Hollacombe is a small rural parish east of Holsworthy. Those wishing to learn about the place through its architectural and church history have two distinct starting points: St Petrock’s Church and the historic farm buildings at Hayne Farmhouse. At St Petrock, the nave is the main focus; at Hayne Farmhouse, attention turns to a group of different agricultural buildings. The contrast between the church and the farmstead ensemble offers two distinct perspectives on the place.

St Petrock and the enclosure

The nave, the main part of the church interior, probably originally dates from the 13th century. This focuses on a specific part of the church whose date of origin is cautiously estimated. Around the church is an oval enclosure, thought likely to have originated as an early medieval enclosed burial ground. This archaeological interpretation is tentative and relates to the enclosure. The comparison offers two distinct perspectives on time: the possible interpretation as an early medieval burial ground and the probable 13th-century date of the nave.

A sung service is held at St Petrock on the first and third Sunday of each month at 9:30 am. Check the date before travelling. One of the farms on either side of the church may provide access to St Petrock; check on site whether this is currently possible.

Farm buildings at Hayne Farmhouse

About 30 m southwest of Hayne Farmhouse is a listed group of farm buildings. It includes a threshing barn, an open-fronted cart shed and an adjoining range of stables. A threshing barn is intended for threshing; the cart shed and stable range are other types of agricultural building. The farm buildings are part of the same historic group as Hayne Farmhouse because of their group value. Thus, their relationship to the farmhouse is also significant, in addition to the individual buildings.

A granary stands about 20 m south of Hayne Farmhouse. It has a square ground plan, with arched openings between brick piers. The masonry is laid in Flemish bond, in which stretchers and headers alternate within a course of brickwork. The hipped slate roof is coated with bitumen. A hipped roof has sloping surfaces on all sides; Flemish bond, by contrast, describes how the bricks are arranged in the wall. The ground plan, masonry technique and roof form therefore describe different aspects of the same building. The square ground plan describes the building’s footprint viewed from above; height is a different measurement.

The key difference is one of scale: the relationship of several buildings to Hayne Farmhouse is the main focus for the group of farm buildings, while the granary’s construction as a single structure is the focus for the granary. Together with St Petrock, these offer an architectural selection of a church interior, an agricultural ensemble and a single building.

Discover more destinations: Buckland Monachorum, Colebrooke, Noss Mayo, Ilsington, Kingsbridge, Lamerton, Broadhembury, Upottery

For the wider travel overview: Devon.