Ulcombe (pronounced 'coo-m') comes from the Old English ‘ūle’ meaning ‘owl’ and ‘cumb’
as a ‘coomb, valley’; therefore an ‘Owl’s valley’. The Domesday Book chronicles Ulcombe
as Olecumbe.
Ulcombe parish church is a Grade: I listed building, dedicated to All Saints. In
500AD, the Saxons planted two Yew trees in the churchyard. In the 12th century, the
Normans rebuilt the wooden Saxon chapel in stone, with extensions and additions over
the next 300 years. John Hatch cast three bells in 1632 with another in 1640. In
1757, Lester and Pack added a tenor and treble to make six. In the 1980’s, and unknown
architect carried out restoration work, following on from internal alterations in
1963.
