The Timberscombe Cricket Club (with the new score shed), 1968
Title
The Timberscombe Cricket Club (with the new score shed), 1968
Subject
Description
A 1968 photograph of team mates and a couple of supporters of the Timberscombe Cricket Club. They are in front of a new score shed, situated at the cricket grounds on Cowbridge Road, northeast of the village of Timberscombe. This photograph was donated in January 2020 by Wendy Cook of Blackball House at Hole's Square in Timberscombe.
A new pavilion had been built for Timberscombe in 1960, proceeding a new free-standing score board added a few years later (as seen at SP-176) and with this new score shed following (1). It is not clear when the first Timberscombe Cricket Club was launched but photographs that are dated 1909 are visible at SP-166. There was a Timberscombe cricket team photographed at SP-165, which could be earlier. The club was disbanded during World War I, as it was during World War II. The first Timberscombe Cricket Club Pavilion in 1921 was a hut donated by George Stanley Harris who had acquired Duddings Farmhouse in 1920. That hut, located halfway along the boundary along the Knowle bridleway, was still in use by the Timberscombe Cricket Club in 1975 for storage (2). Shortly after that, it likely either fell down or was removed as it was not in a practical position when cricket was being played. In 2022, David Cook of Blackball House, Timberscombe, remembered the hut but believed it was gone not long after he began playing cricket for Timberscombe in 1974.
The two women in the photograph seen here were likely contributors to the cost of the score shed. At front and centre is Mary Edith Morel. She is seated in much the same position at SP-175, another photograph featuring patrons of the club taken a few years earlier. In 2020, Maurice Huxtable, who is seated to the right of Mrs. Morel in the photograph seen here, recalled her as an avid cricket fan. Born Mary Edith Jacks in 1885 at Bristol, Glamorgan, Wales (3), she married William Gibb Morel in 1906 at St. George's, Hanover Square, London (4). Ten years later they purchased Bickham, the manor house on the western end of Timberscombe and Mrs. Morel became active in the activities of the village (5). Mr. Morel passed away in 1951 (6) and Mary Edith Morel sold Bickham to Alexander Dru, while maintaining a home on the estate at Bickham Cottage (7). She died in 1970 and was buried at St. Petrock's, the parish church at Timberscombe (8).
The other woman is more of a mystery. The cricket grounds are located next to the western entrance to Knowle Farm and Knowle House, Timberscombe's more easterly located manor house. Maurice Huxtable only remembers this woman as possibly representing Knowle House. It has been suggested that she is Dorothy Alice (nee Fieldgate) Lamacraft. She and her husband, Edgar Francis Lamacraft (1898-1975) were the owners of Knowle House in 1968. There is some similarity to other photographs of Mrs. Lamacraft but this woman could also be a relation. Dorothy Lamacraft, born in 1906, died in 1996 and she and her husband are both buried at St. Petrock's (9).
Naming the cricketers, beginning on the left end of the back row, the first player is identified as John Matravers, referred to as being of a "big Exmoor family". Indeed there are many John Matravers in Somerset around this time, often from Taunton or in that proximity. This gentleman could be John R. Matravers, born in Exmoor c. 1947 and who later lived at Larviscombe Road at nearby Williton (10).
To the right of Mr. Matravers is James (Jimmy) Guilfoyle, who worked at Beasley Farm for many years. He was there in 1952 when his son, Anthony was born (11). Jimmy was born in 1919 at Montmellick, Ireland (12). He married Mary J. Cullinan and their daughter, Ann Elizabeth was born in 1960 (13). Later in life, Mr. and Mrs. Guilfoyle moved to No. 12 Meadow View (14), on the northeastern edge of Timberscombe. Jimmy died in 1999 and was buried at the Minehead Cemetery (15).
The next gentleman is identified as Ray Down and remembered possibly as working as a butcher in Minehead (16). To his right, the next man is likely named Mike Elworthy but at this writing, nothing else is known about him. The tall man to his right was identified in 1975 as "Tim Howard" (17).
On the right end of the row and wearing the white umpire's coat is Frederick (Fred) James Clatworthy. Seated to the left of Mary Edith Morel on the front row is Dudley Huxtable, the father of Maurice Huxtable. He is likely the most photographed (as a player and a coach) Timberscombe Cricket Club member over the years, but Fred Clatworthy could be a close second--and both men were also longtime football players. Born 1905 in Timberscombe to John and Bessie (nee Quick) Clatworthy (18), Fred Clatworthy was photographed over the years as a player (such as seen at SP-170), possibly as a coach (SP-173), simply watching a match (SP-176) and here, pictured as an umpire. He worked as a mason (19) and in 1946 married Dorothy Ava Meatyard (20). Known as Dot, she also became an avid cricket fan. Fred passed away in 1991 (21).
Seated on the right end of the front row is Robin Dyer, thought to be of Timberscombe and possibly the Robin Dyer born in Exmoor in 1942 to a mother whose maiden name was "Thorne" (22). If so, in 1966, he married Penelope Bosley in Exmoor (23). She, at least, later lived on Elm Grove in Minehead (24). To Mr. Dyer's right, the next man has been identified as Harold and as Henry Stephens, who may have lived at Cutcombe at the time of this photograph (25). He could be Henry William George Stephens, born 24 February 1937, who between 2003-2010 lived at Knightstone Mead in Brompton Regis and passed away on 14 February 2016 (26).
As stated, Mrs. Morel is flanked on the front row, with Dudley Huxtable to her left and his son, Maurice Huxtable to her right. The Huxtable family has been recorded in Timberscombe since at least 1742 (27). Dudley was born in 1911, the only son of Frank and Eva (nee Buttle) Huxtable, with Frank pictured participating in football and cricket games in photographs as early as 1907 (as seen at SP-165). Like his father, Dudley was a carpenter (28) and at the time of this photograph, was the owner of the Cowbridge Mill (29). He married Grace Irene Cook, originally from Wiltshire, in 1932 (30) and also like his father had only one son, Maurice. Maurice married Mary E. Palfrey in 1952 (31) and at the time of this photograph worked as a tractor and Land Rover mechanic at the Luttrell Arms Garage in Dunster, a position he held for 34 years--and also was a constant figure on the football or cricket field. In 2020, at the age of 88 and living at his home, Ye Olde Malthouse (renamed The Old Malt House in 2023) on the southern end of Brook Street in Timberscombe, Maurice Huxtable was quoted as saying that unlike many in Somerset, the men in his family were not ones for horses but certainly enjoyed their football and cricket (32). Dudley Huxtable died in 1994 and Maurice passed away in the summer of 2021. To honour Maurice Huxtable's lifelong affiliation, in May 2022, a bronze plaque was placed to honour him at the Timberscombe Cricket Club.
The gentleman to the right of Maurice is identified as Alec Crockford, possibly from Wootton Courtenay. He may be Alec F. J. Crockford born in the Williton district of Somerset in 1930, whose mother's maiden name was Gunter (33). Between 2003 and 2010, an Alec. J. Crockford lived on Hawthorn Road in Minehead (34). The young man seated on the right end of the front row has been identified as George Stephens of Wheddon Cross (35). It is possible that this could be the Henry William George Stevens already identified. Unfortunately at the time of this writing there is no further information of Mr. Stephens and no obvious connection to Henry (or Harold) Stephens.
A new pavilion had been built for Timberscombe in 1960, proceeding a new free-standing score board added a few years later (as seen at SP-176) and with this new score shed following (1). It is not clear when the first Timberscombe Cricket Club was launched but photographs that are dated 1909 are visible at SP-166. There was a Timberscombe cricket team photographed at SP-165, which could be earlier. The club was disbanded during World War I, as it was during World War II. The first Timberscombe Cricket Club Pavilion in 1921 was a hut donated by George Stanley Harris who had acquired Duddings Farmhouse in 1920. That hut, located halfway along the boundary along the Knowle bridleway, was still in use by the Timberscombe Cricket Club in 1975 for storage (2). Shortly after that, it likely either fell down or was removed as it was not in a practical position when cricket was being played. In 2022, David Cook of Blackball House, Timberscombe, remembered the hut but believed it was gone not long after he began playing cricket for Timberscombe in 1974.
The two women in the photograph seen here were likely contributors to the cost of the score shed. At front and centre is Mary Edith Morel. She is seated in much the same position at SP-175, another photograph featuring patrons of the club taken a few years earlier. In 2020, Maurice Huxtable, who is seated to the right of Mrs. Morel in the photograph seen here, recalled her as an avid cricket fan. Born Mary Edith Jacks in 1885 at Bristol, Glamorgan, Wales (3), she married William Gibb Morel in 1906 at St. George's, Hanover Square, London (4). Ten years later they purchased Bickham, the manor house on the western end of Timberscombe and Mrs. Morel became active in the activities of the village (5). Mr. Morel passed away in 1951 (6) and Mary Edith Morel sold Bickham to Alexander Dru, while maintaining a home on the estate at Bickham Cottage (7). She died in 1970 and was buried at St. Petrock's, the parish church at Timberscombe (8).
The other woman is more of a mystery. The cricket grounds are located next to the western entrance to Knowle Farm and Knowle House, Timberscombe's more easterly located manor house. Maurice Huxtable only remembers this woman as possibly representing Knowle House. It has been suggested that she is Dorothy Alice (nee Fieldgate) Lamacraft. She and her husband, Edgar Francis Lamacraft (1898-1975) were the owners of Knowle House in 1968. There is some similarity to other photographs of Mrs. Lamacraft but this woman could also be a relation. Dorothy Lamacraft, born in 1906, died in 1996 and she and her husband are both buried at St. Petrock's (9).
Naming the cricketers, beginning on the left end of the back row, the first player is identified as John Matravers, referred to as being of a "big Exmoor family". Indeed there are many John Matravers in Somerset around this time, often from Taunton or in that proximity. This gentleman could be John R. Matravers, born in Exmoor c. 1947 and who later lived at Larviscombe Road at nearby Williton (10).
To the right of Mr. Matravers is James (Jimmy) Guilfoyle, who worked at Beasley Farm for many years. He was there in 1952 when his son, Anthony was born (11). Jimmy was born in 1919 at Montmellick, Ireland (12). He married Mary J. Cullinan and their daughter, Ann Elizabeth was born in 1960 (13). Later in life, Mr. and Mrs. Guilfoyle moved to No. 12 Meadow View (14), on the northeastern edge of Timberscombe. Jimmy died in 1999 and was buried at the Minehead Cemetery (15).
The next gentleman is identified as Ray Down and remembered possibly as working as a butcher in Minehead (16). To his right, the next man is likely named Mike Elworthy but at this writing, nothing else is known about him. The tall man to his right was identified in 1975 as "Tim Howard" (17).
On the right end of the row and wearing the white umpire's coat is Frederick (Fred) James Clatworthy. Seated to the left of Mary Edith Morel on the front row is Dudley Huxtable, the father of Maurice Huxtable. He is likely the most photographed (as a player and a coach) Timberscombe Cricket Club member over the years, but Fred Clatworthy could be a close second--and both men were also longtime football players. Born 1905 in Timberscombe to John and Bessie (nee Quick) Clatworthy (18), Fred Clatworthy was photographed over the years as a player (such as seen at SP-170), possibly as a coach (SP-173), simply watching a match (SP-176) and here, pictured as an umpire. He worked as a mason (19) and in 1946 married Dorothy Ava Meatyard (20). Known as Dot, she also became an avid cricket fan. Fred passed away in 1991 (21).
Seated on the right end of the front row is Robin Dyer, thought to be of Timberscombe and possibly the Robin Dyer born in Exmoor in 1942 to a mother whose maiden name was "Thorne" (22). If so, in 1966, he married Penelope Bosley in Exmoor (23). She, at least, later lived on Elm Grove in Minehead (24). To Mr. Dyer's right, the next man has been identified as Harold and as Henry Stephens, who may have lived at Cutcombe at the time of this photograph (25). He could be Henry William George Stephens, born 24 February 1937, who between 2003-2010 lived at Knightstone Mead in Brompton Regis and passed away on 14 February 2016 (26).
As stated, Mrs. Morel is flanked on the front row, with Dudley Huxtable to her left and his son, Maurice Huxtable to her right. The Huxtable family has been recorded in Timberscombe since at least 1742 (27). Dudley was born in 1911, the only son of Frank and Eva (nee Buttle) Huxtable, with Frank pictured participating in football and cricket games in photographs as early as 1907 (as seen at SP-165). Like his father, Dudley was a carpenter (28) and at the time of this photograph, was the owner of the Cowbridge Mill (29). He married Grace Irene Cook, originally from Wiltshire, in 1932 (30) and also like his father had only one son, Maurice. Maurice married Mary E. Palfrey in 1952 (31) and at the time of this photograph worked as a tractor and Land Rover mechanic at the Luttrell Arms Garage in Dunster, a position he held for 34 years--and also was a constant figure on the football or cricket field. In 2020, at the age of 88 and living at his home, Ye Olde Malthouse (renamed The Old Malt House in 2023) on the southern end of Brook Street in Timberscombe, Maurice Huxtable was quoted as saying that unlike many in Somerset, the men in his family were not ones for horses but certainly enjoyed their football and cricket (32). Dudley Huxtable died in 1994 and Maurice passed away in the summer of 2021. To honour Maurice Huxtable's lifelong affiliation, in May 2022, a bronze plaque was placed to honour him at the Timberscombe Cricket Club.
The gentleman to the right of Maurice is identified as Alec Crockford, possibly from Wootton Courtenay. He may be Alec F. J. Crockford born in the Williton district of Somerset in 1930, whose mother's maiden name was Gunter (33). Between 2003 and 2010, an Alec. J. Crockford lived on Hawthorn Road in Minehead (34). The young man seated on the right end of the front row has been identified as George Stephens of Wheddon Cross (35). It is possible that this could be the Henry William George Stevens already identified. Unfortunately at the time of this writing there is no further information of Mr. Stephens and no obvious connection to Henry (or Harold) Stephens.
Creator
Anonymous
Source
Date
1968
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
The Timberscombe Cricket Club in 1968 / Cowbridge / northeast of Timberscombe
Acquisition Date
2020
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
SPORTS / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2021
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
14.5 X 20.5
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) "VILLAGE HERITAGE BOOK" by the Timberscombe W.I., 1975 (2) "DELL COTTAGE, TIMBERSCOMBE, SOMERSET", Exceptions, Reservations and Right of Way of 28th December 1920 Conveyance Between Mary Turner and George Stanley Harris (where Mr. Harris is cited as having already purchased Duddings in 1920), 1911 England Census and "VILLAGE HERITAGE BOOK" (3) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 (4) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 (5) "THE KNOWLE ESTATE, DUNSTER, SOMERSET", Sales Particulars for the 20 July 1916 Public Auction of the Knowle Estate, prepared by Messrs. W. R. J. Greenslade and Co., of Taunton and Wellington, an example of Mrs. Morel's village activities was presented in the Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, April 1947-April 1965, describing a Christmas party for the school children, pages 27 and 28 and TimberscombeVillage.com/ History of Timberscombe/ Other Historic Structures/ Village Hall, written by Lesley Webb (6) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 (7) TimberscombeVillage.com/ History of Timberscombe/ Other Historic Structures/ Village Hall, written by Lesley Webb (8) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (9) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (10) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index. 1916-2007 and UK,Electoral Registers, 2003-2010 (11) Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, 1944-2012, no. 904 (12) Ireland, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1864-1954 (13) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007 (with mother's maiden name) and Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, 1944-2012, no. 1058 (14) County of Somerset, Bridgwater Constituency, REGISTER OF ELECTORS. 16th February, 1993 to 15th February, 1994 (15) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (16) Wendy Cook (17) "VILLAGE HERITAGE BOOK" (18) Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1914 (19) 1939 England and Wales Register (20) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (21) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 (22) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007 (23) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (24) UK, Electoral Registers, 2003-2010 (25) Wendy Cook (26) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007, UK, Electoral Registers, 2003-2010 and England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1989-2019 (27) "TIMBERSCOMBE PARISH REGISTERS", transcribed by T. L. Sloane, Henry Galloway Publishing, 1995 (28) 1939 England and Wales Register (29) TimberscombeVillage.com/ History of Timberscombe/ Other Historic Structures/ Cowbridge Mill, written by Lesley Webb (30) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (31) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (32) as told to Tom Sperling for the October 2020 preparation of "The Huxtable Family", St. Petrock's History Group (33) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007 (34) UK, Electoral Registers, 2003-2010 (35) the first player on the right end of the front row is identified as George Stevens in 1975 by the W.I.'s "VILLAGE HERITAGE BOOK" and as being from Wheddon Cross by Wendy Cook in 2020
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2021
Storage Notes
ST. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-177
Technique
Copy
Citation
Anonymous, “The Timberscombe Cricket Club (with the new score shed), 1968,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 18, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3455.
Comments