Welcome
The Hunting of the Earl of Rone is an annual custom, unique to the village of Combe Martin on the coast of North Devon. Taking place each year over the four days of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, at the end of May.
An ongoing, evolving tradition
The Hunting of the Earl of Rone.
This ancient ceremony of Combe Martin, is unique among the folk traditions of Great Britain.
It’s History goes back into antiquity, and although local legend has it that the Earl is the Earl of Tyrone who fled from Ireland in 1607, comparison of the ceremony with some of it’s European Parallels indicates that it has it’s roots in the pre-Christian seasonal rites of the ancient peoples.
The Hunting of the Earl of Rone took place annually, for a week around Ascension Day, up until 1837. The reconstruction first took place in 1970 and continues to the current day, the information and details largely being drawn from written accounts given by people who experienced the old ceremony.
The Hunting of the Earl of Rone is now firmly established back in the village as a living tradition.
Dates for 2024 Hunting
| Friday 23rd May 2025 | 7:00 pm | Procession with Drums only. | |
| Saturday 24th May 2025 | 11:00 am | Children’s Day Procession | |
| Sunday 25th May 2025 | 1:30 pm | Full Procession | |
| Monday 26th May 2025 | 6:00 pm | Procession with EoR | |
For Full Details, See Earl of Rone Council notifications.
Children’s Rehearsals 2025 – Village Hall: Saturday May 10th 2.30-5.30pm & Sunday May 18th 1-3pm
Washup meeting TBC.
Images following the progress of Monday nights procession.
