Comyn farm is about a kilometre south of Hele, near Chambercombe Manor. It is beside the river crossing of Cat Lane and Chambercombe Lane, which may have originated as a wet-weather route used when the stream was flooded lower down the valley. To the south of Comyn farm are Comyn Woods and some fields called Yarde (from Saxon gyrt, meaning an area of cultivated land). Comyn Hill is a kilometre or so to the west, beside the Old Barnstaple Road.

Comyn farm was called Common on the Ordnance Survey map of 1809 and on the 1839 Ilfracombe Tithe map, it is likely that this was the original spelling of this place name, and probably the original meaning. It is possible that when Chambercombe Manor was built sometime after 1160, the existing farm became the common farm, i.e. that farmed by the villagers for their own benefit, as opposed to the demesne farm of the Manor.

Common is so-called on the OS map of 1809; It is shown (slightly too far south), but not named, on Greenwoods' 1827 map; Called Common on the 1839 Ilfracombe Tithe map (transcription Common House etc owned by Nathaniel Vye, held by Richard Jewell); In the 1851 Census Common Farm is still occupied by Richard Jewell; Comyn farm, Comyn Woods and Comyn Hill are so-called on the OS map of 1891.

"Passing the farm house at Chambercombe, the visitor can extend his walk to Common Farm, which is situated at the spur dividing two valleys, each of which forms a pleasant ramble for the lover of quiet sylvan scenery. The walk to Chambercombe and Common may be varied on the return by taking the lane on the right - just at the farm yard of the latter, which leads to the hamlet of Hele, thence home by turnpike road." (Walters 1884 p 31-32)

One meaning of common (from kọmən, partly representative of French commune and Medieval Latin communa, communia; partly Latin commune) is "A common land or estate; the undivided land held in joint occupation by a community" (SOED 1987 Vol 1 p 379)