Charles Phillips & Son at The Old Forge in Timberscombe
Title
Charles Phillips & Son at The Old Forge in Timberscombe
Subject
Description
A photograph of the front of the Old Forge in Timberscombe . A sign over the doorway states "C. PHILLIPS & SON GENERAL SMITHS". "C. Phillips" would be Charles Phillips, born in 1855 (1). The gentleman pictured in the work apron is the "son", Henry Arthur, born in 1880 and known as Harry (2). Both of the Phillips have been connected with the Cowbridge Mill on the northeastern edge of Timberscombe, where the Phillips family was associated for around 50 years. Originally from Exton and Bridgetown, near Dulverton, the Phillips family arrived at Cowbridge Mill, part of the Knowle Estate, in the 1880's (3).
Also depicted in the photograph is a younger gentleman, with a child on a pony.
Charles Phillips founded the Exe Valley Wheel Works, advertising himself as a "millwright, machinist, wheelwright, carpenter and agent to all kinds of agricultural implements". He obviously was a man of many endeavors and by 1910 was also working with Harry, as a "Carriage Builder" at Park Lane in Minehead (4). On every census until his death, Charles maintained an Exton or Bridgetown address. On the 1901 Census, Harry, aged 21, was living with his parents at the Bridgetown Post Office (where his mother, Sarah Jane Phillips was the Post Mistress) and after marrying, he moved to Minehead where he had premises on Friday Street (5). In 1916 the Knowle Estate was broken up and sold at public auction. Lot 28 was Cowbridge Mill, and the winning bid of £490 was offered by Harry Phillips (6). Besides now owning Cowbridge Mill, Harry and his father remained involved with mills at Higher Hopcott, Minehead, Dunster and Bridgetown.
The blacksmith in 1910 at the Old Forge in Timberscombe was William Grabham (7), where he had been smithing at least since 1889 (8). William Grabham was born c. 1855 and died in 1911 (9). By 1914, Robert John Grabham, William's son (1884-1941) was listed as the blacksmith in Timberscombe, working there at least until 1919 (10) and he had been thought to be Timberscombe's last blacksmith. No doubt the Phillips and Grabham families worked at times in conjunction. Sam Grabham (1887-1971), a cousin of William, joined the Phillips family at Cowbridge and his son, Kenneth Grabham (1920-2007) would work there until his retirement in the 1970's (11). Nevertheless, while this photo definitely shows Harry Phillips at the Old Forge in Timberscombe, with the family name over the door, it has not been clear when either Charles or Harry were here--or even how they would have fitted Timberscombe into their very busy workload.
Or at least not until the 1921 England Census was released to the public on 6 January 2022. In that same month, Philip Thorne of Loughborough contacted the St. Petrock's History Group, trying to find information about his ancestors in Timberscombe. In particular he was trying to figure out where the residence called Corner Cottage (or sometimes Corner House) was located, the home of his grandfather, William Thorne and his great grandmother, Bessie Thorne, on the 1911 Census.
Philip Thorne also supplied a copy of the newly issued 1921 Census which indicated Bessie Thorne still living at "Corner". Philip Thorne's grandfather, William, had moved to Exeter where he was working for the General Post Office as a Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist. Remaining at home with Bessie were her two youngest surviving children, Ivy, aged 13 and Edwin, aged 18 years.
Of great interest on the 1921 Census was Edwin's profession, listing himself as a "Blacksmith", employed by "H. Phillips, Blacksmith" , with "Place of Work" being Cowbridge and Timberscombe--two years after Robert John Grabham had left the Old Forge, moving to Minehead where he continued to work as a blacksmith (12).
A copy of the photograph on this entry was sent to Philip Thorne, who quickly replied that the younger man in the photograph "Certainly could be Edwin", adding that his "sticking out ears (like Plug from The Beano) were a characteristic of my father and grandfather (Thorne genes)".
Edwin Thorne , known as "Eddie", is also identified, a bit older, at SP-068, in a charabanc on an outing with the Timberscombe Bellringers, that has been dated between 1924 to 1930. Philip Thorne also supplied a photograph of an engraved clock that had been a wedding gift from the bellringers to Edwin in January 1929, when he married Beatrice Gould.
It is possible then that Edwin Thorne was Timberscombe's last blacksmith. With all his other work commitments, owning Cowbridge and living in Minehead, it seems likely that Harry Phillips would often be busy elsewhere. It is not clear how long Edwin worked at the Old Forge after 1921 but he died young, in October 1929, the same year he married (13). In 1930 the first tenants moved into the Old Forge that was converted into three flats (14). Edwin's death must have been horrible for his mother. Bessie Thorne's husband, Sidney, had died in 1908 (15). They had five sons, including Sidney, Junr. and Reginald who were killed in World War I. Another son, Cecil, died in 1922, aged 17-years-old. Only Philip Thorne's grandfather, William Thorne, born in 1901 and died in 1987, outlived his mother (16).
The Old Forge was likely altered or built at Timberscombe in the early 19th century, on the foundations of previous blacksmiths. Its site, on the village square, is thought to have housed smithing since the 1100's (17). The building visible on the right rear of the photograph is semi-detached to the forge and originally was a residence, likely housing workers at the forge (18). The 1844-1888 Ordnance Survey Map indicates another smaller residence was added during those years, also at the rear of the building. In modern times, Timberscombe's Old Forge remains converted to three residences, known as Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Old Forge.
Charles and Harry Phillips were also bellringers and are also seen in the charabanc at SP-068. Harry is seated by the driver. Just as he is depicted in the photograph on this page, he is clinching a cigarette in his mouth. Harry died in 1936, with his father outliving him by five years (19).
The photograph seen here was donated by the Timberscombe School, where it was used by the children for a village history project in 1998. Appreciation is extended to Philip Thorne and incidentally, the location of Corner Cottage--what Mr. Thorne was trying to find out--was on Great House Street, near its junction with Willow View Lane. A postcard that predates 1905 is visible at SP-001, showing a group of heavily damaged buildings in this area, likely destroyed by fire. As a result, two new semi-detached residences were built here that were both occupied by the 1911 Census and later were called Corner Cottage (or "Corner") on the left and Rona (or "Rona the Corner") on the right. In later years they were respectively renamed Hillcrest and Paxholt. In the summer of 2022, Mr. Edward Schofield of North Hawkwell Farm, born in 1938, pointed out Hillcrest as where he had lived as a boy, remembering it as Corner Cottage.
Also depicted in the photograph is a younger gentleman, with a child on a pony.
Charles Phillips founded the Exe Valley Wheel Works, advertising himself as a "millwright, machinist, wheelwright, carpenter and agent to all kinds of agricultural implements". He obviously was a man of many endeavors and by 1910 was also working with Harry, as a "Carriage Builder" at Park Lane in Minehead (4). On every census until his death, Charles maintained an Exton or Bridgetown address. On the 1901 Census, Harry, aged 21, was living with his parents at the Bridgetown Post Office (where his mother, Sarah Jane Phillips was the Post Mistress) and after marrying, he moved to Minehead where he had premises on Friday Street (5). In 1916 the Knowle Estate was broken up and sold at public auction. Lot 28 was Cowbridge Mill, and the winning bid of £490 was offered by Harry Phillips (6). Besides now owning Cowbridge Mill, Harry and his father remained involved with mills at Higher Hopcott, Minehead, Dunster and Bridgetown.
The blacksmith in 1910 at the Old Forge in Timberscombe was William Grabham (7), where he had been smithing at least since 1889 (8). William Grabham was born c. 1855 and died in 1911 (9). By 1914, Robert John Grabham, William's son (1884-1941) was listed as the blacksmith in Timberscombe, working there at least until 1919 (10) and he had been thought to be Timberscombe's last blacksmith. No doubt the Phillips and Grabham families worked at times in conjunction. Sam Grabham (1887-1971), a cousin of William, joined the Phillips family at Cowbridge and his son, Kenneth Grabham (1920-2007) would work there until his retirement in the 1970's (11). Nevertheless, while this photo definitely shows Harry Phillips at the Old Forge in Timberscombe, with the family name over the door, it has not been clear when either Charles or Harry were here--or even how they would have fitted Timberscombe into their very busy workload.
Or at least not until the 1921 England Census was released to the public on 6 January 2022. In that same month, Philip Thorne of Loughborough contacted the St. Petrock's History Group, trying to find information about his ancestors in Timberscombe. In particular he was trying to figure out where the residence called Corner Cottage (or sometimes Corner House) was located, the home of his grandfather, William Thorne and his great grandmother, Bessie Thorne, on the 1911 Census.
Philip Thorne also supplied a copy of the newly issued 1921 Census which indicated Bessie Thorne still living at "Corner". Philip Thorne's grandfather, William, had moved to Exeter where he was working for the General Post Office as a Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist. Remaining at home with Bessie were her two youngest surviving children, Ivy, aged 13 and Edwin, aged 18 years.
Of great interest on the 1921 Census was Edwin's profession, listing himself as a "Blacksmith", employed by "H. Phillips, Blacksmith" , with "Place of Work" being Cowbridge and Timberscombe--two years after Robert John Grabham had left the Old Forge, moving to Minehead where he continued to work as a blacksmith (12).
A copy of the photograph on this entry was sent to Philip Thorne, who quickly replied that the younger man in the photograph "Certainly could be Edwin", adding that his "sticking out ears (like Plug from The Beano) were a characteristic of my father and grandfather (Thorne genes)".
Edwin Thorne , known as "Eddie", is also identified, a bit older, at SP-068, in a charabanc on an outing with the Timberscombe Bellringers, that has been dated between 1924 to 1930. Philip Thorne also supplied a photograph of an engraved clock that had been a wedding gift from the bellringers to Edwin in January 1929, when he married Beatrice Gould.
It is possible then that Edwin Thorne was Timberscombe's last blacksmith. With all his other work commitments, owning Cowbridge and living in Minehead, it seems likely that Harry Phillips would often be busy elsewhere. It is not clear how long Edwin worked at the Old Forge after 1921 but he died young, in October 1929, the same year he married (13). In 1930 the first tenants moved into the Old Forge that was converted into three flats (14). Edwin's death must have been horrible for his mother. Bessie Thorne's husband, Sidney, had died in 1908 (15). They had five sons, including Sidney, Junr. and Reginald who were killed in World War I. Another son, Cecil, died in 1922, aged 17-years-old. Only Philip Thorne's grandfather, William Thorne, born in 1901 and died in 1987, outlived his mother (16).
The Old Forge was likely altered or built at Timberscombe in the early 19th century, on the foundations of previous blacksmiths. Its site, on the village square, is thought to have housed smithing since the 1100's (17). The building visible on the right rear of the photograph is semi-detached to the forge and originally was a residence, likely housing workers at the forge (18). The 1844-1888 Ordnance Survey Map indicates another smaller residence was added during those years, also at the rear of the building. In modern times, Timberscombe's Old Forge remains converted to three residences, known as Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Old Forge.
Charles and Harry Phillips were also bellringers and are also seen in the charabanc at SP-068. Harry is seated by the driver. Just as he is depicted in the photograph on this page, he is clinching a cigarette in his mouth. Harry died in 1936, with his father outliving him by five years (19).
The photograph seen here was donated by the Timberscombe School, where it was used by the children for a village history project in 1998. Appreciation is extended to Philip Thorne and incidentally, the location of Corner Cottage--what Mr. Thorne was trying to find out--was on Great House Street, near its junction with Willow View Lane. A postcard that predates 1905 is visible at SP-001, showing a group of heavily damaged buildings in this area, likely destroyed by fire. As a result, two new semi-detached residences were built here that were both occupied by the 1911 Census and later were called Corner Cottage (or "Corner") on the left and Rona (or "Rona the Corner") on the right. In later years they were respectively renamed Hillcrest and Paxholt. In the summer of 2022, Mr. Edward Schofield of North Hawkwell Farm, born in 1938, pointed out Hillcrest as where he had lived as a boy, remembering it as Corner Cottage.
Creator
Anonymous
Source
Date
c. 1921
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
The Old Forge / Timberscombe / village centre
Acquisition Date
2019
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
PLACES: Forges / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Occupations
PEOPLE: Occupations
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
Entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2020
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
11.5 X 19.5
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Club
Notes
(1) 1861 England Census (2) 1881 England Census and TImbercombeVillage.com/ History of Timberscombe/ Other Historic Structures/ Cowbridge Mill, written by Lesley Webb (3) TimberscombeVillage.com and Kelly's Directory of Somerset, 1889 (4) TimberscombeVillage.com and Kelly's Directory of Somerset (1919) (5) 1911 England Census (6) page 44 of an original copy of "THE KNOWLE ESTATE, DUNSTER, SOMERSET, Particulars, Plans and Conditions of Sale of THE KNOWLE ESTATE", published by Messrs. W.R.J. Greenslade & Co. for the July 20th 1916 public auction, that was kept by Sam Grabham, with the purchase prices and names of the purchasers handwritten on each lot (7) Family History Resources, forebears.co.uk/Births (8) Kelly's Directory of Somerset (1889) (9) 1861 England Census, TIMBERSCOMBE 1910 LIST OF RESIDENTS, minehead-online.co.uk and Family History Resources, forebears.co.uk/Deaths (10) Kelly's Directories of Somerset (1914 and 1919) (11) as recalled in 2018 by Sarah Hill, daughter of Kenneth Grabham and grand-daughter of Sam Grabham and Historic Environment Record, Exmoor National Park (12) 1939 England and Wales Register (13) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2005 and England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 (14) 1939 England and Wales Register and as recalled in January 2022 by Joyce (nee Land) Booth, grand-daughter of John and Florence Burnett and daughter of Elsie May (nee Burnett) Land, the first tenants at No. 2 Old Forge in 1930 (15) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (16) "TIMBERSCOMBE'S FALLEN OF WORLD WAR I", compiled by Harvey Grenville, produced for St. Petrock's Church and the parish of Timberscombe, to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of World War I, 2014 (17) TimberscombeVillage.com (18) an example is the 1843 Tithe Map of Timberscombe which represents George Hensley, a Saddler, living at the back of the Old Forge, with Thomas Portman, a blacksmith, occupying the "Blacksmith's Shop" at the front (19) TimberscombeVillage.com and 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-012
Technique
Copy
Citation
Anonymous, “Charles Phillips & Son at The Old Forge in Timberscombe,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 13, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3261.
Comments