Timberscombe, Photographed from the Southeast, on the 18th of April 1967

Timberscombe, Photographed from the Southeast, on the 18th of April 1967

Seen above is an aerial photograph that had been stored at Timberscombe School and rediscovered in 2021. Identified as an "AIR PIC" photograph, it was labeled on the reverse as being taken on the 18th of April 1967. Too large to be scanned on one sheet, it is presented here in two greatly overlapping halves. The upper photograph begins on the western end of the village, the second photograph ends on the eastern side of Timberscombe. (SP-200 is another photograph taken on the same day. While the photograph seen here was taken from the air, southeast of village, the photograph at SP-200 was shot over the northeastern edge of Timberscombe.)

By chance, the photograph seen here was shared by the school at about the same time that a colour aerial photograph, featuring the northern side of Timberscombe, was donated by Jessica (Jess) and Matt Plumridge, who purchased Kiln Farmhouse in the centre of Timberscombe in 2018. That photograph, seen at SP-198, was undated. A tiny detail in both photographs can be spotted at the cottage called Berrowcote --which around 1977 became known as Burrow Cottage (1), before reverting back to Berrowcote in July 2022. Here, Berrowcote is on left end of a row of four structures at the top of the picture, photographed from the rear alongside the road entering Timberscombe from the northeast. In 1967, the owners of Berrowcote, John and Elizabeth Jane (nee Cowling) Land were halfway along removing the render from their western wall (2), which can be seen at SP-198. In the photograph seen here, on April 18 1967, their wall may still be fully rendered (admittedly seen with close scrutiny), an example of how both photographs can capture a very particular aspect of Timberscombe at a very specific time.

The straight road entering the village on the upper left was once called Addison's Folly (3), also simply known as the "road to Cutcombe" (4), as it exits the village, joining in modern times the A396 and travels in a southwestern direction to both Wheddon Cross and Cutcombe. The three large houses, each with two residences, were completed around the end of the 1920's, originally addressed as the No. 1 through No. 6 Council Houses (5). Later the road became known as Bemberry Bank. Nos. 2, 3 and 4 will respectively be renamed The Hazels, Broad. Reach and Bemberry Bank. Around 1989, a new single residence, known as Embellewood, was erected on the western end of these houses (6).

The cluster of buildings seen to the right of the three houses is Timberscombe School. The oldest section is an L-shape, consisting of the white building closest to Bemberry Bank (with a single chimney at each end of its roof) and a semi-detached extension behind the right end (with a doorway and two identical windows facing a pathway, called School Lane and with another single chimney on it's southern end). These were erected beginning in 1805, the former called School House, originally built as accommodation for a Head Teacher and the latter was the original schoolroom (7). The roof of a shed is visible behind School House and the next gabled roof, running in the same direction as School House, is an addition built in 1876 and 1877 (8), albeit with a more recent roof added and a newer doorway area at it's front. Newer single story additions are also on it's southern side. The 1876/1877 addition was an attractive red sandstone Victorian building, mostly covered with necessary later alterations. The school's playground is across Bemberry Bank, seemingly with a circle of children.

Continuing southwards on School Lane, a track exiting off the right side leads to a single story bungalow standing alone in a field. Perhaps the newest structure in the entire photograph, this was built by Mr. M. C. Beech in 1963, on former Rectorial Glebe land to serve as a new vicarage for St. Petrock's Church (9). Only one vicar and his family ever lived here, the Rev. Edward Jeffrey Miller (10). He served at St. Petrock's until 1994 (11) but on the 6th of May 1981, the Vicarage was offered for sale by auction. It was purchased by a milkman, Peter Conrad. He and his wife, Elizabeth, renamed the bungalow Furze View (12). St. Petrock's first vicarage can be seen almost directly facing the second vicarage from across Bemberry Bank, a two storey building with a roof divided into two sections. The origins of this vicarage go back to at least 1536, being enlarged and altered between 1856 and 1864 (13). It was sold in 1962 (14) and at the time of this photograph had been converted into flats, suitably called the Old Vicarage. There will be a third Vicarage. On the right side of the photograph is a four-way junction with a cluster of buildings on the upper left side and an empty field to their right. In 1989, a house called Popesfield will be built on this site. On the 30th of March 2001, the Church of England bought Popesfield, renamed it The Rectory and had another vicarage--but for even less time than the second vicarage. In March 2007, The Rectory was sold and became known as Waterside (15).

Behind the Old Vicarage are a grouping of fields and a cluster of trees. Like the empty field where Popesfield was built in 1989, in that same year other new construction will be completed in this area but instead of one large house, the West Somerset Rural Housing Trust will develop 18 units of much needed lower cost housing for local residents of the area. The first stage of these homes was officially unveiled on 16 June 1989 by HRH Princess Margaret, with the new housing estate now named Vicarage Court (16)-- appropriately as much of this land had been the garden attached to the first vicarage.

Between the two vicarages are other structures that are relatively recent in 1967. Across the road from the Old Vicarage is a single storey structure that appears to have two roofs--which it does. It tops two elongated and connected timber huts that had been built as nissen huts during World War II and were adapted as an initial village hall for Timberscombe in 1950. It was meant to be a temporary structure until a more permanent village hall could be built but lasted, as seen here, until 1976 (17). Two cars parked on the northern side of the Village Hall face the front facades of two large buildings, collectively known as The Glebe, public housing units created in 1956 (18).

As the newly built vicarage and The Glebe are both built on former rectory land of St. Petrock's Church, this photograph offers a good view of that released property. The eastern end of The Glebe borders the western end of the northern churchyard of the church. This section of the churchyard and the gravestones that are visible on the southern side of the church were ancient burial grounds before St. Petrock's was erected in the early 12th century on the foundations of an earlier missionary settlement and earlier versions of the church (19). (A newer extension of graves is seen in a field at the southwestern edge of the churchyard.) The church was dedicated to St. Petrock, a Welsh missionary reputed to have established churches throughout Cornwall and Devon between 500 and 600 A.D., with this being his one excursion into Somerset. Further archaeological results and carbon dating in 2020 resulted in incontrovertible evidence of a Saxon settlement, likely religious, at this site by 777A.D. (20). The site of the church is supposed to have been chosen because of its location at an intersection of ancient roads and it's proximity to the medieval Churnet Ford (21). The ford is in front of a fence or gateway just on the north of the squarish body of water seen in the centre left of the photograph, rather at the middle of the Churnet stream flowing through the village-- from the bottom centre to the top centre of the photograph--en route to join the River Avill.

On the northeastern front of St. Petrock's, a dark yew tree can be seen, thought to have been growing here since c. 1400 (22). It overlooks what would be considered the town square, with the cluster of buildings on its eastern side. Perhaps most prominent, on the square's western side is a squarish building that is the Old Forge, addressed as No. 1 Forge Cottage in this photograph. A forge is believed to have been at this site since the 1100's (23). Semi-detached to it's western side (with a lower roof) are Nos. 2 and 3 Forge Cottages, originally housing for the blacksmith or the sites of smithy-related businesses. For example on the 1843 Tithe Map, blacksmith Thomas Portman lived and worked in the front section and George Hensley, a Saddler, had his trade and home within the back sections (24). The last blacksmith who may have worked here might have been Edwin Thorne of Timberscombe, employed by Harry Phillips, as seen in a photograph at SP-012 . He died at a young age in 1929 (25), after which the entire complex became three private residences.

With only its roof visible, across the square from the Old Forge is the village pub, The Lion Inn, Timberscombe's public house, situated where there have probably been public houses since the 1600's. The present building originally existed by 1820, when a pub known as The Boot operated at this site. By 1841 and with some alterations, The Boot became Lion Inn. It is believed the current Old Forge was built around the same time, both erected on the foundations of their predecessors (26).

The imposing row, of six red sandstone structures at the top of the Square, front the road called Jubilee Terrace. Starting at the left end, with three gabled dormers is Kiln Farmhouse, likely occupied at this time by Tommy and Gertrude (nee Bricknall) Heard (27). The roof to it's right is over Nos. 5 and 4, with Combe (often spelled Coombe) House next. Owned by Lilian Mary (nee Pearson) Coles in 1967, it will house the Village Post Office from 1969 (28). To it's right is No. 3 Jubilee Terrace, which commencing 1966 housed the shop called Jubilee Store, operated by Mary Holcombe (29). On the right end of Jubilee Terrace is No. 2 Jubilee Terrace, with the doorway facing the square but the building spanning the corner of the road where it becomes Brook Street. All of this row was likely built in the late 18th century or early 19th century and is older than the road itself. Jubilee Terrace was completed from 1887 to 1889 (30). Some sources cite that other structures had to be demolished to create the street but the buildings, pretty much as seen here, are what appear on the 1843 Tithe Map.

The road seen leaving the square and traveling south (passing under the yew tree) is Church Street. The only house built on the left side (on this photograph) of the lower end of the street, has it's rear aspect visible under the left side of the yew tree. This is Church Steps Cottage, built in the late 19th century (31) and at the time of the 1843 Tithe Map was the Village Poor House. On the right side of Church Street is a row, with No. 1 Church Street (also known as Norman Cottage) semi-detached to the southern side of The Lion Inn. To it's right, follows No. 3. There is no No. 2--it is surmised that No. 1 used to be called No. 2 as it is semi-detached to the pub. The last house in the row has altered between comprising two residences (Nos. 4 and 5) and a single accommodation, later becoming Hope Cottage. All three buildings are likely early 19th century (32) and appear on the Tithe Map.

Opposite the church are what appear to be two roofs but are both over the L-shaped Great Farm House, which is 18th century but was heavily rebuilt in the 19th century (33). This was the original farm house servicing The Great House, the tall three storey white building that is a straight line away to the northeast of Great House Farm, crossing fields with the stream flowing in their middle. The Great House is set back, facing a bend in the road called Great House Street. An impressive wall can be seen across the road from The Great House--a white automobile is parked in front of the first section-- heading toward Great House Farm, but now only surviving for half the distance. Possibly it used to continue on to the farm (34), perhaps to the two elongated stables on the right side of the land that is enclosed in front of Great House Farm. On the 18th of April 1967, some animals are grazing here.

As Church Street rises past Great House Farm, it veers to the left to accommodate two semi-detached cottages under one roof with three chimneys. These were the Knapp Cottages, with the more northern cottage built by Edward Cording, who farmed Croydon Farm. It was completed in 1836, the same year he and his brother, James Cording also built a Bible Christian Chapel, seen as a white building across the road (with two windows on its southwestern side) situated immediately behind a barn (35). It seems possible that Edward Cording, who preached at the chapel, may have hoped to relocate here. Unfortunately his brother, James, died at the age of 42 (36) and it appears that family obligations kept Edward working at Croydon. The more southern Knapp Cottage was completed by 1844, also built by Edward Cording as a manse, a possible home for other ministers at the chapel (37) and in the 20th century was renamed as Higher Ledge (38). Edward Cording retired from farming in 1876 and was able to finally move into the more northern Knapp Cottage, until he passed away in 1886 (39).

The gable roofed building with a workshop area behind it (that is to the south of Higher Ledge, set back from the road) is visible on the photograph. In 2021 this has been unoccupied for many years. To its south is a long barn-like structure with a white roof. Between these buildings and closer to the road, is a smaller rectangular building. This and the unoccupied structure next to Higher Ledge appear on the 1843 Tithe Map (or at least earlier versions, in much the same shape and at the same locations). The barn is a later addition, appearing during the years of the 1921-1943 Ordnance Survey Map. On an otherwise vacant field, west of the barn, is a white roofed structure that was a pig shed. In 1981 this will become the site of a bungalow called Church View, built by Reg and Mary Holcombe (40).

Back across Church Street, another barn, with a pitched corrugated asbestos roof, appears just in front of the chapel. Called Old Barn, its age is not known but the barn existed before 27 March 1836 when the Bible Christian Chapel opened . When Edward and James Cording were looking for a place to build a chapel, they met opposition from most predominantly Anglican landowners. Finally the land they were granted was in this location, perched on a steep bank and "behind an ancient barn", chosen so that it could not be seen from St. Petrock's Church (41). Constructed of cob and stone, part of the front of this stalwart barn collapsed in early March 2021 (42). In 1907 the chapel became part of the Methodist Church (43) and at the time of this photograph, would mostly be known as the Old Methodist Chapel. It held a final service on 18 August 2019 (44) due to a decline in numbers.

Old Barn and the chapel are on the west end of a path that continues to the junction on its eastern end. Officially the first part of this path, from Church Street to the front of what appears to be a cluster of buildings just past the chapel, is a bridleway. After that point it becomes Willow View Lane (45). The cluster of buildings are actually the Old Mill, a former corn and flour mill with post-medieval origins (46). It became a private residence purchased by Frederick Lambert Ray in 1925. He and his family would still be here on the date of this photograph, occupying the Old Mill for nearly 70 years (47).

The Willow View Lane is said to be part of an ancient road, traveled by pilgrims on their way to Cutcombe (48). Passing the Churnet Ford and reaching the junction, two semi-detached cottages face the lane, next to an empty lot on the corner. The empty lot was the site of a former Hill View Cottage, built by William Floyde for his family (49). Before his death in 1947, Mr. Floyde demolished it to build the cottages seen here, addressed as Nos. 1 Willow View and 2 Willow House. No. 1 was where his widow, Minna, lived for a time and No. 2 was inhabited by their daughter, Joyce Marguerite Floyde. Minna passed away in 1959 but Joyce lived until 1982 . She may have moved over to No. 1 after the passing of her parents but would have likely been living in one of these during 1967 (50). Another cottage was erected by Arthur Miller on the empty lot around 1987. Mr. Miller had established a garden there in the early 1980's but built Willow Cottage for his daughter, Mandy and her new husband Kevin Smith, to move into after their wedding (51).

At the junction, a left turn away from Willow View Lane leads onto Great House Street and the cluster of structures just beyond the empty lot are the semi-detached houses currently called Hillcrest and Paxholt, along with their out-buildings. On the 1844-1888 Ordnance Survey Map, at least five semi-detached buildings were at this location. SP-001, a photograph taken before 1905, appears to show the buildings roofless with damaged walls, perhaps the result of a fire. The two new semi-detached homes were built on the site of the fire, that eventually became known as Corner Cottage (or just "Corner") and Rona (or "Rona the Corner"). They appear the 1921-1943 Ordnance Survey Map but were likely completed by 1907 and much later were renamed respectively as Hillcrest and Paxholt. In 1963--just four years before this aerial photograph-- Paxholt was still called "Rona" by its current inhabitant, Mrs. Nellie Burton (52).

Proceeding straight across the junction, Willow View Lane becomes a pathway (which originally was a continuation of Great House Street), up to the cluster of buildings known as Hole's Square. Three large 19th century structures are visible. The most forward was renamed Finnbar in 2022. Previously it was called The Studio, so-named as an artist lived here. Exactly which artist is not clear. It has been suggested that John Arthur Mease Lomas may have lived here at some point. Born in 1863, Lomas made Timberscombe his home from 1938 until his death in 1950 and did have a wooden studio built nearby. Before it was called The Studio, the house was called "Hole's Square". With a courtyard between them, The Bracken, the longtime home of Wendy Hellewell and her family, is behind Finnbar. To their right, the long vertical building is End Cottage. A sliver of Hill Cottage, a house that was condemned and demolished in 1979 (53) is visible behind End Cottage.

And a right turn at the previous junction leads onto Willow Bank, a terrace cut out of the hillside bank of red earth, where a white coach is seen passing. A row of eight homes is visible, designed by William Schofield and built by the Garth Estate Company Ltd. in the 1940's, partly to house workers of the Timberscombe Quarry (54), which was located up the road that turns off the higher road that begins in front of Finnbar. Just before the first of the Willow Bank houses, a more square-shaped roof is visible. In 1967, this roof was over a wooden structure that housed an unnamed woman and was also said to have been earlier inhabited by "an artist". That was John Arthur Mease Lomas, as this was the location of his studio. Lomas had it built by Frank Huxtable, a carpenter that lived on Brook Street. Wendy Hellewell, at The Bracken, also recalled that besides studio space, there also was a small living area. At the north of this wooden structure, an empty lot is adjacent to the junction. Perhaps these first two lots were not originally built upon as they had steep inclines with an apple and pear orchard on them that belonged to the Delbridge family, who had operated the quarry. In 1978, a house was finally built on the first empty lot for Rosemary Ann (formerly Sutton, nee Carrie) Nash, becoming No. 1 Willow Bank. At her death on the first of May 2016, her son, Allan Sutton, came to settle her estate and ended up staying. Around the time Mrs. Nash's house was completed, another new dwelling, No. 2 Willow Bank, was built on the site where the wooden structure had been removed (55).

Traveling up Great House Street toward The Great House in 1967, houses had not been built on the western side of the road--although before long, starting across from Hillcrest, Applecombe will be erected in the area where some out-buildings are visible, with Bramleys built to the left. On the slope of land between Bramleys and The Great House, James and Diana Henderson, who had formerly lived at Allercott Farm, built Lady's Fields (56). At the bend in the road is the imposing front of The Great House, a home with suggested medieval origins. By the late 17th century the property had become a retreat for the Luttrell family of Dunster (57). The front was extensively rebuilt, possibly beginning at that time and continuing into the 18th century, when it was owned by William Withycombe (58). The Great House has changed identities many times, being a farmhouse, a collection of flats, a stately home and opening in July 2020 as a luxury Bed & Breakfast.

Semi-detached to the left side of The Great House is Stable Cottage, added in the late 19th century as a service wing (59). Diagonally to the left, across the road, is Duck Cottage, built before the 1843 Tithe Map, where it is depicted slightly larger but in the same location. It is said to have been constructed to provide lodging for the gardener and the butler of The Great House (60). Duck Cottage is likely so-named as until about the time of this photograph, Great House Street was mostly known as Duck Lane by the local residents (61).

Opposite the road from Duck Cottage is an empty lot. In 1843 a structure was here, described on the Tithe Map as a "Mow plot & buildings". By 1844 they are gone and in 1998 a detached home is erected here named The Bower. To the left of this plot is a row of homes, from the left to right, Veredale, Overdale and Redmayes. All three were in place by the Tithe Map, and have survived with with some alterations, particularly Redmayes which in 1843 was larger and seems to have been divided into three accommodations (62).

Two historic homes are across the road from the row. On the right is Marigold Holme, believed to be 17th or 18th century. Maintaining a thatched roof, Marigold Holme was Grade II listed on 5 June 1985 (63). Immediately to it's left is Slade Cottage, deriving it's name from John Slade and his family that had moved here by the 1901 Census. Seen on the Tithe Map, it has been suggested that Slade Cottage is as old as Marigold Holme and may even have been a post-medieval mill (64), certainly feasible with the western side built on the very edge of the Churnet stream flowing through the village.

Great House Street culminates on the northeastern edge of the village square, the eastern end of Jubilee Terrace and the southern end of Brook Street. Another row, a mixture of homes and businesses at the time of this photograph, is visible here with the cottage now called Butterflies, seen with the back side of it's roof sloping downward and on left side facing Great House Street. Butterflies' unseen front door and a storefront window are around the corner and face Brook Street. To the left of Butterflies is the cottage called Brooklyn, not visible from this angle and the longer rooftop past them and extending more into Brook Street, is over The Old Malt House, which may still have been a butcher's shop called Bond's in this photograph (65).

Two vacant lots are seen just past The Old Malt House. The upper lot appears to be grass and dirt, while the lower one may be metalled, possibly serving as a village car park. Early in the 20th century these lots had been the site of S. J. Stenner's Butcher Shop and Brook House, the family home of the Stenner family and which is believed to have been built in the 17th century (66). Brook House was semi-detached to The Old Malt House. The date of the demolition of these historic properties is not clear. Both still appear in a photograph seen at SP-101, which is stamped "OCTOBER 1961"on the reverse (67), indicating these properties became vacant relatively recently in relation to this photograph and it is known that where Brook House had stood, did become a car park for a short time (68). Two buildings are on view at the rear of the lot, on the later sites of Rice Cottage and Orchard Close--these are likely earlier structures. An elongated shed is visible in the garden behind the second house. It was once known as Rice Barn and remains in use as a workshop belonging to Orchard Close (69).

Two semi-detached cottages are visible on the northern side of the lot that is not metalled, later known as Brook Cottage and Garden Cottage. Another cottage, later known as Briar Cottage, is at the back of the lot. It is not clear but at the time of this photograph, all three cottages may have been known collectively as The Gardens. On the 1843 Tithe Map, the first two cottages are not yet built but the future Briar Cottage does appear, apparently semi-detached to the cottage to it's right (on the site of Rice Barn in modern times). On the 1844-1888 Ordnance Survey Map, the future Brook Cottage and Garden Cottage have been constructed and the future Briar Cottage was now detached on it's right end but had been semi-detached on it's left end to the back of the cottage best known as the Huxtable family home. It was the home of the aforementioned carpenter, Frank Huxtable, held by his family from at least 1843 to 2021. In 1967, it was called Pump Cottage and around the 1980's became called Tiki Cottage (70). On the 1844-1888 Ordnance Survey Map, the future Briar Cottage also appears to have been divided into three residences under a single roof. In 1916 all three cottages were part of the Knowle Estate when it was broken up and sold at public auction, where all of them were purchased for £225 by Thomas Brewer (71). Actual gardens were developed in front of all three properties (which remain in modern times) and it may be after the 1916 purchase that all three of them became collectively known as The Gardens. Certainly this was the case with semi-detached cottages. When Olive Badcock died in 1982 (she had lived in the more western of the semi-detached cottages), her address was still given as "The Gardens" (72). On the 1939 Register of England and Wales, when Ada Cane lived at the future Briar Cottage, it was listed as "The Gardens", although here the name may have been in flux. In September 1939, when both women took evacuees from wartime London into their homes, Mrs. Badcock's address was "The Gardens" and Mrs. Cane was listed as at "Brook Street" (73). By the 1990's, when Margaret J. Purves lived there it was Briar Cottage. At the same time, Michael and Mona Van Zwanenberg had converted the other cottages into a single residence called Garden Cottage. After Mrs. Van Zwanenberg's death in 2009, they were divided again, finally becoming Garden and Brook Cottages, as they are known in modern times (74).

On the other side of these cottages, a building with a pyramid-style roof is seen with the sharp bend in the road to the front and the Churnet stream continuing northward to the River Avill on it's immediate left. This was Ernie's garage, operated by Ernest Walter Humphrey, erected at some point after 1943 (75). As the road continues to the northeast, at the top of the photograph, the next structure it passes on the left is a long white house with an addition visible on it's left end. This building contains the residences, Nos. 1 and 2 Meadow View, built in 1947 as Nos. 1 and 2 Council House (76). The road, as it enters Timberscombe had been known as the Old Dunster Road and in 1922 had been designated as the A396 (77). As seen clearly in this photograph, on reaching Ernie's Garage, anyone traveling onward to destinations past Timberscombe had to twist and turn through the village. For decades, the residents of the village had sought to have a bypass built. Not until the 18th of November 1987, was the road closed just past Nos. 1 and 2 Meadow View and work began on a bypass that cut across the fields to the west (78). On the top edge centre of the photograph are two structures, a farm building running horizontally to it's left and The Old Dairy, built at a vertical angle. The bypass, completed in 1989 (79) passed in front of these buildings. The Old Dairy remained at this site and was sold in 2021. The farm building and Ernie's Garage were subsequently demolished.

Behind Nos. 1 and 2 Meadow View, a driveway can be seen that leads into the development where the balance of the Meadow View houses, No. 3 to No. 10 were built. On the lower photograph (that shows the eastern edges of Timberscombe), a bit of one of these can be glimpsed. The two storey house (with an ground storey extension facing the road) is Sunnyside, home of the Brewer family, built beginning in 1916 by Thomas William Brewer and his father, Thomas Brewer (80). At the time of this photograph, it would have been occupied by Margaret (Maggie) Bessie Brewer (81). The Brewer family occupied Sunnyside until the house was sold at auction in 1999 (82). Across the road is a curved-roof barn structure and an outbuilding that appear on the Ordnance Survey Map when Sunnyside was built, possibly utilized by the Brewer family. These buildings will be removed when a new road, Orchard Way, housing ten bungalows was completed in the late 1970's (83). Below these is another row, containing Nos. 1,2,3 and 4 Orchard Bungalows. Completed by 1965 (84), they are behind a stone wall running alongside the road. To their west is a concrete slab next to the road, with gardens behind it. In the 1990's, two red sandstone cottages will be built at this location, Cornerstones and Athelstan (85).

Another row of of four structures, that face the road, begins to the left of the empty lots where Cornerstones and Athelstan will later stand. These were likely built in the late 18th or early 19th century (86). On the right end of the row, the first two buildings are the largest and by 1822, the second one was operating as The Rose and Crown, a public house. The building to it's right (with a slightly lower roof) served as it's stables. In 1915, The Rose and Crown's license was not renewed (87) and by 1917 or 1918, the premises became an apartment house of flats known as Rosemont (88), as it would still be in this photograph. Around 1995 Rosemont became a private residence (89) and sometimes Bed & Breakfast known as Wellum and in the 2010's was renamed Game House. In April 2022 it became Rosemont House. The former stables became the private residence known as The Linhay (90).

To the right of Rosemont, as it was called here, the roof level drops and is over two cottages. The one next door to Rosemont would have been known as The Retreat in 1967 (91), later renamed Ivy Cottage. A chimney is visible that is over the fourth cottage on the end, Berrowcote, which served as Timberscombe's first Post Office, beginning from 1844 until the mid 1930's (92). And as stated-- in the second paragraph of this account--in 1967 it was the home of John and Elizabeth Jane Land, with it's main door on it's western side, where the render will soon be removed. Mrs. Land can be seen with her half-rendered wall at SP-201. In 1989, when the A396 by-pass was completed and the road in front of these properties was moved to the north, the land left here was owned by the Brewer family. Maggie Brewer and her sister, Nellie (nee Brewer) Hooper donated this property to the village and it became Timbercombe's village green, known as Brewers Green (93). It is named after the family. There are residents of Timberscombe who believe it was given that name as it is in front of a former pub, The Rose and Crown.

AIR PIC, Air Marketing International, Ltd., Redbourn, Hertfordshire, England

AIR PIC, Air Marketing International, Ltd., Redbourn, Hertfordshire, England

18 April 1967

English

aerial photograph of Timberscombe, 18 April 1967

2021

Gift

Aerial Photographs / Timberscombe
PLACES: Village Streets / Timberscombe

Good

entered by Tom Sperling

2021

W X L

cm

14.5 X 20
14.5 X 20

St. Petrock's History Group

(1) Berrowcote was first listed as Burrow Cottage on the 1977 deed when purchased by Geoffrey and Ann Toze, "17th October, 1977, Bridgwater Building Society, Legal Charge of Burrow Cottage, Timberscombe, Minehead", as supplied in 2021 by current owners, Randall Alan Hines and Thomas Sperling (2) Mrs. Land is pictured at SP-201 in front of Berrowcote in 1969, where the western wall is half rendered (3) as recalled by residents of Timberscombe and the current Bemberry Court can be seen on a postcard, likely pre 1915, where is is identified as Addison's Folly, at SP-039 (4) "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 (5) 1939 England and Wales Register (6) as recalled in 2019 by Andy and Sarah Heard, the current owners of No. 6 Bemberry Bank (7) Victoria County History.ac.uk (8) VCH and Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, 8 March 1872-31 August 1892, page 97 (9) Sales Particulars, printed by Cluttons, 10 New Street, Wells, Somerset, for sale by auction of "THE VICARAGE", Timberscombe, Minehead, Somerset on Wednesday, 6th May, 1881 and VCH (10) as recalled in 2020 by Gabrielle Horrobin and the Banburg-Holder Family Tree Search of Edward Jeffrey Miller, Rev., 1924-2001, Ancestry.com (11) as recorded on handwritten list of vicars at Str. Petrock's Church, Timberscombe (12) as recalled in 2021 by Gabrielle Horrobin and from deeds and conveyances shared by Gabrielle and Jim Horrobin, current owners of Furze View (13) Surveyors Report of the Vicarage, July 1856, Taunton Records Office and VCH (14) VCH (15) as seen in papers, deeds and conveyances, shared in 2021 by Ian and Marion Moncrief, current owners of Waterside (16) as reported in the Somerset County Gazette, June 23, 1989 (17) TimberscombeVillage.com/ History of Timberscombe/ Other Historic Structures/ Village Hall History, as written by Lesley Webb and as recalled in February 2022 by Wendy Hellewell, an original member of the Timberscombe Village Hall Committee of Management (18) VCH (19) HistoricEngland.org.uk (20) CelticSaints.org and "The Parish Church of St. Petrock, Timberscombe , Somerset, The Results of Archaeological Monitoring", Ref: 18-30/2000, April 2021 by James L. Brigers, PA PROSPECT ARCHAEOLOGY, Middlezoy, Somerset (21) "THE VILLAGE OF TIMBERSCOMBE AND ITS CHURCH" (22) "St. Petrock's Church Timberscombe", church pamphlet written by Marion Jeffrey, 2017 (23) VCH and as recalled by Peter Rawlands in 2020, owner of No. 2 Forge Cottage (and previously owner of No. 1 Forge Cottage (24) "TIMBERSCOMBE TITHE MAP 1843", Source: Somerset Record Office, Taunton, as drawn and researched by John Burns for the Timberscombe School, February 1989 (25) 1921 England Census and England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 (26) VCH and as recalled by Peter Rawlands (27) "Timberscombe 1957-1965", written memories by John Norcombe, former resident of Oaktrow Farm, Timberscombe, francisfrith.com (28) deeds and conveyances of Combe House, shared in 2020 and 2021 by Sarah Campbell and Carl Farmer, owners of Combe House and proprietors of the Timberscombe Post Office (29) as recalled in 2019 by Mary, Reginald and Andrew Holcombe at Church View, Timberscombe (30) VCH and Historic Environment Record, Exmoor National Park, MEM24410 (31) HER, MEM24590 (32) VCH (33) VCH (34) as recalled in 2019 by Paul Sheldon, the owner of Marigold Holme, where the wall crosses his back garden (35) HER, MEM 10320 and "WELCOME!", church pamphlet for the Timberscombe Methodist Chapel, donated in 2019 by Martin and Joy Booth of The Knapp Cottage (36) James Cording was buried at St. Petrock's on 3 January 1837, UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300's-Current (37) "WELCOME!" (38) both the future Higher Ledge Cottage and the present The Knapp Cottage were listed as "Knapp Cottages" in 1916 in the "THE KNOWLE ESTATE, DUNSTER, SOMERSET", PARTICULARS, PLANS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE OF THE KNOWLE ESTATE", prepared by Messrs. W.R.J. Greenslade & Co., Taunton and Wellington, for the Thursday, July 20th, 1916 auction, page 60 (39) 1881 England Census and Somerset, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1914 (40) as recalled in 2021 by Mary Holcombe and her son, Andrew Holcombe, of Church View (41) "J. P. Martin / Father of Uncle / A Master of the Great English Nonsense Tradition", by Stella Martin Currey, Matador, 2016, as recalled in the chapter. "A Dance of Joy on a Lonely Road, 1948-60" (42) as observed by Tom Sperling in March 2021 (43) "WELCOME!" (44) a copy of the pamphlet for the closing of the chapel is held in the St. Petrock's History Group Archive (45) as recalled in 2021 by Marion Jeffrey, the current owner of The Old Mill (46) HER, MSO11613 (47) "History of the Old Mill, Timberscombe, Somerset", from conveyances and deeds shared in 2019 by Marion and Richard Jeffrey, current owners of the Old Mill (48) "THE V!LLAGE OF TIMBERSCOMBE AND ITS CHURCH" (49) as recalled in 2019 by Maurice Huxtable of Ye Olde Malthouse, who as a boy remembered the Floyde family living on Willow Bank and as recalled in 2021 by Wendy Hellewell, of The Bracken, Hole's Square, Timberscombe (50) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index and England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 (51) as confirmed in April 2021 by Allan Sutton of No. 1 Willow Bank (52) the Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER of 1897 to 1944 records four sons (Nos. 225, 226, 227 and 228) of Sidney and Bessie Thorne, newly arrived in the village, being enrolled at the school on the 2nd of September 1907, apparently living at Corner House, 1901, 1911 and 1921 England Censuses and as recalled in February 2022 by Mr. David Burton, the grandson of Mrs. Burton (53) Artist Biographies, artblogs.co.uk, minehead-online.co.uk, VCH, 1911 England Census, 1939 England and Wales Register and as recalled by Wendy Cook in 2020 as she and her husband, David Cook, built Blackball House partially on the site of Hill Cottage (54) "J.P. Martin / Father of Uncle / A Master of the Great English Nonsense Tradition" (55) the late Kenneth Grabham remembered that the studio of J.A. Mease Lomas was built by Frank Huxtable (as also told by Jeff Cox to the St. Petrock's History Group on the 16th of January 2023, in a talk about J. A. Mease Lomas) and as recalled in April 2021 by Allan Sutton and 2022 by Wendy Hellewell (56) as recalled in March 2021 by Sheila Ridd of Hillcrest Cottage, Timberscombe (57) HER, MSO10609 (58) "DESIGN, ACCESS AND HERITAGE STATEMENT" of 15th August 2019 from Planning and Listed Buildings and VCH (59) VCH (60) as recalled in 2019 by Sheila Ridd (61) as recalled in 2019 by Wendy Hellewell and Allan Sutton (62) as seen on the 1844-1888 Ordnance Survey Map (63) Historic England.org.uk (64) as recounted in 2019 by Paul Sheldon of Marigold Cottage, next door to Slade Cottage (65) as recalled by Mary and Reg Holcombe, who were able to store belongings at Bonds when they moved to Timberscombe in the mid-1960's (66) VCH and HER, MSO10611 (67) in 2019, a photograph was donated to The Lion Inn and shared with the St. Petrock's History Group by John Berry, the son of Mr. and Mrs. D.G. Berry, proprietors of The Lion Inn, showing the Berry family with the former S. J. Stenner's Butcher Shop and Brook House in the background, which is stamped October 1961 on the reverse (68) as recalled by Wendy Hellewell who served on the Timberscombe Council at the time of the car park (69) as recalled in 2019 by Nick Webber, living then at Rose Cottage, Timberscombe and remembered playing at Rice Barn as a boy (70) as recalled in 2019 by Roger and Marion (nee Huxtable and the great grand-daughter of Frank Huxtable) Fewlass, current owners of Tiki Cottage / the cottage was owned by the Huxtable family on the 1843 Tithe Map of Timberscombe and was sold by Mr. and Mrs. Fewlass in the summer of 2021 (71) "THE KNOWLE ESTATE, DUNSTER, SOMERSET", PARTICULARS, PLANS AND CONDITION OF SALE OF THE KNOWLE ESTATE", Lot 57, page 62 (72) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administations) 1858-1995 (73) September 1939 List of Evacuated Children, Timberscombe School (74) County of Somerset, Bridgwater Constituency, Register of Electors, 16th February 1993 to 15th February 1994 and England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1989-2019 (75) as recalled by Roger Fewlass of Tiki Cottage in 2021 and the garage is not yet constructed on the Ordnance Survey Map of 1921-1943 (76) as recalled in 2020 by Archie Dyer, longtime resident of No. 2 Meadow View (77) Sabre-roads.org.uk (78) as recorded on a reproduction of the Ordnance Survey Map issued by the Somerset County Council, Council Hall, Taunton for LICENSE NO. LA07683X for Linhay Cottage, Brook Street, Timberscombe (79) Somerset County Gazette, Friday, April 14 1989 (80) as recalled in 2020 by Erica Holmes of Overdale, Timberscombe, who assisted Maggie Brewer in the late 20th century (81) conveyance dated 11th September 1960, of "Mrs. F. M. Hensley and Others to Miss M. B. Brewer" (when Sunnyside was basically "sold" to Maggie Brewer by her siblings) (82) as recalled in 2020 by Elisabeth Powl, current owner of Sunnyside (83) VCH and as recalled in 2019 by Sheila Coles, owner of Cornerstones Cottage (84) the Orchard Bungalows can be seen completed at SP-004, a postcard dated 1965 (85) LICENSE NO. LAO7683X , issued by the Somerset County Council, Council Hall, Taunton to Linhay Cottage, Brook Street, Timberscombe (86) VCH and the row was originally owned (and likely built) by Robert Blackmore (about 1775-1843), "TIMBERSCOMBE TITHE MAP 1843" (87) Journal of the House of Lords, June 1822, books.google.com>books and VCH (88) in late 1917 or early 1918, Robert Baker moved his family into Rosemont after their former residence, Heber Vale, was sold at the 1916 Knowle Estate Auction, the Timberscombe School ADMISSION REGISTER, 1892-1944, No. 347 and Rosemont is listed as an apartment house on the Kelly's Directory of Somerset, 1923 (89) County of Somerset, Bridgwater Constituency, Register of Electors, 16th February 1993 to 15th February 1994 (90) as recalled in 2021 by Roger and Marion Fewlass at Tiki Cottage and Maggie at Linhay Cottage (91) 1939 England and Wales Register and County of Somerset, Bridgwater Constituency, Register of Electors, 16th February 1993 to 15th February 1994 (92) TimberscombeVillage.com/ History of Timberscombe/ Other Historic Structures/ History of the Post Office, written by Tom Sperling (93) VCH and as recalled in 2019 by Sarah Hall, of Minehead, but who grew up in Timbercombe, the daughter of Kenneth and Mavis Grabham

St. Petrock's History Group Archive

2021

St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS

SP-199

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