Hunting of the Earl of Rone

The annual custom of The Hunting of the Earl of Rone is unique to the village of Combe Martin, on the coast of North Devon. The event takes place each year over the four days of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May, and involves some 600 villagers. The Hunting of the Earl of Rone is one of over 500 unique calendar customs that take place at various times of year throughout England.

Banned in 1837, for licentiousness and drunken behaviour, the Hunting of the Earl of Rone was revived in 1974.

Over the four days of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, the Grenadiers, Hobby Horse, Fool and villagers hunt through the village for the 'Earl of Rone', finally finding him on the Monday night. He is mounted back-to-front on a donkey and paraded through the village to the sea.

He is frequently shot by the grenadiers and falls from the donkey only to be revived by the Hobby-horse and Fool, re-mounted on the donkey, and carried onwards to his fate. At the final shooting on the beach, he is not revived, but thrown into the sea. There are quite a few theories about who the earl or Rone was and the truth behind the legend.

Visitors are welcome to come to watch and enjoy the festivities but, as tradition demands, collections are made throughout the weekend and once costs have been covered, surplus money is donated to good causes in the village.