Coombe Street

Coombe Street meanders back from Bridge Street beside the river. It was Lyme's main street in medieval times and would have been lined with a mixture of buildings including inns, merchant's houses and cottages for workers.  

Today it forms part of what is known as the artisan quarter in Lyme and is home to some interesting independent shops and galleries. The Town Mill complex which includes a renovated and working watermill is accessible off Coombe Street, opposite Monmouth Street.

Stroll along to the end of Coombe Street, cross the River Lim and proceed up the steep but charming Sherborne Lane and you will find yourself at the top of Broad Street.

At the far end of Coombe Street is Mill Green, much of which was destroyed by fire in 1803, including its cloth mill.

At the beginning of the twentieth century there were eight pubs in Coombe Street, now just The Ship remains. For years, the main inn was The George, by the side of which ran the small passage through to George's Square; in front would have been a small market square. It is reputed anyone visiting Lyme would have stayed at the George Inn including the Duke of Monmouth!

In his History of Lyme Regis and Charmouth 1843, George Roberts stated  “The George was the principal inn in the town: it had stabling to accommodate a great number of pack-horses, employed in conveying into the interior the merchandize purchased at Lyme. It was built of Dutch bricks, and the premises were so extensive, that at night, after the gates were closed, it resembled a little town.”

The inn was destroyed by fire in 1844 and was not rebuilt. A hostelry which operated from 16 Coombe Street later took on the name before closing in the early years of the 20th century.

The imposing Congregationalist chapel built in 1755 now houses the Dinosaurland Museum. 

A wooden post box dating back to between 1799 and 1853 can be found in the wall of the Old Lyme Guest House, 29 Coombe Street. It is believed to be one of the oldest in the country.

Coombe Street formed part of the filmset during the filming of 'Ammonite' in February 2019. The premises of M L Gibson Studio and Tierra Kitchen were transformed inside and out to resemble two stores from the 1840s era and a stable yard was created.