Timberscombe, Between 1963 and 1976
Title
Timberscombe, Between 1963 and 1976
Subject
Description
"Timber" is derived from the Latin "domus", meaning a dwelling. It's more modern use as a form of lumber likely derives from this origin, in the sense of a place where one resides, likely built with beams, planks and other wood. "Combe" is Welsh, meaning a valley or hollow, or being on the side of a hill. In the 1038 Domesday Book, Timberscombe is listed. It is recorded, at the time of the Norman Conquest, as a place having 15 inhabitants (10 bordars, 3 villeins and 2 bondsmen). It has been proposed that the name Timberscombe comes from Thomas de Tymworth, who received land here from John de Mohun, the great-grandson of William de Mohun, who was awarded the estate of Dunster by William the Conquerer. However the first John de Mohun did not come of age until 1269, so the name of Timberscombe was already established (1). This photograph, seemingly dated between 1963 and 1976, is taken from the hillside east of the village, leading up to the Timberscombe Common, the village indeed being sited in a valley.
The early 12th century St. Petrock's Church, is seen on the centre left edge of the photograph. In 2020 archaeological discoveries, with subsequent carbon-dating, offered incontrovertible evidence of a previous Saxon settlement, likely religious in nature, at this site by 777 A.D. (2).To the right and up a little above the church tower, is a white bungalow, alone in a bordered field. This is Furze View, built in 1963 by G .C . Beech, therefore dating this photograph after that year. It was originally called The Vicarage (3). The two large dark buildings in front of Furze View (and to the right of the churchyard), are The Glebe, built in 1956 (4), two separate buildings with four living accommodations in each, on the former site of the church's Rectory Farm. A low single floor building is in front of the right Glebe building. This is the Village Hall, which opened on the 30th of August, 1976 (5), thus dating the photograph before then. To the left of the hall is a white building, it's front facing the Village Hall, being the Timberscombe School, endowed and founded by Richard Elsworth at his death in 1714 (at the age of 22). The building's foundation stone was laid in 1805 (6) and the school is depicted on the 1843 Tithe Map. Behind the school are three larger houses, completed by 1929 (7), alongside Bemberry Bank, the road entering the village on it's west end, coming from the direction of Cutcombe and Wheddon Cross.
Back in front of the Timberscombe School, and partly overlapping it, is another large house, the Old Vicarage. A vicarage had been here since at least 1571. This building was in enough disrepair by 1815 that it was declared unfit for a vicar. It had extensive renovations between 1855 and 1864, back in use as a vicarage until it was sold in 1962--after which the bungalow that later became Furze View was built as The Vicarage. In the 1970's, the Old Vicarage was altered to contain seven flats (8). To it's right is a lower building, once part of the Old Vicarage, that later will be divided into two residences, eventually called Nos. 7 and 8 Vicarage Court. In front of this building and to it's right is an open garden area, that by November 1988, will have become a housing estate called Vicarage Court (9). There is a low building in front of the left side (in this photograph) of the Old Vicarage, being a former barn of Kiln Farmhouse, possibly later 18th/early 19th century (10). The Old Vicarage, the future No. 7 and 8 Vicarage Court and Kiln Farmhouse all appear on the 1843 Tithe Map.
Looking back to the left edge of the photograph, is a starkly white building overlapping the left end of the church, being Great House Farm, 18th century in origin but largely rebuilt in the 19th century --although it's north end contains Yew Cottage, which retains most of it's 18th century beginnings (11). Great House Farm is situated along Church Street and going downhill to the right, are the rear views of a cluster of buildings. In the photograph it is hard to distinguish one from the other, but the largest of these is the village pub, The Lion. There was an earlier pub here, The Boot, established by 1820, renamed The Lion in 1841 (12). More clearly visible, across from The Lion is a squarish dark building with a low peaked white roof. This is the Old Forge. The last blacksmith here may have been Edwin Thorne, of Timberscombe, employed by Harry Phillip, the owner of Cowbridge Mill, as listed on the 1921 Census, with the forge becoming converted into three flats by the early 1930's (13). There may have been forges on this site as far back at the 1100's (14). To it's right, at an angle almost facing the camera, is a taller two storey building, the right side of No. 2 Jubilee Terrace. Between it and the Old Forge is the road, completed c. 1887 (15), called Jubilee Terrace. A lower building, semi-detached to the right of No. 2 Jubilee Terrace, is Brook House, a former saddlery. This faces Brook Street. Across Brook Street are the back views of cottages, Butterflies, Brooklyn, and Ye Olde Malthouse (renamed The Old Malt House in 2023). Most distinguishable in this photograph is a curved roof on a lower building, behind these cottages and between back gardens, being known as Rice Barn at this time (16). In front of it is a house, Orchard Close, a former slaughterhouse servicing the butcher shop on Brook Street. The former Rice Barn is later converted to a workshop for the owner of Orchard Close. Just right of the front of Orchard Close would have been the butcher shop and a semi-detached home, once operated and lived in by the Stenner family, that were later demolished (17). At the time of this photograph, a small carpark is likely here, later removed and where a new house will be built, also called Rice Barn.
To the right of all of these is a larger L-shaped, white roofed house, with two windows, appearing almost lit, under it's right wing. This would be Pump Cottage, later renamed Tiki Cottage (18). Coming off the right end of this wing, is a lower roof, later altered and over two cottages, Bamboo and Rose. This lower roof disappears into the sunlit backs of the Retreat, later renamed Ivy Cottage (19) and the building that once housed a pub, the Rose and Crown, later renamed Wellum and more recently being called Game Cottage (20). Tiki Cottage (the former Pump Cottage), the area of the later Bamboo Cottage, Ivy Cottage (the former Retreat), and Game Cottage (the former Rose and Crown) all appear on the 1843 Tithe Map. Beyond these, is a somewhat pyramid-shaped (albeit it a four-sided pyramid) roof, cut off on the right edge of the photograph. It was over Ernie's Garage, which operated until the 1980's, replaced by the expansion of Vicarage Court (21).
Finally, traveling back to the left centre edge of the photograph is a longish roof leading to a white chimney with two dark windows under it. This is Slade Cottage, facing Great House Street, more commonly known as Duck Lane until the 1960's (22). It is possibly a former mill and 18th century, if not earlier (23). A thatched roof is below the long roof of Slade Cottage, being Marigold Holme the only Listed cottage in Timberscombe., known to have been here in 1780, and possibly before (24). To it's left is a dark-roofed house, facing the road, being Duck Cottage, likely 18th century in origin (25). Between Marigold Holme and Duck Cottage and across the road, are the semi-detached Veredale and Overdale. They are likely early 19th century, possibly earlier (26). On the lower left corner is Stable Cottage, semi-detached to the 18th century Great House (27), not actually in the photograph. In the future, there will be two other residences constructed between Overdale and Stable Cottage.
The photograph is labeled "TIMBERSCOMBE 1". Also visible at item reference SP-004, is another photograph of the village, also taken from an eastern angle, that is labled "TIMBERSCOMBE 2", in much the same style. This second photograph was identified as being taken in 1965 (28). Both photographs were likely produced around the same time. The photograph seen here was donated in 2019 by Maurice Huxtable, a lifelong resident of Timberscombe.
The early 12th century St. Petrock's Church, is seen on the centre left edge of the photograph. In 2020 archaeological discoveries, with subsequent carbon-dating, offered incontrovertible evidence of a previous Saxon settlement, likely religious in nature, at this site by 777 A.D. (2).To the right and up a little above the church tower, is a white bungalow, alone in a bordered field. This is Furze View, built in 1963 by G .C . Beech, therefore dating this photograph after that year. It was originally called The Vicarage (3). The two large dark buildings in front of Furze View (and to the right of the churchyard), are The Glebe, built in 1956 (4), two separate buildings with four living accommodations in each, on the former site of the church's Rectory Farm. A low single floor building is in front of the right Glebe building. This is the Village Hall, which opened on the 30th of August, 1976 (5), thus dating the photograph before then. To the left of the hall is a white building, it's front facing the Village Hall, being the Timberscombe School, endowed and founded by Richard Elsworth at his death in 1714 (at the age of 22). The building's foundation stone was laid in 1805 (6) and the school is depicted on the 1843 Tithe Map. Behind the school are three larger houses, completed by 1929 (7), alongside Bemberry Bank, the road entering the village on it's west end, coming from the direction of Cutcombe and Wheddon Cross.
Back in front of the Timberscombe School, and partly overlapping it, is another large house, the Old Vicarage. A vicarage had been here since at least 1571. This building was in enough disrepair by 1815 that it was declared unfit for a vicar. It had extensive renovations between 1855 and 1864, back in use as a vicarage until it was sold in 1962--after which the bungalow that later became Furze View was built as The Vicarage. In the 1970's, the Old Vicarage was altered to contain seven flats (8). To it's right is a lower building, once part of the Old Vicarage, that later will be divided into two residences, eventually called Nos. 7 and 8 Vicarage Court. In front of this building and to it's right is an open garden area, that by November 1988, will have become a housing estate called Vicarage Court (9). There is a low building in front of the left side (in this photograph) of the Old Vicarage, being a former barn of Kiln Farmhouse, possibly later 18th/early 19th century (10). The Old Vicarage, the future No. 7 and 8 Vicarage Court and Kiln Farmhouse all appear on the 1843 Tithe Map.
Looking back to the left edge of the photograph, is a starkly white building overlapping the left end of the church, being Great House Farm, 18th century in origin but largely rebuilt in the 19th century --although it's north end contains Yew Cottage, which retains most of it's 18th century beginnings (11). Great House Farm is situated along Church Street and going downhill to the right, are the rear views of a cluster of buildings. In the photograph it is hard to distinguish one from the other, but the largest of these is the village pub, The Lion. There was an earlier pub here, The Boot, established by 1820, renamed The Lion in 1841 (12). More clearly visible, across from The Lion is a squarish dark building with a low peaked white roof. This is the Old Forge. The last blacksmith here may have been Edwin Thorne, of Timberscombe, employed by Harry Phillip, the owner of Cowbridge Mill, as listed on the 1921 Census, with the forge becoming converted into three flats by the early 1930's (13). There may have been forges on this site as far back at the 1100's (14). To it's right, at an angle almost facing the camera, is a taller two storey building, the right side of No. 2 Jubilee Terrace. Between it and the Old Forge is the road, completed c. 1887 (15), called Jubilee Terrace. A lower building, semi-detached to the right of No. 2 Jubilee Terrace, is Brook House, a former saddlery. This faces Brook Street. Across Brook Street are the back views of cottages, Butterflies, Brooklyn, and Ye Olde Malthouse (renamed The Old Malt House in 2023). Most distinguishable in this photograph is a curved roof on a lower building, behind these cottages and between back gardens, being known as Rice Barn at this time (16). In front of it is a house, Orchard Close, a former slaughterhouse servicing the butcher shop on Brook Street. The former Rice Barn is later converted to a workshop for the owner of Orchard Close. Just right of the front of Orchard Close would have been the butcher shop and a semi-detached home, once operated and lived in by the Stenner family, that were later demolished (17). At the time of this photograph, a small carpark is likely here, later removed and where a new house will be built, also called Rice Barn.
To the right of all of these is a larger L-shaped, white roofed house, with two windows, appearing almost lit, under it's right wing. This would be Pump Cottage, later renamed Tiki Cottage (18). Coming off the right end of this wing, is a lower roof, later altered and over two cottages, Bamboo and Rose. This lower roof disappears into the sunlit backs of the Retreat, later renamed Ivy Cottage (19) and the building that once housed a pub, the Rose and Crown, later renamed Wellum and more recently being called Game Cottage (20). Tiki Cottage (the former Pump Cottage), the area of the later Bamboo Cottage, Ivy Cottage (the former Retreat), and Game Cottage (the former Rose and Crown) all appear on the 1843 Tithe Map. Beyond these, is a somewhat pyramid-shaped (albeit it a four-sided pyramid) roof, cut off on the right edge of the photograph. It was over Ernie's Garage, which operated until the 1980's, replaced by the expansion of Vicarage Court (21).
Finally, traveling back to the left centre edge of the photograph is a longish roof leading to a white chimney with two dark windows under it. This is Slade Cottage, facing Great House Street, more commonly known as Duck Lane until the 1960's (22). It is possibly a former mill and 18th century, if not earlier (23). A thatched roof is below the long roof of Slade Cottage, being Marigold Holme the only Listed cottage in Timberscombe., known to have been here in 1780, and possibly before (24). To it's left is a dark-roofed house, facing the road, being Duck Cottage, likely 18th century in origin (25). Between Marigold Holme and Duck Cottage and across the road, are the semi-detached Veredale and Overdale. They are likely early 19th century, possibly earlier (26). On the lower left corner is Stable Cottage, semi-detached to the 18th century Great House (27), not actually in the photograph. In the future, there will be two other residences constructed between Overdale and Stable Cottage.
The photograph is labeled "TIMBERSCOMBE 1". Also visible at item reference SP-004, is another photograph of the village, also taken from an eastern angle, that is labled "TIMBERSCOMBE 2", in much the same style. This second photograph was identified as being taken in 1965 (28). Both photographs were likely produced around the same time. The photograph seen here was donated in 2019 by Maurice Huxtable, a lifelong resident of Timberscombe.
Creator
Anonymous
Source
Date
1963-1976
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
Overhead view / Timberscombe
Acquisition Date
2019
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
PLACES: Timberscombe
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
Entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2019
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
15 X 23
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1)"THE VILLAGE OF TIMBERSCOMBE AND ITS CHURCH" by B.L.K. Henderson and G.O.E. Henderson, printed by E. Goodman & Son, Ltd., The Phoenix Press, Taunton 1955 (2) "St. Petrock's Church Timberscombe", church pamphlet written by Marion Jeffrey, 2017 and "The Parish Church of St. Petrock, Timberscombe, Somerset, The Results of Archaeological Monitoring", Ref: 18-30/2000, April 21, by James L. Brigers, PA PROSPECT ARCHAEOLOGY, Middlezoy, Somerset (3) auction flyer by Cluttons for the sale of The Vicarage, 1981 and Victoria County History. ac.uk (4) VCH (5) TImberscombeVillage.com/History of Timberscombe/ Other Historic Structures/Village Hall History by Lesley Webb (6) "ST PETROCK'S CHURCH TIMBERSCOMBE', by Mrs. Kathleen A. Willis, undated, donated by the Timberscombe School, 2019 (7) as recalled in 2019 by Andy and Sarah Heard, No. 6 Bemberry Bank, Timberscombe (8) Historic Environment Record, Exmoor National Park and VCH (9) Somerset County Gazette, Friday, April 14 1989 (10) VCH (11) VCH (12) VCH (13) 1921 England Census, Kelly's Directory of Somerset (1919) and as recalled in 2020 by Joy Booth of Knapp, Cottage, Timberscombe (14) VCH (15) VCH (16) as recalled in 2019 by Nick Webber of Rose Cottage, Timberscombe (who played in Rice Barn as a boy) (17) as seen at SP-033 (18) as recalled in 2019 by Marion and Roger Fewlass of Tiki Cottage, who believe the name change occurred in the 1970's or 1980's (19) County of Somerset Bridgwater Constituency, Register of Electors, 16th February 1993 to 15th February 1994 (20) Timberscombe School Project from January 1998, donated by the Timberscombe School in 2019, where Wellum is researched by the children and as recalled in 2020 by Tom Sperling of Burrow Cottage, Timberscombe remembering the name change to Game Cottage in the 2010's (21) County of Bridgwater Constituency, Register of Electors, 16th February 1993 to 15th February 1994 and as recalled in 2019 by Roger Fewlass (22) as recalled in 2019 by Wendy Hellewell of The Bracken, Hole's Square, Timberscombe (23) as recounted by Paul Sheldon, owner of Marigold Holme, Timberscombe in 2019 (24) English Heritage (25) VCH (26) VCH (27) HER (28) as listed on ebay in 2019
Every effort has been made to establish a copyright for this photograph. If you have any information, please contact us.
Every effort has been made to establish a copyright for this photograph. If you have any information, please contact us.
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2020
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-003
Technique
Copy
Collection
Citation
Anonymous, “Timberscombe, Between 1963 and 1976,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 6, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3157.
Comments