Combe Sydenham

Combe Sydenham is a Grade I listed manor house in Stogumber featuring an L-shaped layout with a prominent tower positioned at the inner angle. The property includes a dated porch from 1580 and extends across 500 acres of grounds with commercial woodlands.

The estate was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 when William de Moyon, the first feudal baron of Dunster, held the land. The present building developed over subsequent centuries as it became an important residence.

The Sydenham family shaped the manor's identity from the 15th century until 1693 through their long occupation. Elizabeth Sydenham's engagement to Admiral Sir Francis Drake remains a notable chapter in the house's story.

The grounds are open to visitors year-round with public access paths threading through the woodlands. Wear proper footwear and check weather conditions, particularly during wetter months when paths may be muddy.

The Court Room features a modern barrel ceiling with slender ribs that contrasts with the historical character of the building. The west wing houses a room with fragmentary 17th-century wall decorations that hint at former grandeur.

Location: Stogumber

GPS coordinates: 51.12250,-3.32150

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41