Timberscombe School's 250th Anniversary and the 1964 Visit of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Ellsworth
Title
Timberscombe School's 250th Anniversary and the 1964 Visit of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Ellsworth
Subject
Description
Three photographs taken on the 12th of July 1964, at the time of the 250th anniversary of the 1714 founding of the Timberscombe School by it's benefactor, Richard Elsworth of Bickham Manor. The top two photographs were taken by Mr. R. Priddy, a professional photographer with studios in Roadwater and Wachet.
The upper photograph was taken in front of Timberscombe's St. Petrock's Church and features Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Ellsworth, descendants of Richard Elsworth. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth had traveled to be part of the celebration from New Canaan, Connecticut in the United States of America. Standing between them is the Rt. Rev. Dr. E. B. Henderson, Bishop of Bath and Wells, with the Rev. James H. Bury, Vicar of St. Petrock's, to their right
The photograph accompanies an article headlined "TIMBERSCOMBE CELEBRATE'S SCHOOL'S 250th ANNIVERSARY ", with two sub-headlines reading "Visit by Founder's Descendants from America " and "THANKSGIVING FOR THOMAS ELSWORTH "--probably meaning to have printed "Richard Elsworth". His surname is also given as "Elsworthy" and "Ellsworth" in various sources.
At his death in 1714, Mr. Elsworth was only 22 years old. At the age of 16 he had financed the rebuilding of the church tower at St. Petrocks (1). Before dying, Elsworth had arranged several charitable bequests including £10 a year for teaching poor children to read, write and be able to recite the catechism, £10 a year to clothe the poorest children of Timberscombe and £ 10 a year for spelling manuals, bibles and other books both for children and adults in need (2).
Also left by Mr. Elsworth was £200 for a village school and library. Unfortunately his wishes were not initially carried out, as the funds were held back and squandered for decades. Only in the 1790's was a case taken to the Chancery, which was not settled until 1802. A foundation stone was finally laid for the school in 1805 and the first Head Teacher, William Curle was hired (3). The library never materialised.
Nevertheless, 250 years since Richard Elsworth's early death, a festival was held at the school on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the 10th, 11th and 12th of July 1964. The festival "was held in beautiful weather" (4). Opening words were given by Mrs. Kathleen A. Willis, who by 1964 had been Head Teacher for 29 years. She retired in July 1967 (5). (Mrs. Willis is seen on the bottom photograph.) The newspaper article also pointed out that the late husband of Mrs. Willis had been closely associated with the history of the foundation.
At the Friday opening event, Mrs. Willis welcomed Thomas and Mrs. Ellsworth (her first name was never given either in the Free Press article or by Mrs. Willis when she recorded the event in the School Log Book). Thomas Ellsworth was a direct descendant of Richard Elsworth's great-uncle, who had emigrated to America before Richard was born. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth had arrived via a trip to London, where Mr. Ellsworth had devoted hours at the British Museum researching his family. Having recently retired from advertising, he announced that he hoped to publish an exhaustive study of the Elsworths, perhaps something in common with Galsworthy's "The Forsyte Saga". (It is not clear he ever did.) The Elsworths also reported that they had slept soundly at the Luttrell Inn in Dunster (6).
Entertainment for the Friday ceremonies was songs, with country and maypole dancing by the children, held on the school playing field. "To Richard Ellsworth" (as spelled by Mrs. Willis), a poem, was presented that had been written by schoolchildren in 1957 when Timberscombe School had reopened after being "modernised" (7). Throughout the afternoon the Timberscombe School children acted as hosts, guides and stage performers. Mrs. Ellsworth told the West Somerset Free Press that "They had much more poise at that age than children have in America" (8).
The school was open to the public on Saturday, with Mrs Willis and Miss Phyllis Quick, her assistant teacher, in all day attendance. Displays of children's art, handicrafts and needlework were on view and morning coffee and afternoon tea were prepared by the canteen staff (being Miss Floyd and Mrs. Boycott). It was also pointed out to Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth, that the present-day infants classroom was the site of the original schoolhouse when built after the 1805 foundation stone was placed. Evening performances were given by the Merrivale Singers at St. Petrock's, conducted by William J. Amherst. Included was an apt anthem by Vaughan Williams, "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men" (9). A buffet supper was served in the Village Hall. That evening the festival was covered on the national television show, "Point's West" (10).
On Sunday morning, the Rt. Rev. Dr. E. B. Henderson, the Bishop of Bath and Wells arrived to conduct a service of thanksgiving . Timberscombe School children who lived in Wootton Courtenay, Luccombe and Tivington were brought to the village by the school bus, driven by Mr. George Burnell. As the lower photographs depict, proceeded by members of the Minehead Town Band, the children of the school headed a procession of the dignitaries, including Mrs. Willis and other Head Teachers, to the church (11). In the centre photograph is Phyllis Quick, with young Jennifer Smith (later Sleep, with a dark fringe) to her left and Marion Huxtable (later Fewlass, in a dark coat), to her right. The little boy in front of Miss Quick in a long coat is believed to be Stuart Thorne with Stephen Thorne directly in front of him. Miss Quick and the children are followed by the Rev. Bury. Behind him is Kenneth Grabham, a churchwarden and a school governor and James Henderson, also a churchwarden, as well as the brother of the Bishop following him.
On the bottom photograph, singing behind Mrs. Willis and glancing toward the camera is Robert Grabham, the son of Kenneth Grabham.
Once inside, a capacity congregation included Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth. Kenneth Grabham and Rev Bury read lessons and the Bishop spoke of the far-sighted bequests of a young squire and the breadth of their influence, achieved by the education of large numbers of young children (12).
The middle photograph was stamped on the reverse with "R. PRIDDY, Photographer, ROADWATER-WATCHET. TEL. WASHFORD 431". It was donated in 2020 by Joyce Smith of Ford Cottage, Timberscombe (and the mother of Jennifer). The bottom photograph was donated in 2019 by The Timberscombe School.
Mrs Willis duly recorded the anniversary weekend in the School Log Book, concluding with, "It has been a wonderful week-end, and I think the children will carry the memory of some parts of it all through their lives",
The upper photograph was taken in front of Timberscombe's St. Petrock's Church and features Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Ellsworth, descendants of Richard Elsworth. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth had traveled to be part of the celebration from New Canaan, Connecticut in the United States of America. Standing between them is the Rt. Rev. Dr. E. B. Henderson, Bishop of Bath and Wells, with the Rev. James H. Bury, Vicar of St. Petrock's, to their right
The photograph accompanies an article headlined "TIMBERSCOMBE CELEBRATE'S SCHOOL'S 250th ANNIVERSARY ", with two sub-headlines reading "Visit by Founder's Descendants from America " and "THANKSGIVING FOR THOMAS ELSWORTH "--probably meaning to have printed "Richard Elsworth". His surname is also given as "Elsworthy" and "Ellsworth" in various sources.
At his death in 1714, Mr. Elsworth was only 22 years old. At the age of 16 he had financed the rebuilding of the church tower at St. Petrocks (1). Before dying, Elsworth had arranged several charitable bequests including £10 a year for teaching poor children to read, write and be able to recite the catechism, £10 a year to clothe the poorest children of Timberscombe and £ 10 a year for spelling manuals, bibles and other books both for children and adults in need (2).
Also left by Mr. Elsworth was £200 for a village school and library. Unfortunately his wishes were not initially carried out, as the funds were held back and squandered for decades. Only in the 1790's was a case taken to the Chancery, which was not settled until 1802. A foundation stone was finally laid for the school in 1805 and the first Head Teacher, William Curle was hired (3). The library never materialised.
Nevertheless, 250 years since Richard Elsworth's early death, a festival was held at the school on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the 10th, 11th and 12th of July 1964. The festival "was held in beautiful weather" (4). Opening words were given by Mrs. Kathleen A. Willis, who by 1964 had been Head Teacher for 29 years. She retired in July 1967 (5). (Mrs. Willis is seen on the bottom photograph.) The newspaper article also pointed out that the late husband of Mrs. Willis had been closely associated with the history of the foundation.
At the Friday opening event, Mrs. Willis welcomed Thomas and Mrs. Ellsworth (her first name was never given either in the Free Press article or by Mrs. Willis when she recorded the event in the School Log Book). Thomas Ellsworth was a direct descendant of Richard Elsworth's great-uncle, who had emigrated to America before Richard was born. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth had arrived via a trip to London, where Mr. Ellsworth had devoted hours at the British Museum researching his family. Having recently retired from advertising, he announced that he hoped to publish an exhaustive study of the Elsworths, perhaps something in common with Galsworthy's "The Forsyte Saga". (It is not clear he ever did.) The Elsworths also reported that they had slept soundly at the Luttrell Inn in Dunster (6).
Entertainment for the Friday ceremonies was songs, with country and maypole dancing by the children, held on the school playing field. "To Richard Ellsworth" (as spelled by Mrs. Willis), a poem, was presented that had been written by schoolchildren in 1957 when Timberscombe School had reopened after being "modernised" (7). Throughout the afternoon the Timberscombe School children acted as hosts, guides and stage performers. Mrs. Ellsworth told the West Somerset Free Press that "They had much more poise at that age than children have in America" (8).
The school was open to the public on Saturday, with Mrs Willis and Miss Phyllis Quick, her assistant teacher, in all day attendance. Displays of children's art, handicrafts and needlework were on view and morning coffee and afternoon tea were prepared by the canteen staff (being Miss Floyd and Mrs. Boycott). It was also pointed out to Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth, that the present-day infants classroom was the site of the original schoolhouse when built after the 1805 foundation stone was placed. Evening performances were given by the Merrivale Singers at St. Petrock's, conducted by William J. Amherst. Included was an apt anthem by Vaughan Williams, "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men" (9). A buffet supper was served in the Village Hall. That evening the festival was covered on the national television show, "Point's West" (10).
On Sunday morning, the Rt. Rev. Dr. E. B. Henderson, the Bishop of Bath and Wells arrived to conduct a service of thanksgiving . Timberscombe School children who lived in Wootton Courtenay, Luccombe and Tivington were brought to the village by the school bus, driven by Mr. George Burnell. As the lower photographs depict, proceeded by members of the Minehead Town Band, the children of the school headed a procession of the dignitaries, including Mrs. Willis and other Head Teachers, to the church (11). In the centre photograph is Phyllis Quick, with young Jennifer Smith (later Sleep, with a dark fringe) to her left and Marion Huxtable (later Fewlass, in a dark coat), to her right. The little boy in front of Miss Quick in a long coat is believed to be Stuart Thorne with Stephen Thorne directly in front of him. Miss Quick and the children are followed by the Rev. Bury. Behind him is Kenneth Grabham, a churchwarden and a school governor and James Henderson, also a churchwarden, as well as the brother of the Bishop following him.
On the bottom photograph, singing behind Mrs. Willis and glancing toward the camera is Robert Grabham, the son of Kenneth Grabham.
Once inside, a capacity congregation included Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth. Kenneth Grabham and Rev Bury read lessons and the Bishop spoke of the far-sighted bequests of a young squire and the breadth of their influence, achieved by the education of large numbers of young children (12).
The middle photograph was stamped on the reverse with "R. PRIDDY, Photographer, ROADWATER-WATCHET. TEL. WASHFORD 431". It was donated in 2020 by Joyce Smith of Ford Cottage, Timberscombe (and the mother of Jennifer). The bottom photograph was donated in 2019 by The Timberscombe School.
Mrs Willis duly recorded the anniversary weekend in the School Log Book, concluding with, "It has been a wonderful week-end, and I think the children will carry the memory of some parts of it all through their lives",
Creator
R. Priddy, Roadwater /
R. Priddy, Roadwater /
Anonymous
R. Priddy, Roadwater /
Anonymous
Publisher
The West Somerset Free Press
Date
12 July 1964
12 July 1964
12 July 1964
12 July 1964
12 July 1964
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
The 250th Anniversary of the Timberscombe School and the Sunday Procession of the children / Timberscombe / Village Centre
Acquisition Date
2019
2020
2020
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
EVENTS: Anniversaries / 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 12.5 (PHOTOGRAPHS)
10,5 X 12.5 (original clipping, TIMBERSCOMBE SCHOOL)
11 X 18 (PHOTOGRAPHS)
10 X 16.5 (TIMBERSCOMBE SCHOOL)
17 X 11 (PHOTOGRAPHS)
10,5 X 12.5 (original clipping, TIMBERSCOMBE SCHOOL)
11 X 18 (PHOTOGRAPHS)
10 X 16.5 (TIMBERSCOMBE SCHOOL)
17 X 11 (PHOTOGRAPHS)
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) "St. Petrock's Church Timberscombe", church pamphlet written by Marion Jeffrey, 2017 (2) "THE VILLAGE OF TIMBERSCOMBE AND IT'S CHURCH", by B. L. K. Henderson and G. O. E. Henderson, printed by E. Goodman & Son., Ltd., The Phoenix Press, Taunton, 1955 (3) Victoria County History.ac.uk (4) Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 3 April 1930- 4 June 1974, as written by the Rev. James H. Bury, page 246 (5) "ST. PETROCK'S CHURCH TIMBERSCOMBE AUGUST 1967, PARISH NOTES, by Rev. James H. Bury and THE WEST SOMERSET FREE PRESS, 1964 July (the exact day is not noted) (6) THE WEST SOMERSET FREE PRESS (7) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, 21 April 1947-2 April 1965, pages 285-290 (8) THE WEST SOMERSET FREE PRESS (9) THE WEST SOMERSET FREE PRESS (10) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK (11) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK (12) THE WEST SOMERSET FREE PRESS
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2020
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
St. Petrock's History Group TIMBERSCOMBE SCHOOL (with newspaper article from the West Somerset Free Press)
St. Petrock's History Group TIMBERSCOMBE SCHOOL (with newspaper article from the West Somerset Free Press)
Item Reference
SP-252
Technique
Copy of original newspaper photograph
Copies
Copies
Citation
R. Priddy, Roadwater /
R. Priddy, Roadwater /
Anonymous, “Timberscombe School's 250th Anniversary and the 1964 Visit of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Ellsworth,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed April 19, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3405.
Comments