An Aerial Photograph of the Northern Side of Timberscombe (from the mid to later 1960's to mid 1970's) Featuring Changes and Changes Yet to Come
Title
An Aerial Photograph of the Northern Side of Timberscombe (from the mid to later 1960's to mid 1970's) Featuring Changes and Changes Yet to Come
Subject
Description
The top photograph is an undated aerial photograph that features the northern half of Timberscombe. It captures a side of the village undergoing and soon to undergo distinct changes. The photograph seemingly can be dated between the mid to late 1960's and mid 1970's. On the centre of the right edge of the photograph, a cottage with a single chimney can be seen alongside the road before it curves downward toward the southeast. This is Berrowcote, renamed Burrow Cottage around 1977 (1) and renamed Berrowcote in 2022. As seen in this photograph, it had been occupied since 1947 by John and Elizabeth Jane (nee Cowling) Land (2). Berrowcote had previously been rendered (3) and as seen in this photograph on the left side of the visible western wall, the render is removed but remains on the right side. SP-201 is a photograph of Mrs. Land, in the doorway of Berrowcote, dated 1967 that shows this more clearly. Neighbouring residents do not remember it being a long time before all of the render was removed, suggesting this aerial photograph would have been taken around the same time as Mrs. Land's 1967 photograph.
On the bottom centre of the photograph, a single storey building is visible with a greenish roof that appears to be divided horizontally into two sections. This is because the building actually is two connected timber huts, built in World War II as nissen huts and adapted in 1950 as a Village Hall for Timberscombe. By the 1970's, it was apparent the huts were not suitable for the long haul and early in 1976 they were sold to a local farmer as housing for his sheep, allowing a new Village Hall to be constructed in the same year (4)--making it not possible this aerial photograph was taken any later.
This photograph was donated in 2020 by Jessica (Jess) and Matt Plumridge, who purchased Kiln Farmhouse at Timberscombe in 2018, seen across the road from the older Village Hall on the left end of a row of semi-detached structures, all with slate roofs and built of local red sandstone and rubble. Kiln Farmhouse has three distinctive gabled dormers along it's roofline, with a blocked-up doorway visible below the centre and right dormer. (Later this is filled in so it is less evident a door was here.) Around the corner from the left dormer, a close look shows that Kiln Farmhouse's western facade is covered with white rendering. A flat half-gabled porch can be discerned over another doorway, now used as the main entryway. It is known that in 1940, the blocked up doorway was used as a family entrance by Harry and Annie Prole, who lived here at that time. The "side door" on the left led to a parlour where Mrs. Prole sold fresh scones and home-made jams (5). At the time of this aerial photograph, Kiln Farmhouse would be owned by either Mary Edith (nee Jacks) Morel or her daughter, Pansy Yvonne Morel. Mrs. Morel was the widow of William Gibbs Morel, the owner of Bickham Manor, who had purchased Kiln Farmhouse in 1938 (6). Mary Edith Morel died in 1970 (7) and in April 1977, Pansy Yvonne Morel sold the property to Michael William and Linda Alice (nee Pashley) Powles (8).
Behind Kiln Farmhouse is a small pitched courtyard with an elongated former barn and cowshed visible along the northwestern edge. In 1979, planning permission was granted, evidently to Mr. and Mrs. Powles, to make this a soft toy factory (9). It is not known if any cuddly toys were actually produced here but in 2019 Jess and Matt Plumridge were able to renovate the structure into two modern holiday accommodations called The Barn and The Snug, whilst maintaining their historic appeal.
The road, as seen in the photograph approaching Kiln Farmhouse from the left, is Bemberry Bank. Earlier in the 20th century it was known as Addison's Folly (10) or simply "the road to Cutcombe" as it is a western exit from the village onto Wheddon Cross and Cutcombe. At the point the road reaches Kiln Farmhouse, it becomes Jubilee Terrace where it fronts the semi-detached buildings. Past Kiln Farmhouse, this row consists of --as addressed in modern times-- Nos. 5 and 4, Combe House (containing the Village Post Office since 1969) and Nos. 3 and 2. All six dwellings were erected in the later 18th century or early 19th century (11) and are depicted, much as they are here, on the 1843 Tithe Map. Jubilee Terrace, the road, is newer than the buildings, metalled between 1887 and 1889 (12), to make an east to west passageway through the village. Jubilee Terrace ends (just past where an automobile can be seen driving down it) at Brook Street, the road seen curving upward to the northwest until it bends sharply to the northeast.
On the other side of Jubilee Terrace, just before reaching Brook Street, is a small village square. On its eastern side (just above the bottom right corner of the photograph) is The Lion Inn, Timberscombe's public house. On the square's southern side, forming an island in the village centre, is the Old Forge, with the taller red section being the original smithy and the yellow rendered area originally built as living accommodation for the blacksmith or workers. A forge is believed to have been at the site since the 1100's and there have likely been pubs where The Lion stands since the 1600's. On those foundations, the current structures are believed to be early 19th century (13).
On the very bottom of the right corner of the photograph are church steps that lead up to the north side of St. Petrock's, the village church. A glimpse of churchyard is visible to the left of the steps, with allotments in front of them, originally provided for residents of the Old Forge when it was divided into three residences by the 1930's (14).
Continuing to the left, along the bottom, are probably the newest additions during the time period of this photograph. The two long rooftops are at the back of what is collectively called The Glebe, public housing built on former rectory land of St. Petrocks in 1956 (15). Past the hedge, on the bottom left, is School Lane and the Timberscombe School. The rooftop running east to west (with a chimney on each end) that fronts Bemberry Bank, is School House, originally built as living quarters for a Head Teacher and family. Running north to south, at School House's right end is the roof over the school's original classroom. Construction on both began in 1805 (16). The rooftop that is coloured a light brown is over an addition built during 1876 and 1877 (17), with newer alterations, including the roof itself and the five windows. A more recent single story addition is at the front of this building.
And perhaps the oldest dwelling in this photograph is the house across Bemberry Bank, being the Old Vicarage with origins possibly back to 1536 (18). By 1815 the vicarage was declared unfit for inhabitants. Little seems to have been done and by the 1st of August 1856, a remonstrance was sent to St. Petrock's from the Bishop of Bath and Wells stating the vicarage had been wilfully neglected and demanding repairs be made.(19). Between then and 1864, improvements were made, enlarging the vicarage into a 2 room-cross passage house, with a dining room, service area and two new stair cases added. A kitchen and scullery area at the rear was improved and enclosed, creating the double roof effect seen in this photograph. Later the bay window and eastern porch were added on the lower right (20), as evident in the photograph, The Old Vicarage was sold in 1962 and soon turned into flats (21). The pleasant front door seen here will be turned into a window with the main entrance being at the eastern porch.
The upper half of this aerial photograph is where Timberscombe's two biggest changes (in this era) will occur, the first beginning with a turf-cutting ceremony on 12 February 1987 in the large garden area seen behind the Old Vicarage, the first step in providing 18 units of much needed lower-cost housing for local residents, which would be appropriately named Vicarage Court (22). On the left side of the Old Vicarage, a strip of lower buildings is visible alongside a lane. The further end of this row will sadly be demolished, having existed at least since they were depicted on the 1843 Tithe Map. Those closer to the Old Vicarage will survive with a first floor added and become Nos. 7 and 8, part of the new Vicarage Court.
The road, as seen here entering the village on the upper right, had been known as the Old Dunster Road. In 1922 it had been sanctioned as the A396 (23), yet any traffic passing by Timberscombe had to twist and turn through the village in a manner that this photograph makes evident. The residents of Timberscombe had long sought to have a bypass around the village (24). Not until 1987 did they prevail.
The large white structure, on the right upper corner of the photograph, contains two private residences built as Nos. 1 and 2 Council Houses in 1947, by a construction team lead by Timberscombe resident, Frank Huxtable (25). (They were later renamed Nos. 1 and 2 Meadow View.) On 18 November 1987 the road was closed at the point where it had just passed this building (26). Work began on a bypass completed by 1989 (27) that ran across the upper fields, crossing in front of the first white building at the head of a small row of structures on the left side of the photograph, until it rejoined the A396, already completed at the western end of Bemberry Bank where it exits the village.
The white building with the new bypass in front of it is The Old Dairy which still stands although the structures behind it and the large barn-like buildings to it's left are gone. The evocative middle photograph was taken in 1989 by Timberscombe resident, Joyce (nee Ridd) Smith, depicting the new bypass but also illuminating these lost structures.
The bottom photograph was also taken and shared by Joyce Smith. It depicts Ernie's Garage. With a pyramid roof, the upper photograph shows the garage nestled at the sharp bend in the road that will basically be removed when the bypass is complete. Owned by two sisters and operated by Mr. Ernest Walter Humphrey, it is not clear when the garage was built. It was not yet erected on the Ordnance Survey map of 1921 to 1943. Mrs. Smith's photograph was taken when the garage was empty, shortly before it was demolished. It also depicts clearly its position near a stream, the Churnet that flows through the village to the River Avill, and the old road. A bit of crumbled wall can be seen where a mounting block still survives in this area of the road that was rebuilt to provide an exit from the bypass onto Brook Street and enter the village. Local residents remember this as a gathering point for elderly men to meet up, chew tobacco and observe who might be driving (or riding their horse) into Timberscombe (28).
Ernest Walter Humphrey and his wife, Pamela (nee Spink) Humphrey continued to live near the site of the former garage at Rosemont, an apartment house seen on the aerial photograph as part of the row of four semi-detached buildings that began with Berrowcote, the cottage mentioned above with the western side only half-rendered. Rosemont was under the largest roof on this row, the second to the end and was the original site of The Rose and Crown, a public house from at least 1820 until it closed in 1915 (29). By late 1917 or early 1918, it had become Rosemont (30). Mr and Mrs. Humphrey, born respectively in 1917 and 1927 (31) were still listed at Rosemont in 1994 (32). By 1999, when Mr. Humphrey died, they had moved to Ottery Saint Mary in Devon, also where Pamela Humphrey passed away in 2006 (33).
Perhaps ironically, Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey and the other residents of this row, constructed in the late 18th or early 19th century (34), benefited the most from the bypass being completed. The road their houses fronted was reduced to a pavement and the land between it and the by-pass, owned by the Brewer family was donated to Timberscombe, becoming a village green called Brewer's Green (35)--certainly a nicer view outside their windows than a busy road.
On the bottom centre of the photograph, a single storey building is visible with a greenish roof that appears to be divided horizontally into two sections. This is because the building actually is two connected timber huts, built in World War II as nissen huts and adapted in 1950 as a Village Hall for Timberscombe. By the 1970's, it was apparent the huts were not suitable for the long haul and early in 1976 they were sold to a local farmer as housing for his sheep, allowing a new Village Hall to be constructed in the same year (4)--making it not possible this aerial photograph was taken any later.
This photograph was donated in 2020 by Jessica (Jess) and Matt Plumridge, who purchased Kiln Farmhouse at Timberscombe in 2018, seen across the road from the older Village Hall on the left end of a row of semi-detached structures, all with slate roofs and built of local red sandstone and rubble. Kiln Farmhouse has three distinctive gabled dormers along it's roofline, with a blocked-up doorway visible below the centre and right dormer. (Later this is filled in so it is less evident a door was here.) Around the corner from the left dormer, a close look shows that Kiln Farmhouse's western facade is covered with white rendering. A flat half-gabled porch can be discerned over another doorway, now used as the main entryway. It is known that in 1940, the blocked up doorway was used as a family entrance by Harry and Annie Prole, who lived here at that time. The "side door" on the left led to a parlour where Mrs. Prole sold fresh scones and home-made jams (5). At the time of this aerial photograph, Kiln Farmhouse would be owned by either Mary Edith (nee Jacks) Morel or her daughter, Pansy Yvonne Morel. Mrs. Morel was the widow of William Gibbs Morel, the owner of Bickham Manor, who had purchased Kiln Farmhouse in 1938 (6). Mary Edith Morel died in 1970 (7) and in April 1977, Pansy Yvonne Morel sold the property to Michael William and Linda Alice (nee Pashley) Powles (8).
Behind Kiln Farmhouse is a small pitched courtyard with an elongated former barn and cowshed visible along the northwestern edge. In 1979, planning permission was granted, evidently to Mr. and Mrs. Powles, to make this a soft toy factory (9). It is not known if any cuddly toys were actually produced here but in 2019 Jess and Matt Plumridge were able to renovate the structure into two modern holiday accommodations called The Barn and The Snug, whilst maintaining their historic appeal.
The road, as seen in the photograph approaching Kiln Farmhouse from the left, is Bemberry Bank. Earlier in the 20th century it was known as Addison's Folly (10) or simply "the road to Cutcombe" as it is a western exit from the village onto Wheddon Cross and Cutcombe. At the point the road reaches Kiln Farmhouse, it becomes Jubilee Terrace where it fronts the semi-detached buildings. Past Kiln Farmhouse, this row consists of --as addressed in modern times-- Nos. 5 and 4, Combe House (containing the Village Post Office since 1969) and Nos. 3 and 2. All six dwellings were erected in the later 18th century or early 19th century (11) and are depicted, much as they are here, on the 1843 Tithe Map. Jubilee Terrace, the road, is newer than the buildings, metalled between 1887 and 1889 (12), to make an east to west passageway through the village. Jubilee Terrace ends (just past where an automobile can be seen driving down it) at Brook Street, the road seen curving upward to the northwest until it bends sharply to the northeast.
On the other side of Jubilee Terrace, just before reaching Brook Street, is a small village square. On its eastern side (just above the bottom right corner of the photograph) is The Lion Inn, Timberscombe's public house. On the square's southern side, forming an island in the village centre, is the Old Forge, with the taller red section being the original smithy and the yellow rendered area originally built as living accommodation for the blacksmith or workers. A forge is believed to have been at the site since the 1100's and there have likely been pubs where The Lion stands since the 1600's. On those foundations, the current structures are believed to be early 19th century (13).
On the very bottom of the right corner of the photograph are church steps that lead up to the north side of St. Petrock's, the village church. A glimpse of churchyard is visible to the left of the steps, with allotments in front of them, originally provided for residents of the Old Forge when it was divided into three residences by the 1930's (14).
Continuing to the left, along the bottom, are probably the newest additions during the time period of this photograph. The two long rooftops are at the back of what is collectively called The Glebe, public housing built on former rectory land of St. Petrocks in 1956 (15). Past the hedge, on the bottom left, is School Lane and the Timberscombe School. The rooftop running east to west (with a chimney on each end) that fronts Bemberry Bank, is School House, originally built as living quarters for a Head Teacher and family. Running north to south, at School House's right end is the roof over the school's original classroom. Construction on both began in 1805 (16). The rooftop that is coloured a light brown is over an addition built during 1876 and 1877 (17), with newer alterations, including the roof itself and the five windows. A more recent single story addition is at the front of this building.
And perhaps the oldest dwelling in this photograph is the house across Bemberry Bank, being the Old Vicarage with origins possibly back to 1536 (18). By 1815 the vicarage was declared unfit for inhabitants. Little seems to have been done and by the 1st of August 1856, a remonstrance was sent to St. Petrock's from the Bishop of Bath and Wells stating the vicarage had been wilfully neglected and demanding repairs be made.(19). Between then and 1864, improvements were made, enlarging the vicarage into a 2 room-cross passage house, with a dining room, service area and two new stair cases added. A kitchen and scullery area at the rear was improved and enclosed, creating the double roof effect seen in this photograph. Later the bay window and eastern porch were added on the lower right (20), as evident in the photograph, The Old Vicarage was sold in 1962 and soon turned into flats (21). The pleasant front door seen here will be turned into a window with the main entrance being at the eastern porch.
The upper half of this aerial photograph is where Timberscombe's two biggest changes (in this era) will occur, the first beginning with a turf-cutting ceremony on 12 February 1987 in the large garden area seen behind the Old Vicarage, the first step in providing 18 units of much needed lower-cost housing for local residents, which would be appropriately named Vicarage Court (22). On the left side of the Old Vicarage, a strip of lower buildings is visible alongside a lane. The further end of this row will sadly be demolished, having existed at least since they were depicted on the 1843 Tithe Map. Those closer to the Old Vicarage will survive with a first floor added and become Nos. 7 and 8, part of the new Vicarage Court.
The road, as seen here entering the village on the upper right, had been known as the Old Dunster Road. In 1922 it had been sanctioned as the A396 (23), yet any traffic passing by Timberscombe had to twist and turn through the village in a manner that this photograph makes evident. The residents of Timberscombe had long sought to have a bypass around the village (24). Not until 1987 did they prevail.
The large white structure, on the right upper corner of the photograph, contains two private residences built as Nos. 1 and 2 Council Houses in 1947, by a construction team lead by Timberscombe resident, Frank Huxtable (25). (They were later renamed Nos. 1 and 2 Meadow View.) On 18 November 1987 the road was closed at the point where it had just passed this building (26). Work began on a bypass completed by 1989 (27) that ran across the upper fields, crossing in front of the first white building at the head of a small row of structures on the left side of the photograph, until it rejoined the A396, already completed at the western end of Bemberry Bank where it exits the village.
The white building with the new bypass in front of it is The Old Dairy which still stands although the structures behind it and the large barn-like buildings to it's left are gone. The evocative middle photograph was taken in 1989 by Timberscombe resident, Joyce (nee Ridd) Smith, depicting the new bypass but also illuminating these lost structures.
The bottom photograph was also taken and shared by Joyce Smith. It depicts Ernie's Garage. With a pyramid roof, the upper photograph shows the garage nestled at the sharp bend in the road that will basically be removed when the bypass is complete. Owned by two sisters and operated by Mr. Ernest Walter Humphrey, it is not clear when the garage was built. It was not yet erected on the Ordnance Survey map of 1921 to 1943. Mrs. Smith's photograph was taken when the garage was empty, shortly before it was demolished. It also depicts clearly its position near a stream, the Churnet that flows through the village to the River Avill, and the old road. A bit of crumbled wall can be seen where a mounting block still survives in this area of the road that was rebuilt to provide an exit from the bypass onto Brook Street and enter the village. Local residents remember this as a gathering point for elderly men to meet up, chew tobacco and observe who might be driving (or riding their horse) into Timberscombe (28).
Ernest Walter Humphrey and his wife, Pamela (nee Spink) Humphrey continued to live near the site of the former garage at Rosemont, an apartment house seen on the aerial photograph as part of the row of four semi-detached buildings that began with Berrowcote, the cottage mentioned above with the western side only half-rendered. Rosemont was under the largest roof on this row, the second to the end and was the original site of The Rose and Crown, a public house from at least 1820 until it closed in 1915 (29). By late 1917 or early 1918, it had become Rosemont (30). Mr and Mrs. Humphrey, born respectively in 1917 and 1927 (31) were still listed at Rosemont in 1994 (32). By 1999, when Mr. Humphrey died, they had moved to Ottery Saint Mary in Devon, also where Pamela Humphrey passed away in 2006 (33).
Perhaps ironically, Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey and the other residents of this row, constructed in the late 18th or early 19th century (34), benefited the most from the bypass being completed. The road their houses fronted was reduced to a pavement and the land between it and the by-pass, owned by the Brewer family was donated to Timberscombe, becoming a village green called Brewer's Green (35)--certainly a nicer view outside their windows than a busy road.
Creator
Anonymous /
Joyce Smith /
Joyce Smith
Joyce Smith /
Joyce Smith
Date
mid 1960s to mid 1970
1989
c. 1989
1989
c. 1989
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
aerial map of the northern half of Timberscombe, late 1960s to mid 1970s / the Timberscombe bypass, the Old Dairy and recent buildings, 1989 / Ernie's Garage, c. 1988 / Timberscombe / north of village centre
Acquisition Date
2020
2020
2019
2020
2019
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
Aerial Maps / Timberscombe
PLACES: Farmhouses
PLACES: Garages
PLACES: Farmhouses
PLACES: Garages
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2021
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
13.5 X 20
9.5 X 14
9.5 X 13
9.5 X 14
9.5 X 13
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) Berrowcote was renamed Burrow Cottage on a conveyance dated 17th October 1977 , by the Bridgwater Building Sociey, listed as "legal Charge of Burrow Cottage, Timberscombe, Minehead", in possession in 2021 of current owner, Alan Hines and Thomas Sperling (2) Deeds and Conveyances in possession in 2021 of current owners, Alan Hines and Thomas Sperling (3) as seen at SP-021 and SP-164 (4) TimberscombeVillage.com, History of Timberscombe, Other Historic Structures, Village Hall, written by Lesley Webb and as recalled in February 2022 by Wendy Hellewell, as original member of the Timberscombe Village Hall Committee of Management (5) as written in "AWAY & HOME WORLD WAR II Somerset and Essex 1939-1945" by Pat Herniman (the grand-daughter of Harry and Annie Prole), published by Papermill Books. Little Baddow, in association with The Little Baddow History Centre, 2016 (6) Deeds and Conveyances of Kiln Farmhouse shared in 2020 by current owners, Jessica (Jess) and Matt Plumridge (7) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 and UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (8) Deeds and Conveyances of Kiln Farmhouse (9) Deeds and Conveyances of Kiln Farmhouse (10) as seen at SP-039 and "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 (11) VictoriaCountyHistory.ac.uk and Historic Environment Record, Exmoor National Park, MEM24410 (12) VCH (13) VCH and as recalled in 2019 by Peter Rawland, owner of No. 1 Old Forge (and later owner of No. 2 Old Forge (14) as recalled by Peter Rawland (15) VCH (16) TimberscombeVillage.com, History of Timberscombe. Other Historic Structures, Village Hall, written by Lesley Webb and VCH (17) VCH and Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, 8 March 1872-31 August 1892, page 259 (18) VCH (19) Surveyors Report of Vicarage July 1856, Taunton Records (20) VCH (21) VCH (22) two unidentified newspaper clippings saved by Joyce Smith of Ford Cottage, both dated 13 February 1987 (23) Sabre-roads.org.uk (24) as recalled in 2018 by Wendy Hellewell of The Bracken, Hole's Square and a member of the village council in 1989 (25) as recalled in 2020 by Archie Dyer, a longtime resident of No. 2 Meadow View (26) as recorded on a reproduction of the Ordnance Survey Map issued by the Somerset County Council, County Hall, Taunton for LICENSE No. LA07683X for Linhay Cottage, Brook Street, Timberscombe (27) Somerset County Gazette, Friday, April 14, 1989 (28) as recalled in 2019 by Roger and Marion (nee Huxtable) Fewlass of Tiki Cottage (29) VCH (30) by late 1917 or early 1918, Robert Baker had moved his family into Rosemont after their previous home, Heber Vale, was sold at the 1916 Knowle Estate Auction, the Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER,1892-1944, No. 327 and Rosemont was listed in Kelly's Directory of Somerset, 1923 (31) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Indexes, 1916-2007 (32) County of Somerset, Bridgwater Constituency, Register of Electors, 16th February, 1993 to 15th February, 1994 (33) FindMyPast.com, England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2007 and England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Indexes, 1989-2019 (34) HER, MEM24110 and "TIMBERSCOMBE TITHE MAP 1843", Source: Somerset Record Office, Taunton, researched and drawn by John Burns, February 1989 (35) VCH and as recalled in 2018 by Sarah Hill of Minehead, the daughter of Kenneth Grabham of Timberscombe
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group ARCHIVE
Storage Date
2021
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-198
Technique
Copies
Collection
Citation
Anonymous /
Joyce Smith /
Joyce Smith, “An Aerial Photograph of the Northern Side of Timberscombe (from the mid to later 1960's to mid 1970's) Featuring Changes and Changes Yet to Come,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 5, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3469.
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