Lyme Regis Discovery Trail - Coombe Street

The steep and narrow back streets of Lyme unearth many historical secrets.

Take a walk down Sherborne Lane and step back through time into some of the oldest streets in Lyme Regis. In 774, the West Saxon King Cynewulf granted a manor and salt rights on the west bank of the River Lim to Sherborne Abbey.

At the bottom of the hill you are greeted by a small waterfall on the River Lim, which is where the river has been divided to form the ‘Lynch’ which feeds the Town Mill.  As you cross Gosling Bridge, look upstream to see a unique piece of graffiti which appeared overnight in the summer of 2012. The origami crane catching a goldfish is a confirmed work by famous graffiti artist Banksy.

Heading along Coombe Street, you may notice where the town’s old post office was from 1799 to 1853 with an old wooden posting box, said to be one of the oldest surviving posting facilities in Britain.

Coombe Street continues to run downhill, parallel to the river, towards the sea. It was the main street of the royal manor before the 1284 charter and is one of the oldest streets in town, though many of the shops and two small schools did not survive two fires in 1803 and 1844.

Points of interest 

Sherborne Lane

Dating back to Saxon times, Sherborne Lane is a steep narrow road which connects Broad Street to Coombe Street.

The name comes from the old link with Sherborne Abbey, which was granted a manor on this side of the River Lim by King Cynewulf of Wessex, back in 774.

Mind your step when you walk up or down the street. It is very steep!

Banksy Crane

Back in April 2012, a rather interesting painting of an origami crane catching a goldfish appeared overnight on a wall by Gosling Bridge.

Later that spring it was revealed to the work of Banksy, the famous graffiti artist.

Although faded, it is still recognisable today.

Old Post Box

Half-way along Coombe Street you may notice an old wooden post box in the wall.

This building was once the town’s Post Office, between 1799 and 1853. The post box is still intact today, in its original position. It is thought to one of the oldest post boxes in the England.

This part of the street was formerly called Horse Street.

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