THORNCOMBE, a parish (formerly a market town) forming a detached portion of the hundred of AXMINSTER, county of DEVON, 6 miles (S. W. by W.) from Axminster, containing 1322 inhabitants. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Exeter, rated in the king's books at £ 15. 18. 9., and in the patronage of John Bragge, Esq. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. Here is a free school, founded by the Rev. Thomas Cooke, in 1734, with a small endowment for the instruction of eleven poor children. A fair is held on Easter-Tuesday. At Ford, in this parish, an abbey for Cistercian monks was founded, by Adelign, daughter of Baldwin de Brioniis, in 1140, the revenue of which was valued at £381. 10. Sf.: the remains are considerable, consisting partly of the entrance tower, the old abbey walls, with various other parts being now used as a private mansion. The chapel has a groined roof in the early English style, and some arches of late Norman character: the hall and cloisters are in the later English. The possessor of this abbey holds a court at Holditch.