A c. 1904 Postcard, "Timberscombe, Birds Eye View" by Montague Cooper
Title
A c. 1904 Postcard, "Timberscombe, Birds Eye View" by Montague Cooper
Subject
Description
A photograph, used as a postcard, taken and published by Henry Montague Cooper, that has been dated as c. 1906 (1) but is likely a bit earlier. In the foreground, a small girl appears to be standing next to a smaller child in a pram, both looking down the road toward a woman walking in their direction.
The road where the little girl stands is on the western edge of Timberscombe, likely called Addison's Folly at this time, and also known to villagers as the Cutcombe Road (2). Later it will be renamed Bemberry Bank. Behind the woman, this road becomes Jubilee Terrace, a former pathway widened and connected to Addison's Folly by 1887, to provide a western entrance and exit to the village (3).
A window and part of a door are visible under a large tree (since removed), past the woman's right hand side. This is the front of Kiln Farmhouse, likely 18th or early 19th century (4).
The cottage behind the woman, with the curving wall, is the rear of the Old Forge. Blacksmiths are believed to have been working at this site, in the centre of the village, since the 1100's. This structure is thought to have been erected in the early 1800's (5), with the blacksmithing area at the building's front. The back of the forge usually housed either the current blacksmith or someone working with him (6). In 1906, the blacksmith at the Old Forge was William Grabham, born c. 1855 and living here until his death in 1911 (7). He was succeeded by his son, Robert John Grabham (1884-1941), smithy here until at least 1919 (8). By 1921, 18-year-old Edwin Thorne was listed as blacksmith here, employed by Harry Phillips, the owner of Cowbridge Mill and it's forge. It is not clear how long they continued smithing at the Old Forge throughout the 1920's and in October 1929, Edwin Thorne died at a young age. In 1930, the Old Forge was divided into three residences (9).
Past the forge, to the right, is Church Steps Cottage, also believed to be 18th/early 19th century (10) and identified on the 1843 Tithe Map as the Village Poor House. It was named Church Steps as cobblestoned steps are on its right, leading up to St. Petrock's Church, situated at this elevated site since the 1100's. Archaeological discoveries made from March to June in 2020, with subsequent carbon dating, offered incontrovertible evidence of a previous settlement at this site, likely religious, that can be dated to 777A.D. (11). The church's ancient yew tree is to its left and part of the church graveyard is visible to the right. More elevated, behind the church is The Knapp, completed in 1836, the eventual home of the man who built it, Edward Cording (the local preacher of the Providence Chapel, a Bible Christian Church later becoming the village's Methodist Chapel) until his death in 1886 (12). The Knapp is semi-detached (on it's right, in this photograph) to the appropriately named Higher Ledge Cottage.
The Knapp and Higher Ledge face Church Street, which runs uphill, exiting the village to the south. Seen between the Old Forge and Church Steps Cottage, appears to be the semi-detached Nos. 4 and 5 Church Street (13), later becoming one residence renamed Hope Cottage, across Church Street, situated downhill. Rendered here, later its red sandstone facade will be exposed.
Beyond Hope Cottage, further up the hill, the Timberscombe Quarry, later renamed Delbridge Quarry, is seen cut into the side of Croydon Hill. A cluster of early 19th century buildings are to it's left, in the area called Hole's Square (14). Seen most clearly, on the right, is the house that will later be called The Studio, ironically because it was thought to be the home and workplace of the artist, John Arthur Mease, who lived in Timberscombe from 1938 until his death in 1950. Mease actually lived at Owey View in Cowbridge and later did have a wooden home and studio built on the northern end of Willow Bank, almost across the road from The Studio (15). Regardless, in 2022 The Studio was renamed Finnbar. To Finnbar's left is The Bracken, with End Cottage, which faces westward toward the camera, between them. End Cottage is not seen clearly but one more house rises past The Bracken. This was likely Hill Cottage, built around the same time as the other Hole's Square buildings (all four structures are on the 1843 Tithe Map). If Hill Cottage, at the time of this photograph it is probably the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Quick, a retired farmer and his wife and now operators of the Timberscombe Quarry (16). Hill Cottage will be demolished in 1979 (17).
On its front, the postcard is labeled "Timberscombe, Birds Eye View". Printed on the reverse is "Copyright Photograph by Montague Cooper. Taunton Burnham and Lynton". The same lettering can be seen at SP-014, another Montague Cooper photograph dated and postmarked in 1904--suggesting this photograph was probably taken at or around the same time. Interestingly on the reverse of the postcard as seen here, "Printed in Germany" is printed in the stamp box.
Born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire on 17 December 1864 (18), Henry Montague Cooper has been described as Somerset's first commercial photographer and an early rival to Francis Frith--with the difference being Cooper liked to place people in his photographs. He also liked to place his beloved motor car in the background of some photographs, which he drove between his studios on 29 East Street, Taunton, the Esplanade and later Victoria Street in Burnham -on-Sea, High Street in Wellington, Wembdon Road at Bridgwater, High Street at Chard and Lynton (19). In 1888, Mr. Cooper had married into his profession. His wife, Jane (but called Jenny) Morley, was the daughter of William Morley, a successful photographer in Taunton and a professional photographer herself (20). As were the daughters of Cooper on the 1921 Census. Henry Montague Cooper and his wife are listed on 29 East Street in Taunton, along with Mary Agnes Cooper, 23-years-old and Gladys Cooper, 22-years- old, both with their occupation as given as "Photographer". Their father listed himself as "Photographer Employer".
By the time of the 1939 England and Wales Register, Montague (he dropped "Henry", at least professionally) and Jenny lived at Paignton, Devon, where he listed himself as "Photographic Artist Retired" and where he passed away on the 23rd of May 1945 (21).
The road where the little girl stands is on the western edge of Timberscombe, likely called Addison's Folly at this time, and also known to villagers as the Cutcombe Road (2). Later it will be renamed Bemberry Bank. Behind the woman, this road becomes Jubilee Terrace, a former pathway widened and connected to Addison's Folly by 1887, to provide a western entrance and exit to the village (3).
A window and part of a door are visible under a large tree (since removed), past the woman's right hand side. This is the front of Kiln Farmhouse, likely 18th or early 19th century (4).
The cottage behind the woman, with the curving wall, is the rear of the Old Forge. Blacksmiths are believed to have been working at this site, in the centre of the village, since the 1100's. This structure is thought to have been erected in the early 1800's (5), with the blacksmithing area at the building's front. The back of the forge usually housed either the current blacksmith or someone working with him (6). In 1906, the blacksmith at the Old Forge was William Grabham, born c. 1855 and living here until his death in 1911 (7). He was succeeded by his son, Robert John Grabham (1884-1941), smithy here until at least 1919 (8). By 1921, 18-year-old Edwin Thorne was listed as blacksmith here, employed by Harry Phillips, the owner of Cowbridge Mill and it's forge. It is not clear how long they continued smithing at the Old Forge throughout the 1920's and in October 1929, Edwin Thorne died at a young age. In 1930, the Old Forge was divided into three residences (9).
Past the forge, to the right, is Church Steps Cottage, also believed to be 18th/early 19th century (10) and identified on the 1843 Tithe Map as the Village Poor House. It was named Church Steps as cobblestoned steps are on its right, leading up to St. Petrock's Church, situated at this elevated site since the 1100's. Archaeological discoveries made from March to June in 2020, with subsequent carbon dating, offered incontrovertible evidence of a previous settlement at this site, likely religious, that can be dated to 777A.D. (11). The church's ancient yew tree is to its left and part of the church graveyard is visible to the right. More elevated, behind the church is The Knapp, completed in 1836, the eventual home of the man who built it, Edward Cording (the local preacher of the Providence Chapel, a Bible Christian Church later becoming the village's Methodist Chapel) until his death in 1886 (12). The Knapp is semi-detached (on it's right, in this photograph) to the appropriately named Higher Ledge Cottage.
The Knapp and Higher Ledge face Church Street, which runs uphill, exiting the village to the south. Seen between the Old Forge and Church Steps Cottage, appears to be the semi-detached Nos. 4 and 5 Church Street (13), later becoming one residence renamed Hope Cottage, across Church Street, situated downhill. Rendered here, later its red sandstone facade will be exposed.
Beyond Hope Cottage, further up the hill, the Timberscombe Quarry, later renamed Delbridge Quarry, is seen cut into the side of Croydon Hill. A cluster of early 19th century buildings are to it's left, in the area called Hole's Square (14). Seen most clearly, on the right, is the house that will later be called The Studio, ironically because it was thought to be the home and workplace of the artist, John Arthur Mease, who lived in Timberscombe from 1938 until his death in 1950. Mease actually lived at Owey View in Cowbridge and later did have a wooden home and studio built on the northern end of Willow Bank, almost across the road from The Studio (15). Regardless, in 2022 The Studio was renamed Finnbar. To Finnbar's left is The Bracken, with End Cottage, which faces westward toward the camera, between them. End Cottage is not seen clearly but one more house rises past The Bracken. This was likely Hill Cottage, built around the same time as the other Hole's Square buildings (all four structures are on the 1843 Tithe Map). If Hill Cottage, at the time of this photograph it is probably the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Quick, a retired farmer and his wife and now operators of the Timberscombe Quarry (16). Hill Cottage will be demolished in 1979 (17).
On its front, the postcard is labeled "Timberscombe, Birds Eye View". Printed on the reverse is "Copyright Photograph by Montague Cooper. Taunton Burnham and Lynton". The same lettering can be seen at SP-014, another Montague Cooper photograph dated and postmarked in 1904--suggesting this photograph was probably taken at or around the same time. Interestingly on the reverse of the postcard as seen here, "Printed in Germany" is printed in the stamp box.
Born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire on 17 December 1864 (18), Henry Montague Cooper has been described as Somerset's first commercial photographer and an early rival to Francis Frith--with the difference being Cooper liked to place people in his photographs. He also liked to place his beloved motor car in the background of some photographs, which he drove between his studios on 29 East Street, Taunton, the Esplanade and later Victoria Street in Burnham -on-Sea, High Street in Wellington, Wembdon Road at Bridgwater, High Street at Chard and Lynton (19). In 1888, Mr. Cooper had married into his profession. His wife, Jane (but called Jenny) Morley, was the daughter of William Morley, a successful photographer in Taunton and a professional photographer herself (20). As were the daughters of Cooper on the 1921 Census. Henry Montague Cooper and his wife are listed on 29 East Street in Taunton, along with Mary Agnes Cooper, 23-years-old and Gladys Cooper, 22-years- old, both with their occupation as given as "Photographer". Their father listed himself as "Photographer Employer".
By the time of the 1939 England and Wales Register, Montague (he dropped "Henry", at least professionally) and Jenny lived at Paignton, Devon, where he listed himself as "Photographic Artist Retired" and where he passed away on the 23rd of May 1945 (21).
Creator
Montague Cooper
Source
Date
c. 1904
Contributor
Language
English
Type
Identifier
Village Street / Timberscombe / Bemberry Bank
Acquisition Date
2024
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
PLACES: Village Streets / Timberscombe
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
Entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2020
2024
2024
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
11 X 17
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1)"Around Somerset From The Montague Cooper Collection" by Nick Chipchase, The History Press , The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 2008 (2) as recalled by local residents of Timberscombe (3) Victoria County History.ac.uk (4) VCH (5) VCH and as recalled by residents of The Old Forge in 2019 (6) an example is on the 1843 Tithe Map, when Thomas Portman (1787-1881), the blacksmith lives in the front of the Old Forge and George Hensley (1808-1893), a Saddler, lives at the back (7) UK and Ireland, Find a Grave Index, 1300s- Current and TIMBERSCOMBE 1910 LIST OF RESIDENTS, minehead-online.co.uk (8) England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915, Family History Resources, forebears.co.uk and Kelly's Directory of Somerset, 1919 (9) 1921 England Census and as recalled in 2020 by Joy Booth of The Knapp, whose grandparents, John and Florence Bertha Burnett, were the first to move into the flats established at the Old Forge (10) VCH (11) "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 2021, by James L. Brigers, PA PROSPECT ARCHAEOLOGY, Middlezoy, Somerset (12) "WELCOME!", church pamphlet to the Timberscombe Methodist Church, donated by Joy and Martin Booth, 2018 (13) County of Somerset, Bridgewater Constituency, Register of Electors, 16th February, 1993 to 15th February, 1994 (14) VCH (15) Artists Biographies, artbiogs.co.uk, as recalled by the late Kenneth Grabham and told to Jeff Cox who spoke to the St. Petrock's History Group about John Arthur Mease on the 22nd of January 2020 and as recalled by Wendy Hellewell of The Bracken at Hole's Square who remembered and had been inside Mr. Mease's wooden home, that was demolished by 1978 (16) TIMBERSCOMBE 1910 LIST OF RESIDENTS and 1911 England Census (17) as recalled in 2020 by Wendy and David Cook of Blackball House, Hole's Square (18) "Secure the Shadow Somerset Photographers 1839-1939" by Robin Ansell, Allan Collier and Phil Nichols, The Somerset & Dorset Family History Society, 2018, 1891 England Census and 1939 England and Wales Census (18) Somerset County Gazette.co.uk, reviewing "Around Somerset From the Montague Cooper Collection", by Nick Chipchase, published by The History Press, 2008, (19) Kelly's Directories of Somerset, 1914, 1919 and 1923 and "Around Somerset From the Montague Cooper Collection" (20) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 and "Around Somerset From The Montague Cooper Collection" (21) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 and England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2020
2024
2024
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-041
Technique
Copy
Citation
Montague Cooper, “A c. 1904 Postcard, "Timberscombe, Birds Eye View" by Montague Cooper,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 14, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3266.
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