These notes have been compiled by the Parish Council and the Parracombe Community Trust to provide information for all residents of and visitors to Parracombe.
You can download and print a copy here.
Introduction
The parish of Parracombe is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Pedracomba. Its origins are early to mid Saxon and it contains a very early Norman Motte and Bailey castle, as well as two churches (one 19th century and the other 11th century) and any number of listed buildings in the conservation area.
Parracombe is the largest Devon village on Exmoor and includes the physically detached hamlets of Bodley, Churchtown and Prisonford. It is situated in the Heddon Valley on the old main road to Lynton (now Parracombe Lane) and is bypassed by the A39 coast-road which was built in the 1920s. There are some 300 people resident in the parish, which is bounded by the parishes of Challacombe, Kentisbury, Trentishoe, Martinhoe and Lynton and covers approximately six square miles.
Social Media & Publicity
https://parracombe.org.uk/ is the village web site, where you can find information on all activities within the village.
The “Parracombe Community News” Facebook group is probably the easiest and most commonly used way to find out about various events and activities in or near the village. This group now has over 1,700 members. In addition, there are several Facebook pages run by groups within the village that you may wish to follow such as “The Pavilion Stores & Café”, “Christ Church”, etc.
The community also runs a separate Facebook group called “Parracombe Trading Post” where locals are encouraged to buy and sell from each other. It also helps to keep the Parracombe Community News site focussed on news and events.
The “Parracombe Community Trust” Facebook page is where you can find all the latest news regarding the various projects undertaken by the Trust (see section below for details of the PCT).
There are three noticeboards in the village (Bodley Cross, the shop & café, and The Fox & Goose car park) where many events are publicised. The noticeboard at the shop is used for Parish notices and you can also find the minutes of Parish Council meetings here.
Local Government
The Parish Council, consisting of seven elected members, normally meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. There is an Annual Parish Meeting which normally takes place in May.
The parish is within Combe Martin Rural Ward of North Devon District Council , and within the North Division of Devon County Council . The Parliamentary Constituency is North Devon.
The Exmoor National Park Authority is the planning authority and highway authority in respect of PROWS (rights of way).
The Parracombe Community Trust
Parracombe Community Trust Limited is a Community Benefit Society set up to maintain and improve the physical, social and economic infrastructure within the parish of Parracombe. The primary aims initially were to provide affordable housing on a rental basis for people with a strong local connection, to secure the future of the village hall, and to open a community village shop. To date the Trust has raised £150,000 in community shares, half of which has come from the Parracombe residents and stakeholders, with the balance from the Co-Operative Booster Programme.
The PCT is run entirely by its Members, which currently number 200 people. You can become a Member of the PCT, with full and equal voting rights, for as little as £1.00. It is the hope of the PCT that, as a minimum, every resident of Parracombe will become a Member. An application form can be downloaded from the village website.
Organisation & Opportunities to Volunteer
The current Management Committee is made up of nine members who elect three officers: Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
There are four sub-committees responsible for Affordable Housing; the Village Hall, the Community Shop & Café; and Finance.
All of these committees are populated by volunteers from within our community. All members of the Trust are warmly encouraged to get involved and volunteer for one of the myriad roles that need to be fulfilled.
Affordable Housing for Rent
The PCT is working with Middlemarch Community Led Housing (formerly Wessex Community Assets) to provide six affordable rented homes in Parracombe for people in the village and adjoining parishes with an established local link. These plans are at an advanced stage and will hopefully come to fruition very soon.
Parracombe Village Hall
This is located on Church Lane between Christ Church and St Petrock’s. It was built in 1932 by the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes with assistance from the community. The freehold was acquired for the community from the RAOB in November 2018 by the Parish Council. The Parish Council, in turn, leases the Hall to Parracombe Community Trust and the hall is run and maintained by the PCT Village Hall Committee.
The Hall is available for hire on an individual and group basis, and is a focal point for many village activities.
A plan to modernise and upgrade the hall has been granted permission by Exmoor National Park Authority and the community is in the process of raising the money to fund this very exciting project.
Parracombe Community Shop & Cafe
The Pavilion Stores & Cafe is located on the Coronation Playing Field and opened in May 2022. The shop employs 2 part-time managers, but relies heavily upon some 40+ volunteers from within the community to staff the shop and undertake the many behind-the-scenes jobs. The Shop Committee would warmly welcome any new volunteers.
The Fox & Goose Pub
The Fox & Goose is an important focus for the community, and provides excellent food and accommodation – booking for both is advised (01598 763239).
Clubs & Activities within the Village
There is a very active Events Team that organises various events throughout the year.
The exact details of all the various clubs and activities varies over time. As such, the best place to check details & timing are the various social media sites listed above in this document, and also the “What’s On” section of this web site.
As a flavour, and in no particular order, some of the clubs/activities that periodically take place include an art group weekly in the Village Hall, Pilates weekly in the Village Hall, a village choir, a weekly Knit & Natter group in the café, a monthly Book Group, a ukulele band, a Craft Group that meets monthly in the Village Hall, and Charity Coffee Mornings every month in the Village Hall. Also, look out for regular outstanding events and theatre provided by Beaford Arts at the Village Hall.
The Parracombe Church of England Primary School
This is a successful and popular school in the village accepting children in years 3 to 6. The school is part of the West Exmoor Federation along with schools in Kentisbury and Lynton. The school in Kentisbury caters for children in Reception and years 1 to 2. The Lynton school is for children from Reception through to year 6.
Christ Church
The Anglican Christ Church is the parish church for Parracombe and maintains an active programme of services and events. The timetable of services is displayed on the church notice boards.
St Petrock’s Church
St Petrock’s Church was declared redundant in the late 1800s and saved for the nation by, amongst others, John Ruskin. Much cherished by the local community, it is now owned and maintained by the national charity The Churches Conservation Trust.
There has been a church on this site since about 525 AD, but the oldest portion of the current building is the tower which is dated to 1182. Perhaps the most compelling feature of the building is completeness of its 15th to 18th Century interior fittings, which include a three-tier pulpit, box pews, and a screen with tympanum and painted text boards above.
Members of the community volunteer their time to maintain the churchyard and surrounding ground.
Other Information
Refuse Collection
The collection day for Parracombe is alternate Mondays. Food waste and recycling collections take place every Tuesday. Full details can be found at www.northdevon.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/
Fish Van
Passmore’s Fish van visits The Fox & Goose car park every Tuesday at 9.15 – 9.45am.
Book & Jigsaw Exchange
This is located in the K6 phone box by the Millpond in the centre of the village. Please donate and help yourself.
Medical Services
There are three Defibrillators in the village. These are located in the Fox & Goose car park, outside the village Shop & Café, and outside the Village Hall.
The Lynton Health Centre is located at Burvill St, Lynton EX35 6HA. The phone number is 01598 753226.
The nearest 24 hour A&E is located at North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Heights, Barnstaple, EX31 4JB.
The Community arranges First Aid training on a regular basis – see notice boards.
Public Transport
There are regular bus services stopping in the centre of the village connecting Barnstaple with Lynton & Lynmouth.
Post Office
A Post Office is operated from the lounge of The Fox & Goose Pub every Tuesday from 11.00am to 1.00pm.