The Rose and Crown, in the Early 20th Century, Possibly with Proprietor, Albert J. Carter
Title
The Rose and Crown, in the Early 20th Century, Possibly with Proprietor, Albert J. Carter
Subject
Description
An early 20th century photograph of the Rose and Crown, one of Timberscombe's two public houses (at that time). It was situated on the northeastern edge of the village, along what most people then would have called the old Dunster Road, later becoming the northeastern end of Timberscombe's Brook Street. The other pub was Lion Inn, at the southern end of Brook Street, as it reached the centre of the village. While undated, this photograph would have been taken before 1915, the year that the Rose and Crown was closed down, losing it's license when it's renewal was refused by the local authorities (1).
It is known that the Rose and Crown was in operation by 1825. Since the beginning of the 1400's, alehouses were recorded in Timberscombe. In 1688 there were at least four public houses, some offering accommodations, but by 1690 only the Spurrier family held licenses in Timberscombe. In 1724 they ran an inn, the Red Lion in the village centre, which eventually became a private residence. In 1820, The Boot was operating, which after some alterations and change of ownership, became Lion Inn by 1841 (2).
In 1832, the Rose and Crown was owned by Robert Blackmore, who likely built the row of red sandstone and random rubble structures of which the northeastern end was the Rose and Crown and it's stables, seen here to the left of the pub with it's first storey windows all enclosed. Mr. Blackmore was born about 1775 and lived at Wiveliscombe in 1832. If he did not build this row in Timberscombe, by his death in 1843 he certainly owned it (3). He was buried at St. Petrock's Church in Timberscombe (4). His entire row of buildings can be seen at SP-098.
By 1841 the innkeeper at the Rose and Crown was Mrs. Mary Davis, living here with her son, John, aged 15 and her daughters, 13 year old Ann and 10 year old Emily. Mrs. Davis had been born in Dunster c. 1800 (5). She was at the Rose and Crown for an impressive amount of time. By the 1871 Census, Mrs. Davis had upgraded her title from "Innkeeper" to "Publican". Her daughter Emily always remained with her. Mary Davis died in 1876 and Emily took over as Innkeeper (6). Emily Davis died in 1900 and was buried on January 6th in Timberscombe, the first village burial of the new century (7).
Emily must have taken time off before her death as William Pyne became landlord of the Rose and Crown by the Kelly's Directory of Somerset, 1894, being the William Pyne, born 1852 and died in 1925, who was buried at St. Petrock's Churchyard with his wife, Fanny (8). They are the proprietors on the 1901 Census.
On October 28 1908, Albert John Carter married Mary Jane Gooding at St. Petrock's Church, listing his occupation as "Inn Keeper" (9). Born in 1879, he was the last proprietor of the Rose and Crown. His father, Samuel Carter was the Police Constable at Timberscombe, living by 1901 at the Police Station near the Rose and Crown, with his wife Agnes, raising nine children (10). A younger sister of Albert, Adelaide Julia Carter (1888-1975), married Samuel James Stenner, whose father, Samuel Stenner was the proprietor of Lion Inn, forming a sort of link between the two pubs (11).
It is not clear why the license of the Rose and Crown was not renewed in 1915 and Albert John Carter may have gone by then. In 1915, at the age of 37 and living in Wootton Courtenay, Albert enlisted in the Army Service Corps, serving in World War I (12). His younger brother, Herbert, born in 1891, died in the war at the age of 26 at Le Mesnil, France (13). Albert survived the war, came back to Wootton Courtenay where he worked as a jobbing gardener (14). He died in October of 1956 (15).
The photograph was likely taken when William Pyne or Albert Carter was operating the inn. It is apparent decorations or going up or coming down for some sort of festivity. In 1902, while Mr. Pyne was the proprietor, coronation ceremonies were held at the Rose and Crown for King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of Denmark. This is pictured at SP-020 and these seem to be different decorations. It is perhaps more probable this photograph was taken during the time of Albert Carter. By the time William Pyne succeeded Elizabeth Davis, he was probably in his early 40's. Albert Carter was 29 when he married Mary Jane Gooding (who was 24) and by 1915 they had four children, Kathleen Mary, Herbert Victor, Reginald John and Frederick James (16). In the centre of the photograph is a smiling man, probably in his early to mid 30's and definitely holding a child and wearing a bonnet. The younger of the two women to his right is laughing toward the camera. It just seems likely they could be Albert and Mary Jane Carter.
Bunting and a Union Jack partly obscure the pub sign, but "ROSE" and "CROWN" can be faintly read. The metal rod from which the sign hangs was still in position until 2019, when Martin and Kate Savage, current owners of the building now called Game House, removed it during renovations. Mr. and Mrs. Savage had the rod restored and in 2020, it was rehung. After closing in 1915, the pub was reopened for a while serving non-alcoholic drinks but did not last (17). In the following years, the house was called Rosemont when offering apartments and has been a bed and breakfast called Wellum and in the 2010's became Game House (18).
The former stables became a private residence, The Linhay. A wide stone arch over the front door is indicative that it had been a carriage entrance. On the right edge of the photograph, a bit of the cottage can be seen that was known as The Retreat, at least until the mid 1990's (19), later renamed Ivy Cottage.
It is known that the Rose and Crown was in operation by 1825. Since the beginning of the 1400's, alehouses were recorded in Timberscombe. In 1688 there were at least four public houses, some offering accommodations, but by 1690 only the Spurrier family held licenses in Timberscombe. In 1724 they ran an inn, the Red Lion in the village centre, which eventually became a private residence. In 1820, The Boot was operating, which after some alterations and change of ownership, became Lion Inn by 1841 (2).
In 1832, the Rose and Crown was owned by Robert Blackmore, who likely built the row of red sandstone and random rubble structures of which the northeastern end was the Rose and Crown and it's stables, seen here to the left of the pub with it's first storey windows all enclosed. Mr. Blackmore was born about 1775 and lived at Wiveliscombe in 1832. If he did not build this row in Timberscombe, by his death in 1843 he certainly owned it (3). He was buried at St. Petrock's Church in Timberscombe (4). His entire row of buildings can be seen at SP-098.
By 1841 the innkeeper at the Rose and Crown was Mrs. Mary Davis, living here with her son, John, aged 15 and her daughters, 13 year old Ann and 10 year old Emily. Mrs. Davis had been born in Dunster c. 1800 (5). She was at the Rose and Crown for an impressive amount of time. By the 1871 Census, Mrs. Davis had upgraded her title from "Innkeeper" to "Publican". Her daughter Emily always remained with her. Mary Davis died in 1876 and Emily took over as Innkeeper (6). Emily Davis died in 1900 and was buried on January 6th in Timberscombe, the first village burial of the new century (7).
Emily must have taken time off before her death as William Pyne became landlord of the Rose and Crown by the Kelly's Directory of Somerset, 1894, being the William Pyne, born 1852 and died in 1925, who was buried at St. Petrock's Churchyard with his wife, Fanny (8). They are the proprietors on the 1901 Census.
On October 28 1908, Albert John Carter married Mary Jane Gooding at St. Petrock's Church, listing his occupation as "Inn Keeper" (9). Born in 1879, he was the last proprietor of the Rose and Crown. His father, Samuel Carter was the Police Constable at Timberscombe, living by 1901 at the Police Station near the Rose and Crown, with his wife Agnes, raising nine children (10). A younger sister of Albert, Adelaide Julia Carter (1888-1975), married Samuel James Stenner, whose father, Samuel Stenner was the proprietor of Lion Inn, forming a sort of link between the two pubs (11).
It is not clear why the license of the Rose and Crown was not renewed in 1915 and Albert John Carter may have gone by then. In 1915, at the age of 37 and living in Wootton Courtenay, Albert enlisted in the Army Service Corps, serving in World War I (12). His younger brother, Herbert, born in 1891, died in the war at the age of 26 at Le Mesnil, France (13). Albert survived the war, came back to Wootton Courtenay where he worked as a jobbing gardener (14). He died in October of 1956 (15).
The photograph was likely taken when William Pyne or Albert Carter was operating the inn. It is apparent decorations or going up or coming down for some sort of festivity. In 1902, while Mr. Pyne was the proprietor, coronation ceremonies were held at the Rose and Crown for King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of Denmark. This is pictured at SP-020 and these seem to be different decorations. It is perhaps more probable this photograph was taken during the time of Albert Carter. By the time William Pyne succeeded Elizabeth Davis, he was probably in his early 40's. Albert Carter was 29 when he married Mary Jane Gooding (who was 24) and by 1915 they had four children, Kathleen Mary, Herbert Victor, Reginald John and Frederick James (16). In the centre of the photograph is a smiling man, probably in his early to mid 30's and definitely holding a child and wearing a bonnet. The younger of the two women to his right is laughing toward the camera. It just seems likely they could be Albert and Mary Jane Carter.
Bunting and a Union Jack partly obscure the pub sign, but "ROSE" and "CROWN" can be faintly read. The metal rod from which the sign hangs was still in position until 2019, when Martin and Kate Savage, current owners of the building now called Game House, removed it during renovations. Mr. and Mrs. Savage had the rod restored and in 2020, it was rehung. After closing in 1915, the pub was reopened for a while serving non-alcoholic drinks but did not last (17). In the following years, the house was called Rosemont when offering apartments and has been a bed and breakfast called Wellum and in the 2010's became Game House (18).
The former stables became a private residence, The Linhay. A wide stone arch over the front door is indicative that it had been a carriage entrance. On the right edge of the photograph, a bit of the cottage can be seen that was known as The Retreat, at least until the mid 1990's (19), later renamed Ivy Cottage.
Creator
Anonymous
Source
Date
between 1902 and 1915
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
The Rose and Crown Inn, likely early 20th century / Timberscombe/ Brook Street
Acquisition Date
2020
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
PLACES: Pubs / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named (possibly) / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named (possibly) / Timberscombe
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2020
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
13.5 X 20
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) Victoria County History, ac.uk (2) VCH (3) UK Poll Books and Electoral Registers, 1538-1893, Somerset, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1914 and Timberscombe Tithe Map 1843, Source: Somerset Record Office, Taunton, as researched and drawn for The Timberscombe School by John Burns, February 1989 (4) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (5) 1841 and 1861 England Census (6) Kelly's Directory of Somerset. 1889 (7) Somerset, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1914 (8) as observed at St. Petrock's Churchyard in 2020 by Tom Sperling (9) Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 (10) 1901 Census (11) 1911 England Census, 1939 England and Wales Register and England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 (12) British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920 (13) "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 anniversary of the outbreak of the war, 2014 (14) 1939 England and Wales Register (15) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 (16) British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920 (17) VCH (18) as recalled in 2019 by neighbours, Nick Webber of Rose Cottage and Marion and Roger Fewlass of Tiki Cottage (19) County of Somerset, Bridgwater Constituency, Register of Voters, 16th February, 1993 to 15th February, 1994
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2020
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-095
Technique
Copy
Citation
Anonymous, “The Rose and Crown, in the Early 20th Century, Possibly with Proprietor, Albert J. Carter,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed April 30, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3412.
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