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Though Englishcombe remained primarily an agricultural economy (at one time half the cottages

in the village housed farm workers), tourism did reach the Parish in the form of tea rooms

(and postcards) of Blakes Farm and its own pub -- the Grove Tavern -- at Padleigh Bottom.

Crossways -- on the village green -- was both the village post office and the bakery. The village

school -- opposite Salem Chapel -- provided education the the parish's 60 - 90 children, and the

millers house, watermill and forge were all features of early 20th century Englishcombe life.

The second world war touched the Parish as everywhere in Britain, but it escaped any heavy

bombing intended for the Admiralty in Bath and the few bombs that fell only damaged the crops

 as they came down in fields. A dramatic incident occurred in 1942 when the unlucky pilot of

a Whirlwind suffered a mid air collision and crashed into the Manor Farm barn.

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