’s Transcripts: 1606
Nonconformists include:
Adjacent Parishes
- Winsham, Somerset
- Wayford, Somerset
- Chard, Somerset
- Crewkerne, Somerset
- Marshwood, Somerset
- Broadwindsor
- Chardstock
- Hawkchurch
Parish History
A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848
THORNCOMBE (St. Mary), a parish, and formerly a market-town, in the union of Axminster, county of Dorset, 6½ miles (N. E. by E.) from Axminster; containing 1425 inhabitants. At Ford, in this parish, an abbey was founded about the year 1141 for monks of the Cistercian order, by Adelicia, daughter of Baldwin de Brioniis, of Normandy. The remains of the foundress were interred here. The institution soon became highly celebrated, and some of the greatest men of the time were connected with it: Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury, who flourished in 1184, was at one time a monk here; Devonius, or John of Devonshire, chaplain and confessor to King John, was abbot, and, about 1217, was buried in the conventual church. Dr. Thomas Chard, abbot, surrendered the establishment to Henry VIII. in 1539, when its annual income was estimated at £381. 10. 8½. The remains are considerable, including the entrance tower, the old abbey walls, and various other portions now occupied as a private mansion; the chapel has a groined roof in the early English style, and some arches of late Norman character. Ford Abbey, the seat and estate of the Gwyn family, was sold in Sept. 1846, for £52,650. Jeremy Bentham resided here a few years. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king’s books at £15. 18. 9., and in the gift of John Bragge, Esq.: the vicarial tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £491. 13., and the glebe contains 48 acres. At Holditch, in the parish, was formerly a church, of which scarcely any remnant exists. A free school was founded by the Rev. Thomas Cooke, in 1734, with a small endowment. A fair is held on Easter-Tuesday.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848
Parish Records
FamilySearch Catalog - Free
Buildings, dwellings, etc.
Thorncombe : life memories and the history of the parish Author: Farley, Ron, 1927-
Cemeteries
Census
Census returns for Thorncombe, 1841-1891
Church history
Thorncombe : life memories and the history of the parish Author: Farley, Ron, 1927-
Church Records
Thorncombe : baptisms 1813-1825 Author: Devon Family History Society
Thorncombe : burials 1813-1841 Author: Devon Family History Society
Thorncombe marriage registers, 1813-1837 Author: Devon Family History Society
Court records - Bibliography
History
Thorncombe : life memories and the history of the parish Author: Farley, Ron, 1927-
Taxation
Administration
- County: Dorset
- Civil Registration District: Axminster
- Probate Court: Pre-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory), Post-1835 - Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset
- Diocese: Salisbury
- Rural Deanery: Pre-1836 - Honiton, Post-1835 - Bridport
- Poor Law Union: Axminster
- Hundred: Whitchurch Canonicorum
- Province: Canterbury