Combe Sydenham Hall

I pass this historic building everyday on the way to work.

Combe Sydenham Hall was the home of the Sydenham family from the fourteen hundreds to the mid 18th century. Francis Drake married the daughter of George Sydenham in 1585, and the union has become embroiled in folklore.

According to the traditional tale, Drake went away to sea on the Pelican for years leaving his fiancée on her own. After seven years had passed she grew tired of waiting, and went to remarry. Drake managed to hear of this by supernatural means while the Wedding guests were in Stogumber church waiting for the bride to walk down the aisle. Drake ran to the cannon and fired a canon ball that flew half way around the world, through the roof of the church and lodged in the church floor between the bride and groom. She took it as a sign from Drake that he was still alive and well, and abandoned the wedding, returning home to wait for her beloved.

In other versions of the tale George Sydenham tried to have his daughter married off to another man while he was away at sea. Sir Francis fired a cannonball from his ship thousands of miles away, which landed at Stogumber Church as the bride arrived.

A meteorite - the supposed cannonball - was kept in the village for many years.