The 1935 Dunkery Beacon, Largely Built by West Somerset Scouts for the Silver Jubilee of King George V
Title
The 1935 Dunkery Beacon, Largely Built by West Somerset Scouts for the Silver Jubilee of King George V
Subject
Description
Three photographs are seen here featuring the Dunkery Beacon, as constructed in 1935, thirty five feet high and 20 feet square at the base, built of 70 tons of wood (with wood shavings and old tyres at the centre), that took over a month to construct (1) The beacon was largely built by Exmoor Boy Scouts and particularly the Rover Scouts of Timberscombe, under the leadership of their Scout Mistress, Lady Constance Ryder of Knowle House, the manor house on the northeastern edge of Timberscombe village. On the top photograph, scouts (and two police officers) can be seen at the beacon's base. The centre photograph depicts some of the scout tents erected around the beacon during the period of construction.
A sandstone hill compiled of Devonian Sedimentary Rock, Dunkery Beacon, at 159 metres, is the highest point over Exmoor with views (on a clear day) from northern Devon to Dartmoor (2). It has been utilized by humans since ancient times, housing several burial mounds from the Bronze Age and two Iron Age hill forts on its lower slopes (3). And it has served as a beacon for perhaps as long. A 1687 map depicts the highest point of Dunkery Hill with a drawing of a tall post topped with a receptacle suitable to hold combustible materials and a 1736 map shows much the same but with flames added (4). A newspaper clipping, likely from the early 1970's, supposes it had been lit for "the passings of the Legions, the Saxon onslaught, the Danish retreat, the Norman advance, and the Armada's approach".
At least since the 1887 Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, Dunkery beacons have blazed to mark national events, including the 1897 Diamond Jubilee for Victoria, the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII, King George V's coronation in 1911, the coronation of King George VI in 1937, the 2012 Diamond Jubilee of the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the 2022 Platinum Jubilee of her 70th year as monarch. The Dunkery Beacon was not only lit for royal events. In 1969, it burned for the centenary of the publication of "Lorna Doone" (5), the ultimate Exmoor novel.
The 1935 beacon celebrated the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. The second son of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, he had never expected to be king. However in January 1892, his older brother Prince Albert died unexpectedly and George became the Prince of Wales and also became the fiance of his brother's intended, Princess Victoria Mary (May) of Teck. They ascended the throne on 6 May 1910 (6). George guided his country through World War I, going to the Western Front on several occasions and altered history by changing the family name from the too-German Saxe-Coburg-Gothsa to Windsor (7). After 25 years and the births of Princes Edward and Albert, Princess Mary and Princes Henry, George and John, King George V's Silver Jubilee was slated for 6 May 1935 (8).
In London, a full day of events commenced with a Carriage Procession to a service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral, followed by another Procession, back to Buckingham Palace where George and Mary, flanked by many members of the Royal Family, appeared on the balcony, followed with a speech broadcast by the king (9). Meanwhile at Dunkery Hill, reportedly over 60 gallons of paraffin were being added to the beacon. On hand was the event's Master of Ceremonies, Alfred Vowles, the renowned Somerset photographer and the Honorary Secretary of the West Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society (10). At the end of a day of perfect weather across the country, Mr. Fred Harrison of Minehead climbed to the top of the beacon so as to "put the last touches", which was likely the final placement of a long rope, soaked in petrol, running from the bottom now to the top. After Mr. Harrison came down, in honour of her work as the Somerset Justice of Peace, as well being the Scout Commissioner of West Somerset and Scout Mistress at Timberscombe (11), a taper to light the beacon was given to Lady Constance Ryder. The bottom photograph, possibly taken by Alfred Vowles, shows the success of everyone's efforts. It has been written that this fire, "outblazed any other in Somerset and indeed challenging all England". Apparently those attending the event could see more than 30 other bonfires that had been lit in all other directions (12).
King George V died on 20 January 1936, succeeded by his eldest son, Edward becoming King Edward VIII, who abdicated on 10 December 1936, to marry Wallis Simpson. As in the case of George V, the second son, Albert George (but called Bertie) became the country's ruler, King George VI, who will be succeeded in 1952 by his daughter, Elizabeth (13), becoming the second Queen Elizabeth.
The top photograph was donated by Edgar Webber of Cutcombe in 2019. Mr. Webber also provided a copy of the middle photograph and was able to help identify the men in the foreground, taken as the beacon was nearing completion. The three men on their horses, from the left, are Wilfred John Williams (1901-1982) of Stone Farm, Exford (14), Fred Hayes (1896-1983), at Stone Farm along the Dulverton Road around the time of this photograph and later at Nurcott Farm, north of Winsford (15), and Leonard Stephens (1909-1999), working with his father at Luckyard Farm also off the Dulverton Road (16), on it's eastern side, approaching the turn off to Winsford.
The standing man with the dog is Norman R.G. Cawsey (1909-1959), at this time a Motor Driver in Minehead (17) but who Mr Webber remembers later driving the transport lorry for the Wheddon Cross auctions, when he lived at Sundial House on the junction of the A396 and the B3224. Mr. Webber also recalled that Mr. Cawsey was born in the original Exmoor House, across from that same junction, before it burned down.
The next man on horseback is Thomas Trebble Westcott (1912-1984), a longtime tenant farmer at Hollum Farm, on the west side of Dulverton Road after passing Bridgetown (18). On the right edge of the photograph, Mr. Webber said the mounted man was Frank Rawle, "who died young". Known to all of these men, would have been Frank Elon Rawle at Quarme Farm, also off the Dulverton Road but closer to Wheddon Cross. However he lived from December 1890 to July 1985 (19) and 94 years old would not be considered young. Perhaps this is a relation. Another Frank Rawle was born in 1907 in Minehead. A Merchant Seaman, this Mr. Rawle died in 1958, at a more youthful 51 years and is buried in the Minehead Cemetary-- but he seems removed from these other five men who would have known and even worked with each other.
A sandstone hill compiled of Devonian Sedimentary Rock, Dunkery Beacon, at 159 metres, is the highest point over Exmoor with views (on a clear day) from northern Devon to Dartmoor (2). It has been utilized by humans since ancient times, housing several burial mounds from the Bronze Age and two Iron Age hill forts on its lower slopes (3). And it has served as a beacon for perhaps as long. A 1687 map depicts the highest point of Dunkery Hill with a drawing of a tall post topped with a receptacle suitable to hold combustible materials and a 1736 map shows much the same but with flames added (4). A newspaper clipping, likely from the early 1970's, supposes it had been lit for "the passings of the Legions, the Saxon onslaught, the Danish retreat, the Norman advance, and the Armada's approach".
At least since the 1887 Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, Dunkery beacons have blazed to mark national events, including the 1897 Diamond Jubilee for Victoria, the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII, King George V's coronation in 1911, the coronation of King George VI in 1937, the 2012 Diamond Jubilee of the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the 2022 Platinum Jubilee of her 70th year as monarch. The Dunkery Beacon was not only lit for royal events. In 1969, it burned for the centenary of the publication of "Lorna Doone" (5), the ultimate Exmoor novel.
The 1935 beacon celebrated the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. The second son of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, he had never expected to be king. However in January 1892, his older brother Prince Albert died unexpectedly and George became the Prince of Wales and also became the fiance of his brother's intended, Princess Victoria Mary (May) of Teck. They ascended the throne on 6 May 1910 (6). George guided his country through World War I, going to the Western Front on several occasions and altered history by changing the family name from the too-German Saxe-Coburg-Gothsa to Windsor (7). After 25 years and the births of Princes Edward and Albert, Princess Mary and Princes Henry, George and John, King George V's Silver Jubilee was slated for 6 May 1935 (8).
In London, a full day of events commenced with a Carriage Procession to a service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral, followed by another Procession, back to Buckingham Palace where George and Mary, flanked by many members of the Royal Family, appeared on the balcony, followed with a speech broadcast by the king (9). Meanwhile at Dunkery Hill, reportedly over 60 gallons of paraffin were being added to the beacon. On hand was the event's Master of Ceremonies, Alfred Vowles, the renowned Somerset photographer and the Honorary Secretary of the West Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society (10). At the end of a day of perfect weather across the country, Mr. Fred Harrison of Minehead climbed to the top of the beacon so as to "put the last touches", which was likely the final placement of a long rope, soaked in petrol, running from the bottom now to the top. After Mr. Harrison came down, in honour of her work as the Somerset Justice of Peace, as well being the Scout Commissioner of West Somerset and Scout Mistress at Timberscombe (11), a taper to light the beacon was given to Lady Constance Ryder. The bottom photograph, possibly taken by Alfred Vowles, shows the success of everyone's efforts. It has been written that this fire, "outblazed any other in Somerset and indeed challenging all England". Apparently those attending the event could see more than 30 other bonfires that had been lit in all other directions (12).
King George V died on 20 January 1936, succeeded by his eldest son, Edward becoming King Edward VIII, who abdicated on 10 December 1936, to marry Wallis Simpson. As in the case of George V, the second son, Albert George (but called Bertie) became the country's ruler, King George VI, who will be succeeded in 1952 by his daughter, Elizabeth (13), becoming the second Queen Elizabeth.
The top photograph was donated by Edgar Webber of Cutcombe in 2019. Mr. Webber also provided a copy of the middle photograph and was able to help identify the men in the foreground, taken as the beacon was nearing completion. The three men on their horses, from the left, are Wilfred John Williams (1901-1982) of Stone Farm, Exford (14), Fred Hayes (1896-1983), at Stone Farm along the Dulverton Road around the time of this photograph and later at Nurcott Farm, north of Winsford (15), and Leonard Stephens (1909-1999), working with his father at Luckyard Farm also off the Dulverton Road (16), on it's eastern side, approaching the turn off to Winsford.
The standing man with the dog is Norman R.G. Cawsey (1909-1959), at this time a Motor Driver in Minehead (17) but who Mr Webber remembers later driving the transport lorry for the Wheddon Cross auctions, when he lived at Sundial House on the junction of the A396 and the B3224. Mr. Webber also recalled that Mr. Cawsey was born in the original Exmoor House, across from that same junction, before it burned down.
The next man on horseback is Thomas Trebble Westcott (1912-1984), a longtime tenant farmer at Hollum Farm, on the west side of Dulverton Road after passing Bridgetown (18). On the right edge of the photograph, Mr. Webber said the mounted man was Frank Rawle, "who died young". Known to all of these men, would have been Frank Elon Rawle at Quarme Farm, also off the Dulverton Road but closer to Wheddon Cross. However he lived from December 1890 to July 1985 (19) and 94 years old would not be considered young. Perhaps this is a relation. Another Frank Rawle was born in 1907 in Minehead. A Merchant Seaman, this Mr. Rawle died in 1958, at a more youthful 51 years and is buried in the Minehead Cemetary-- but he seems removed from these other five men who would have known and even worked with each other.
Creator
Anonymous /
Anonymous /
probably Alfred Vowles
Anonymous /
probably Alfred Vowles
Date
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
three photographs of the 1935 Dunkery Beacon, largely built by the scouts / Dunkery Hill / west of Timberscombe
Acquisition Date
2019
2019
2018
2019
2018
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
EVENTS: Coronations and Jubilees / Dunkery Hill
PEOPLE: Named / Wheddon Cross / Bridgetown / Dulverton
PEOPLE: Named / Wheddon Cross / Bridgetown / Dulverton
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2020
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
20.5 X 15.5 (PHOTOGRAPHS)
19 X15 (VILLAGE HISTORIES)
10 X 20
11 X 16
19 X15 (VILLAGE HISTORIES)
10 X 20
11 X 16
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) a photocopy of a clipping was found at The Timberscombe School, with an excerpt of an article about the 1935 Dunkery Beacon, that was apparently cut out of an unidentified newspaper, probably originally printed in the earlier 1970's (as it refers to a 1969 beacon fire for the centenary of the publication of "Lorna Doone" as "fresh in memory") (2) visit exmoor.co.uk/ point-of-interest/ dunkery-beacon (3) en. wikipedia.org/ wiki/ dunkery_hill (4) the clipping described in NOTE 1 (5) the clipping described in NOTE 1 (6) britroyals.com and royal.uk> george> v (7) firstworldwar.com/ bio/ georgev (8) biography.com/ royalty/ george-v (9) St. Paul's Cathedral, st.pauls.co.uk (10) "AROUND MINEHEAD From Old Photographs", by Joan Astell, Amberley Publishing, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 2010 (11) the peerage.com (12) the clipping described in NOTE 1 (13) royal.uk> george > v (14) Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1914, 1911 England Census, 1939 England and Wales Register and England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 (15) 1939 England and Wales Register, UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current and as recalled in 2019 by Edgar Webber (16) 1939 England and Wales Register and England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 (17) 1939 England & Wales Register, England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 and as recalled in 2019 by Edgar Webber (18) Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1914, 1939 England and Wales Register, England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administations), 1858-1995 and confirmation of Mr. Westcott at Hollam Farm by Dan Reynolds, Shooting Consultant, Roxtons, Berkshire, November 2020 ( for the Milton's Estate) (19) 1911 England Census, 1939 England and Wales Register, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 and as recalled in 2019 by Edgar Webber (20) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915, 1939 England and Wales Register and England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
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-188
Technique
Copies
Citation
Anonymous /
Anonymous /
probably Alfred Vowles, “The 1935 Dunkery Beacon, Largely Built by West Somerset Scouts for the Silver Jubilee of King George V,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 18, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3460.
Comments