Origin of place name Chambercombe, Hele, north Devon

Chambercombe Manor is just under a kilometre to the south of Hele, in the bottom of Hele valley. It is accessed by road from the Thatched Inn along Chambercombe Lane and through Chambercombe Woods. Chambercombe Manor is a historic house open to the public. There are several legends associated with the Manor: Lady Jane Grey, Queen for nine days, is said to have stayed there, in 1865 a skeleton was supposedly found concealed in a 'hidden chamber' and there is said to be a smuggler's tunnel to the beach.

The place name probably dates back to c1160 when Ilfracombe Manor was split into two and the Champernon's, were granted Hele Manor and the Borough Manor of Ilfracombe. Tristram Risdon wrote in 1630 that "the manor of Ilfracombe anciently belonged to the Chambernons, who had a seat in this parish, called Chambernon's Wike" (wike is presumably the same as wick, meaning dwelling place or hamlet). It appears that it was also once known as Champernon's Combe, hence Chambercombe.

The manor of Ilfracombe anciently belonged to the Chambernons, who had a seat in this parish, called Chambernon's Wike. (Risdon 1811 p 430)

Wick - Now only local. [OE wic] 1 An abode, dwelling, dwelling-place - ME 2 A town, village or hamlet. obs or dial. - OE (SOED 1987 Vol 2 p 2545)

Chambercombe is so-called on the first OS map of 1809; Underdowne on Greenwoods' 1827 map; Chambercombe on the 1840 Ilfracombe Tithe map; Chambercombe and Chambercombe Lane on the first detailed OS map of 1889.

"Chambercombe is Champernounyscomb 1439 Exon, Chambercomb 1525 AOMB and is to be associated with the family of Henry de Chambernon (1321 Exon), probably a descendent of the Oliver de Campo Ernulfi whose heirs held the manor of Ilfracombe in 1242 (Fees 784)" (Gover et al 1932 p 46)

"The Manor was established by the Champernon family, from whom the name probably derives. Combe is the Devon dialect for valley; so the original is probably Champernon's Combe, shortened, at some point, to Champercombe and then, for ease of pronunciation, to Chambercombe." (Wheeler p 1)