Combs, Derbyshire
Encyclopedia
Combs is a small village in Derbyshire
, England
within the Peak District National Park. 'Combs' is spoken to rhyme with 'looms'. There are some local residents who prefer the older pronunciation of Combs to rhyme with 'foams'.
The village is bounded to the east, west and south by gritstone
edges and moorland
, the highest of which is Black Edge (507 m (1,663.4 ft)). To the north the embankment of the Buxton to Stockport railway
separates it from Combs Reservoir. To the east is Castle Naze, a prehistoric settlement site.
Although some of the population of about 100 still work in agriculture, most working residents commute to local towns or the city of Manchester
. The village has a pub, the Beehive Inn, but the village shop and post office closed some years ago. The village's state infant school
has about 25 pupils drawn from the village and surrounding area and has been described as outstanding in all categories by Ofsted
and was awarded "Gold Star" status by the Times
. Despite this, in 2007 Derbyshire County Council attempted to close the school, but were forced to abandon these plans in the face of concerted local protest.
Combs resident Herbert Frood developed a vehicle brake pad and in 1897 founded the company Ferodo
. The village was also home to journalists and authors Crichton Porteous
and Peggy Bellhouse. Peggy Bellhouse wrote and self-published a concise history of Combs many years ago, and an archive photograph of Peggy can still be seen on the walls of the Beehive Inn.
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
within the Peak District National Park. 'Combs' is spoken to rhyme with 'looms'. There are some local residents who prefer the older pronunciation of Combs to rhyme with 'foams'.
The village is bounded to the east, west and south by gritstone
Gritstone
Gritstone or Grit is a hard, coarse-grained, siliceous sandstone. This term is especially applied to such sandstones that are quarried for building material. British gritstone was used for millstones to mill flour, to grind wood into pulp for paper and for grindstones to sharpen blades. "Grit" is...
edges and moorland
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
, the highest of which is Black Edge (507 m (1,663.4 ft)). To the north the embankment of the Buxton to Stockport railway
Buxton Line
The Buxton Line is a railway line in northern England, connecting Manchester with Buxton in Derbyshire. Passenger services on the line are currently operated by Northern Rail and most continue through Manchester from Blackpool North.-History:...
separates it from Combs Reservoir. To the east is Castle Naze, a prehistoric settlement site.
Although some of the population of about 100 still work in agriculture, most working residents commute to local towns or the city of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. The village has a pub, the Beehive Inn, but the village shop and post office closed some years ago. The village's state infant school
Infant school
An Infant school is a term used primarily in the United Kingdom for school for children between the ages of four and seven years. It is usually a small school serving a particular locality....
has about 25 pupils drawn from the village and surrounding area and has been described as outstanding in all categories by Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
and was awarded "Gold Star" status by the Times
Times
The Times is a UK daily newspaper, the original English language newspaper titled "Times". Times may also refer to:In newspapers:*The Times , went defunct in 2005*The Times *The Times of Northwest Indiana...
. Despite this, in 2007 Derbyshire County Council attempted to close the school, but were forced to abandon these plans in the face of concerted local protest.
Combs resident Herbert Frood developed a vehicle brake pad and in 1897 founded the company Ferodo
Ferodo
Ferodo is a British brake company based in the High Peak of Derbyshire.-History:It was founded in 1897 by Herbert Froode in Chapel en le Frith, Derbyshire...
. The village was also home to journalists and authors Crichton Porteous
Crichton Porteous
Crichton Porteous was an author of fiction and non-fiction - books, articles and short stories - much of it about life in the Peak District of northern England, and often set in specific Peak locations .Born in Leeds, he grew up near Manchester, but spent a lot of time in the Peak during...
and Peggy Bellhouse. Peggy Bellhouse wrote and self-published a concise history of Combs many years ago, and an archive photograph of Peggy can still be seen on the walls of the Beehive Inn.