Dictionaries define coomb as a small valley with steep sides and there are many places bearing that name in Buckinghamshire, with a number of spelling variations on documents over the years. It has been suggested however, that the hamlet in Loosley Row derived its name from the home, presumably a farm, of one William ate Coumbe who in 1354 left a bequest of one sheep to the church at Bradenham. The Parish boundary of Bradenham still passes through the area formerly occupied by Coombe.

The date the farm and cottages were built remains unknown, although ongoing research may one day reveal the answer. It can only be estimated at the moment as during the 18th century or earlier. The area was certainly mentioned in a Will made on 1st March 1704 by one Henry Hawes:

.... To my son John … all lands called Winters and Coombs in the occupation of William Stone with the aforementioned hedgerow at the bottom of the lower side of Coombs now in my occupation .....

This map of the 1700's clearly depicts Comb Farm

The hill-side (the Grubbin) and beyond towards Lacey Green was once heavily wooded and variously called Smallden, Smallridge or Smalldean Wood and Common. Trees covered the whole area right down to the current boundary hedge with Little Lane, which was once the main pre-turnpike Wycombe Road via Loosley Row.

Maps of 1811 and 1823 held at the Buckinghamshire Record Office clearly indicate the wooded area and the old Wycombe Road.

At some stage all the woodland was cleared, apart from a small section of mainly Beech trees down the far side of the hill, which still remain. The tree roots were grubbed out and the area thus acquired the name of the Grubbin.

Section of map of 1811 indicating Smallden Wood and Common and the old Wycombe Road (now Little Lane and Lower Road).

The current public footpath across the hillside follows the line of an original Carriage Road, which is indicated on the 1823 map and described in the accompanying register (both held at the Buckinghamshire Record Office, Aylesbury):

"XVII: One other private Carriage Road and Public Bridleway of the breadth of 12 feet leading from the Wycombe Road at the south corner of an allotment to Thomas Randall in a southward direction through Smallridge Wood to certain cottages and gardens at Coombs and from thence as a Public Bridleway to a Bridle Gate in the Parish of Horsenden, which said private Carriage Road is set out for the use of the owners and occupiers of the same cottages and gardens for the time being for ever."

A section of the old Carriage Road described above, from the right of the stile at the top of the Grubbin looking towards Bledlow Ridge, Photo 2009.

A map of the late 1700' s exists and shows at least two buildings surrounded by areas of land recorded as Gingers' Combs, Ginger's Little Combs and Ginger's Great Combs indicating an early landowner/occupier.

Currell was also a name which had long associations with the hamlet over the years.

In 1789 a marriage took place at St Mary's Church, Princes Risborough between a William Currill and a Sarah Ginger of Coombs. suggesting perhaps that the land previously occupied by the Ginger family had eventually passed via marriage to the Currells.

In a survey of the Parish of Princes Risborough 1808-1810 names of owners/occupiers are not recorded, but the survey does describe properties at Coombs as two houses, gardens and closes and a garden in the woods.

The 1821 census although only recording the head of each household does at last give the first recorded names and number of occupants (a total in 1821 of 19) who lived in the hamlet in four properties. All the males being employed in agricultural work with the exception of one other trade in Thomas Randall's household. One unoccupied property was also recorded on the census.

William Currell Thomas Randall Thomas Fox Ann Stone

one family two families one family one family

5 males 4 females 3 males 1 female 1 male 2 females 2 males 1 female

It is possible, although yet to be confirmed by any documentation, that William Currell and his household of nine occupied the farmhouse.

At the time of the 1823 Land Enclosure Act, three of the main influential landowners in the area were John Grubb, Lord of the Manor of Princes Risborough, who resided at Horsenden: Lord George Augustus Henry Cavendish and Sir William Lawrence Young, MP for High Wycombe. The 1823 Register records the following names, presumably the landowners:

The allotment of land allocated to Thomas Randall referred to in the 1823 Carriage Road extract still remains, being the small triangular plot at the junction of Foundry Lane, Lower Road and Little Lane, a few yards from the stile leading to the Grubbin. The plot can be seen in the below photograph of the 1823 map, numbered '605' (a magnifying glass may be required!).

The Randalls were long-established as blacksmiths in Loosley Row: the Thomas Randall listed in the 1821 census at Coombs and employed in one other trade, was possibly the son of the blacksmith who lived at the property still known as Randalls Cottage, plying his trade at the forge next door (Forge Cottage). It is additionally mentioned in the No.17 Footway description:

Prior to the building of St John's Church, Lacey Green in 1825 as a Chapel of Ease, it was necessary for Coombs' residents, along with those in Loosley Row, Lacey Green and Speen to journey to St Mary's Church, Princes Risborough to attend services and ceremonies. The villages (known as the Upper Hamlets) then being part of St Mary's Parish until 1851 when the separate Parish of Lacey Green was formed.

The fortunate ones might have travelled by cart or horseback but the majority, more often than not, on foot across fields - part of the old route taken still known as Churchway. The elderly and infirm would have found it difficult, if not impossible, particularly in inclement weather. The St Mary's Church Registers record a number of Baptisms and Burials relating to Coombs residents prior to 1825 and until 1851 for Marriages.

St. Mary's

St John's