Bowden Farm is to the south-west of Hele, between Comyn Hill and Shield Tor, just off the Old Barnstaple Road from Ilfracombe. The 1889 Ordnance Survey map shows that it was approached along the (presumably sarcastically) named Featherbed Lane. It was probably once part of the Saxon Manor of Ilfracombe.

The 1889 Ordnance Survey map shows Bowden to the west of an elongated oval group of fields which include Shield Tor and extend east to below Killicleave farm. Bowden is probably from Old English boga, meaning 'curved' and dun meaning 'hill', no doubt a reference to the topography around Shield Tor. The first element of the name is common in Devon place names; where it is used 17 times with dun and 13 times with wudu. Many other smaller local settlements have a descriptive place name with a Saxon origin, for example Hele, Beara, Hole, Trayne and Slew.

Bowden is shown on OS 1809 map and Greenwoods' 1827 map, but is not named. Called Bowden on the 1839 Ilfracombe Tithe map (transcription: Bowden is owned by William Vye and held by John Tucker); In the 1841 Census Bouden is occupied by John Tucker & family; Called Bowden in the 1851 census; Bowden farm and Featherbed Lane are so-called on the OS map of 1891. The field boundaries indicate that the main road may have once taken an alternative route to Ilfracombe south of Shield Tor and past Bowden.

"Bowden is Northbughedon 1262 FF, Lyttell Bowden 1503 Ipmv. Bowden supra 37" (Gover et al 1932 p 48)

"Bowden [in Braunton] is Boghedon 1333 SR(p), cf Bowden (Ch), DB Bogadone. The first element is very common in Devon place names. It is found 17 times with dun, 13 times with wudu and occasionally with bearu, clif, cumb, hyll, mor, weg. It is noteworthy that in every case the second element is some word denoting a natural feature, not a place of habitation, so that we should look for a descriptive term rather than a personal name as the source of the first element. Bow (infra 315) and Bow (Mx,Wo) clearly contain the OE boga, 'bow, arch, curve', probably with reference in each case to an arched bridge. Probably we have this word also in most or all of the above-noted compounds, the meaning being 'curved, well-rounded, or arched' according to the significance of the following word. The frequency of the element in Devon place names need not be surprising to those acquainted with the topography of the County." (Gover et al 1932 p 37)

"Bowden [in Berrynarbor] is Bowedon 1270 Ass 'curved hill'. (Gover et al 1932 p 28)