The Red Deer Coach at The Lion Inn, Run by Tommy Heard
Title
The Red Deer Coach at The Lion Inn, Run by Tommy Heard
Subject
Description
An undated photograph of a coach, that was operated in Timberscombe by Tommy Heard, landlord of Lion Inn. The Red Deer Coach had been a bus line in West Somerset since the early 20th century, deriving from the Red Deer Stagecoach Line, that ran between Minehead and Lynton, beginning c. 1843 (1). It was one of a number of bus lines that were developed by Minehead and District Motor Lines, which was acquired by National Omnibus and Transport Company in 1929, later becoming Western National. In 1948, most all of the bus lines were nationalized (2) and perhaps during one of these transitions, Mr. Heard was able to purchase second-hand this Red Deer Coach.
Over the first set of windows is "EXFORD", with "DASHSHIR" possibly below it. Other lettering is over the centre window, with "FORD" seeming to be the last part of a word, perhaps "WINSFORD". "MINEHEAD" is over the window toward the rear. A blackboard is visible through the driver's window.
The coach was used to transport guests at Lion Inn and apparently anyone else who needed a lift. On the 1939 England and Wales Register, Mr. Heard listed his occupations as "Innkeeper and News Agent" and longtime residents of Timberscombe also remember Mr. Heard using the coach for newspaper deliveries. A duplicate copy of this photograph, at the West Somerset Rural Life Museum, has a hand-lettered label reading, "Come on board, Missus, plenty of room in the back & no tickets," presumably heard often. Tommy Heard died in 1980 (3) and is well remembered in Somerset, although Bernadette Brunker of School House, facing Bemberry Bank, notes that he did drive too close to her front door, with the coach knocking off a curved metal porch (seen at SP-107) that had been there for decades.
Tommy Heard was born as Samuel Thomas Heard on 9 July 1890 in Luxborough (4), the 5th child of Tom and Lucy (nee Whybourne) Heard (5). By the 1911 Census, he was living in Doverhay, Porlock with his Uncle William and Jane Heard. William was the older brother of Tommy's father (6). Tommy's occupation at this time was "Chauffeur domestic", driving for Dr. and Mrs. Fitz James Moloney of Doverhay (7). Perhaps it is not surprising Tommy ended up driving a coach as well.
While still in Porlock, Tommy married Gertrude Lillian Bricknell, who was born in Porlock but had been working as a servant in Bath (8). They had a son, Thomas William Heard, born 25 September 1913 and baptized 16 July 1914 in Porlock (9). By 1939, they are living at and operating the Lion Inn at Timbercombe (10). Tommy's mother, Lucy had grown up around Timberscombe, being born at the nearby hamlet, Burrow in 1863 (11). By 1939, Tommy and Gertrude's son, Thomas William, was farming at Tarr's Steps Farm (12). Later Tommy and Gertrude moved into Kiln Farmhouse on Jubilee Terrace, Timberscombe (13). Gertrude died in 1977 (14).
The other photograph seen here is of Tommy Heard, dated as being taken in the 1930's. He is at Combe Farm, located by the hamlet of Luckwell Bridge, east of Wheddon Cross. Tommy's older brother, William, farmed here with his wife Emily (nee Heard--not a mistake, it is her maiden name as well) and their son, William John (15).
Later in life, Tommy became known as "Old Tom", as his son Thomas William and his wife, Edith (nee Webber) Heard, moved back closer to Timberscombe, living at Waydown on Harwood Lane (16). The younger Tom died at Minehead in 1899 (17).
One of Tommy Heard's younger brothers, Joe Heard, has a grandson, Andy Heard, living at No. 6 Bemberry Bank in Timberscombe in 2019, who also recalls his great uncle as a well known and popular character.
Over the first set of windows is "EXFORD", with "DASHSHIR" possibly below it. Other lettering is over the centre window, with "FORD" seeming to be the last part of a word, perhaps "WINSFORD". "MINEHEAD" is over the window toward the rear. A blackboard is visible through the driver's window.
The coach was used to transport guests at Lion Inn and apparently anyone else who needed a lift. On the 1939 England and Wales Register, Mr. Heard listed his occupations as "Innkeeper and News Agent" and longtime residents of Timberscombe also remember Mr. Heard using the coach for newspaper deliveries. A duplicate copy of this photograph, at the West Somerset Rural Life Museum, has a hand-lettered label reading, "Come on board, Missus, plenty of room in the back & no tickets," presumably heard often. Tommy Heard died in 1980 (3) and is well remembered in Somerset, although Bernadette Brunker of School House, facing Bemberry Bank, notes that he did drive too close to her front door, with the coach knocking off a curved metal porch (seen at SP-107) that had been there for decades.
Tommy Heard was born as Samuel Thomas Heard on 9 July 1890 in Luxborough (4), the 5th child of Tom and Lucy (nee Whybourne) Heard (5). By the 1911 Census, he was living in Doverhay, Porlock with his Uncle William and Jane Heard. William was the older brother of Tommy's father (6). Tommy's occupation at this time was "Chauffeur domestic", driving for Dr. and Mrs. Fitz James Moloney of Doverhay (7). Perhaps it is not surprising Tommy ended up driving a coach as well.
While still in Porlock, Tommy married Gertrude Lillian Bricknell, who was born in Porlock but had been working as a servant in Bath (8). They had a son, Thomas William Heard, born 25 September 1913 and baptized 16 July 1914 in Porlock (9). By 1939, they are living at and operating the Lion Inn at Timbercombe (10). Tommy's mother, Lucy had grown up around Timberscombe, being born at the nearby hamlet, Burrow in 1863 (11). By 1939, Tommy and Gertrude's son, Thomas William, was farming at Tarr's Steps Farm (12). Later Tommy and Gertrude moved into Kiln Farmhouse on Jubilee Terrace, Timberscombe (13). Gertrude died in 1977 (14).
The other photograph seen here is of Tommy Heard, dated as being taken in the 1930's. He is at Combe Farm, located by the hamlet of Luckwell Bridge, east of Wheddon Cross. Tommy's older brother, William, farmed here with his wife Emily (nee Heard--not a mistake, it is her maiden name as well) and their son, William John (15).
Later in life, Tommy became known as "Old Tom", as his son Thomas William and his wife, Edith (nee Webber) Heard, moved back closer to Timberscombe, living at Waydown on Harwood Lane (16). The younger Tom died at Minehead in 1899 (17).
One of Tommy Heard's younger brothers, Joe Heard, has a grandson, Andy Heard, living at No. 6 Bemberry Bank in Timberscombe in 2019, who also recalls his great uncle as a well known and popular character.
Creator
Anonymous
Date
perhaps mid 1900s
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
Tommy Heard's Red Deer Bus / Timberscombe / Village Centre
Tommy Heard / Luckwell Bridge / Combe Farm
Tommy Heard / Luckwell Bridge / Combe Farm
Acquisition Date
2019
2020
2020
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
TRANSPORT: Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe (and Luckwell Bridge)
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe (and Luckwell Bridge)
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
Entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2020
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
10.5 X 15
11.5 X 18
11.5 X 18
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) railforums.co.uk (2) en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Somerset (3) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 (4) 1939 England and Wales Register (5) 1891 England Census and England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 (6) 1871 England Census (7) 1911 England Census and 1914 Cox's Directory (8) 1911 England Census (9) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 (for Thomas William Heard) and Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1914 (10) 1939 England and Wales Register (11) 1881 England Census (12) 1939 England and Wales Register (13) as recalled by Maurice Huxtable and Wendy Hellewell, longtime residents of Timberscombe (14) England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 (15) 1939 England and Wales Register (16) as recalled in September 2019, by Andy Heard of No. 6 Bemberry Bank, Timberscombe, the grandson of Joe Heard, younger brother of Tommy Heard, born in 1896 (17) England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index , 1916-2007
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2020
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-099
Technique
Copies
Citation
Anonymous, “The Red Deer Coach at The Lion Inn, Run by Tommy Heard,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 18, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3257.
Comments