The Timberscombe Bellringers on Armistice Day, November 11, 2018, the Centenary Anniversary of the Ending of World War I
Title
The Timberscombe Bellringers on Armistice Day, November 11, 2018, the Centenary Anniversary of the Ending of World War I
Subject
Description
A photograph of the Timberscombe bellringers, part of the Dunster Branch of the Bath & Wells Diocesan Association of Change Ringers, assembled on 11 November 2018, Armistice Day, part of a nationwide honoring of the centenary anniversary of the end of World War I.
Pictured in the ringing room of the west tower, from left to right, the first six bellringers all resided in the village. They are Martin Booth (living at The Knapp). the Tower Captain Elisabeth Powls (of Sunnyside), Allan Sutton (No. 1 Willow Bank), Alan Hines (Berrowcote), Gwynie Poole (Rice Cottage) and Andy Cooper (The Studio at Hole's Square). Mr. Hines had been in the United States and flew back a few weeks earlier than he had planned, to participate.
The gentleman on the right hand side was Eric Lucas. He and his wife Pat had moved to Somerset from Scotland, originally settling near Brushford. An avid bellringer, he became an active member of their band. By the time he and his wife relocated to Williton, he had started ringing at Timberscombe, referring to it as his ringing home. He also became a regular ringer at Bicknoller (1).
Eric Lucas died on 10 March 2020. Elisabeth Powls wrote of Mr. Lucas in the March 2020 issue of "News from the Dunster Branch", a monthly newsletter, that the Timberscombe Bellringers had been very lucky when first contacted by Mr. Lucas, inquiring if he could ring with them, that he had been a lovely man, enjoyed eating cakes and was always ready when extra help was needed. She concluded, "It was a great privilege to have known him and we, as a band, and also the Dunster Branch have lost a very good and kind man".
The tower, where the bellringers stand, has eight bells. Four are older than the present tower which was rebuilt by 1708 (2). The 1307 will of Richard of Avill left 6d to the bells of Timberscombe. One of the original bells was replaced in 1682 and in 1713, the tenor bell was recast. Between 1821 and 1824, a fifth bell was added by William Pannell of Cullompton. In 1903 the bells were rehung and in 1907, the sixth bell, a treble, was added by Taylors of Loughborough. In 1925 to 1926, the final two bells, also by Taylors, completed the peal of eight bells (3).
On Christmas Day, 1952, the bells of Timberscombe were broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Around 1955, in their publication, "THE VILLAGE OF TIMBERSCOMBE AND ITS CHURCH", B.L.K. Henderson (the churchwarden) and G.O.E. Henderson (his brother and the Bishop of Bath and Wells 1960-1975) wrote " We heard the peal of eight bells on the morning of Christmas Day, 1952, ring out their message to all parts of the world. They are not named, these bells. Neither blessings nor curses are engraved around them, but they ring a melodious chime as though proud to be the bells of the church in Timberscombe" (4).
This photograph was taken on Armistice Day by Jenny Gratton. A copy of it hangs in the ringing room. This version was supplied by Alan Hines.
Pictured in the ringing room of the west tower, from left to right, the first six bellringers all resided in the village. They are Martin Booth (living at The Knapp). the Tower Captain Elisabeth Powls (of Sunnyside), Allan Sutton (No. 1 Willow Bank), Alan Hines (Berrowcote), Gwynie Poole (Rice Cottage) and Andy Cooper (The Studio at Hole's Square). Mr. Hines had been in the United States and flew back a few weeks earlier than he had planned, to participate.
The gentleman on the right hand side was Eric Lucas. He and his wife Pat had moved to Somerset from Scotland, originally settling near Brushford. An avid bellringer, he became an active member of their band. By the time he and his wife relocated to Williton, he had started ringing at Timberscombe, referring to it as his ringing home. He also became a regular ringer at Bicknoller (1).
Eric Lucas died on 10 March 2020. Elisabeth Powls wrote of Mr. Lucas in the March 2020 issue of "News from the Dunster Branch", a monthly newsletter, that the Timberscombe Bellringers had been very lucky when first contacted by Mr. Lucas, inquiring if he could ring with them, that he had been a lovely man, enjoyed eating cakes and was always ready when extra help was needed. She concluded, "It was a great privilege to have known him and we, as a band, and also the Dunster Branch have lost a very good and kind man".
The tower, where the bellringers stand, has eight bells. Four are older than the present tower which was rebuilt by 1708 (2). The 1307 will of Richard of Avill left 6d to the bells of Timberscombe. One of the original bells was replaced in 1682 and in 1713, the tenor bell was recast. Between 1821 and 1824, a fifth bell was added by William Pannell of Cullompton. In 1903 the bells were rehung and in 1907, the sixth bell, a treble, was added by Taylors of Loughborough. In 1925 to 1926, the final two bells, also by Taylors, completed the peal of eight bells (3).
On Christmas Day, 1952, the bells of Timberscombe were broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Around 1955, in their publication, "THE VILLAGE OF TIMBERSCOMBE AND ITS CHURCH", B.L.K. Henderson (the churchwarden) and G.O.E. Henderson (his brother and the Bishop of Bath and Wells 1960-1975) wrote " We heard the peal of eight bells on the morning of Christmas Day, 1952, ring out their message to all parts of the world. They are not named, these bells. Neither blessings nor curses are engraved around them, but they ring a melodious chime as though proud to be the bells of the church in Timberscombe" (4).
This photograph was taken on Armistice Day by Jenny Gratton. A copy of it hangs in the ringing room. This version was supplied by Alan Hines.
Creator
Jenny Gratton
Source
Date
11 November 2018
Contributor
Format
Language
English
Identifier
Armistice Day bellringers in the ringing room at St. Petrock's Church / Timberscombe / Village Centre
Acquisition Date
2020
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
PLACES: Churches and Chapels / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
Entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2020
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
11 X 15.5 (PHOTOGRAPHS)
11 X 15.5 (VILLAGE HISTORIES)
11 X 15.5 (VILLAGE HISTORIES)
Institution Name
ST. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) "News from the Dunster Branch", March 2020, Bath and Wells Diocesan Association of Change Ringers (2) English Heritage, British Listed Buildings.co.uk (3) as recorded in "St. Petrock's Timberscombe", church pamphlet by Marion Jeffrey, 2017 (4) "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 with further identification of the Messrs. Henderson's from the introduction of a reprint of an excerpt of "THE VILLAGE OF TIMBERSCOMBE AND ITS CHURCH', written by Marion Jeffrey, 2017
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2020
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
St. Petrock's History Group VILLAGE HISTORIES
St. Petrock's History Group VILLAGE HISTORIES
Item Reference
SP-069
Technique
Copy
Citation
Jenny Gratton, “The Timberscombe Bellringers on Armistice Day, November 11, 2018, the Centenary Anniversary of the Ending of World War I,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 18, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3402.
Comments