Hollacombe: St Petrock and Historic Farm Buildings

Hollacombe and its Historic Landmarks

Hollacombe is a small rural parish east of Holsworthy. Two cultural and historical landmarks shape the picture of the village: St Petrock and the farm buildings at Hayne Farmhouse. At the church, the probable date of the nave and the possible early history of the oval enclosure stand side by side. At Hayne Farmhouse, the focus is on a group of agricultural buildings and the details of a granary. These topics give you specific points of reference if you are considering Hollacombe as a destination for a hotel stay and would like to decide in advance which local features interest you.

St Petrock: Church and Enclosure

The nave of St Petrock probably originated in the 13th century. The oval enclosure around the church is thought to be an enclosed burial ground of early medieval origin. The nave refers to the church building itself, while the enclosure is the oval area around it. The two dates therefore relate to different features of the site: the probable date of the church space and an archaeological interpretation of the enclosed area. The early date assigned to the enclosure goes back further than the probable date of the nave. St Petrock thus brings together architecture and the interpretation of the area around the church, without the two details referring to the same building phase.

Worship and Access

A sung Mass is held at St Petrock at 9:30 a.m. on the first and third Sunday of each month. Check the schedule before you travel. Access to the church is via one of the farms on either side; check locally in advance whether and how a visit is possible. If you plan to attend a service, the schedule gives you a fixed day of the week and an exact time.

The Farm Buildings at Hayne Farmhouse

The listed group of farm buildings is located about 30 m southwest of Hayne Farmhouse. It comprises a threshing barn, an open-fronted wagon shed and an adjoining range of stables. The names distinguish the buildings and their uses; the open front is a distinctive feature of the wagon shed. The farm buildings form part of the shared historic group with Hayne Farmhouse because of their group value. Their historical significance therefore lies not only in the individual buildings but also in their relationship to the farmhouse.

The granary is located about 20 m south of Hayne Farmhouse. It has Flemish-bond brickwork and a hipped slate roof coated with bitumen. Its form is also described precisely: the plan is square, with arched openings between brick piers. The description thus takes you from the plan, through the arches and brickwork, to the roof. You can read these details as different aspects of the building: the plan defines its footprint, the arches and brick piers shape its construction, and slate and bitumen describe the roof’s material and treatment.

The location details can be compared directly: the farm buildings are about 30 m southwest of the farmhouse, and the granary is about 20 m south. The two reference points therefore differ in both direction and approximate distance.

Discover more destinations: Halberton, Littleham, Stokeinteignhead, Holsworthy, Bottreaux Mill, Hemyock, Thorverton, South Brent.

For the regional travel overview: Devon.