The Prospect Archaeology Report, April 2021, Concerning the Beginnings of St. Petrock's
Title
The Prospect Archaeology Report, April 2021, Concerning the Beginnings of St. Petrock's
Subject
Description
The photograph presented here is the front of a 37 page watching brief, entitled "The Parish Church of St. Petrock, Timberscombe, Somerset, The Results of Archaeological Monitoring", placed under the heading, "PA, PROSPECT ARCHAEOLOGY". The report was prepared for The Parochial Church Council of St. Petrock and authored by James L. Brigers, the archaeological contractor helming Prospect Archaeology of Middlezoy, Somerset and dated April 2021-- at the end of a year when St. Petrock's Church was largely closed due to the worldwide Covid Pandemic. The report was not publicly revealed until the 21 March 2022 meeting of the St. Petrock's History Group. The full text of this report is now available on the Timberscombe Village website under the History of Timberscombe dropdown, then select Listed Buildings, then select St Petrock's Church. There is also a link in the History Group section under Clubs/Groups.
Monitoring of the site to be cut through by a 2.4m deep trench was not expected to uncover anything other than might be expected from a historic churchyard where burials were not officially registered before 1656 (thereafter complete records exist) However, the watching brief by the appointed archaeologist soon led to suggestions of greater interest as deposits of carbon like material became evident. The churchwardens, John Gratton and Marion Jeffrey, were recommended to proceed and obtain carbon 14 dating if at all possible. Although an unanticipated extra expense in an already taxing development project, the opportunity to learn more about the origins of settlement on this site was too exciting to ignore. Fortunately a supportive full grant obtained from the Maltwood Fund run by SANHS enabled this analysis to be undertaken although the results were substantially delayed during the covid lockdown and not received until early 2021.
Like most medieval and post-medieval churches of the United Kingdom, the origins of Timbercombe's church are shrouded in mystery. It is dedicated to St.Petrock, possibly the son of a Welsh prince, who became a monk reputed to have founded churches throughout Devon and Cornwall. A suggested death date of Petrock (sometimes seen as Petroc) has been given as c. 564 at Treval, Wales (1) with the suggestion that either before or shortly afterwards, the monk or his followers made an excursion into Somerset and founded this church at its elevated position near a crossroads of ancient tracks and the proximity of the medieval Churnet Ford.
There is no hard evidence of an actual church at this site until 1180, when money was given to the Cathedral of Wells by Cecily (also seen as Cecilia) of Timberscombe and her sisters, Alicia, Christina and Sarah. By making this donation, a date is given for the existence of this church, that it was established and may have been for some time (2). And likely their church is on the site of the present day church, yet with most of the current Grade 1 Listed St. Petrock's having been rebuilt in the 1400's. Its tower replaced an earlier version around 1708 and further Victorian restorations took place between 1862 to the 1880's (3). In summary, the impact of this archaeological report is that it establishes a likely church (or at least religious settlement) here in the mid 8th century AD and confirms the exciting news that St. Petrock's origins can thus be dated to the mid Saxon period(4), bringing forward the date for such a settlement on this site by 400 years. These tantalising details were only made possible through the generous support of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society and have shed some light on this little known period.
Monitoring of the site to be cut through by a 2.4m deep trench was not expected to uncover anything other than might be expected from a historic churchyard where burials were not officially registered before 1656 (thereafter complete records exist) However, the watching brief by the appointed archaeologist soon led to suggestions of greater interest as deposits of carbon like material became evident. The churchwardens, John Gratton and Marion Jeffrey, were recommended to proceed and obtain carbon 14 dating if at all possible. Although an unanticipated extra expense in an already taxing development project, the opportunity to learn more about the origins of settlement on this site was too exciting to ignore. Fortunately a supportive full grant obtained from the Maltwood Fund run by SANHS enabled this analysis to be undertaken although the results were substantially delayed during the covid lockdown and not received until early 2021.
Like most medieval and post-medieval churches of the United Kingdom, the origins of Timbercombe's church are shrouded in mystery. It is dedicated to St.Petrock, possibly the son of a Welsh prince, who became a monk reputed to have founded churches throughout Devon and Cornwall. A suggested death date of Petrock (sometimes seen as Petroc) has been given as c. 564 at Treval, Wales (1) with the suggestion that either before or shortly afterwards, the monk or his followers made an excursion into Somerset and founded this church at its elevated position near a crossroads of ancient tracks and the proximity of the medieval Churnet Ford.
There is no hard evidence of an actual church at this site until 1180, when money was given to the Cathedral of Wells by Cecily (also seen as Cecilia) of Timberscombe and her sisters, Alicia, Christina and Sarah. By making this donation, a date is given for the existence of this church, that it was established and may have been for some time (2). And likely their church is on the site of the present day church, yet with most of the current Grade 1 Listed St. Petrock's having been rebuilt in the 1400's. Its tower replaced an earlier version around 1708 and further Victorian restorations took place between 1862 to the 1880's (3). In summary, the impact of this archaeological report is that it establishes a likely church (or at least religious settlement) here in the mid 8th century AD and confirms the exciting news that St. Petrock's origins can thus be dated to the mid Saxon period(4), bringing forward the date for such a settlement on this site by 400 years. These tantalising details were only made possible through the generous support of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society and have shed some light on this little known period.
Creator
James L. Brigers, PROSPECT ARCHAEOLOGY
Publisher
James L. Brigers, PROSPECT ARCHAEOLOGY, Nethermore Road, Middlezoy, Somerset
Date
2021
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
PROSPECT ARCHAEOLOGY, "The Parish Church of St. Petrock, Timberscombe, Somerset, The Results of Archaeological Monitoring" / Timberscombe / village centre
Acquisition Date
2021
Acquisition Method
prepared for The Parochial Church Council of St. Petrock
Category
PLACES: Churches and Chapels / Timberscombe
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2022
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
19.5 X 29
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) "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, celticsaints.org and earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios (2) "THE VILLAGE OF TIMBERSCOMBE AND ITS CHURCH, Victoria County History.ac.uk and "St. Petrock's Church Timberscombe", church pamphlet written by Marion Jeffrey, 2017 (3) Historic England.org.uk (4) as cited on the page 1 SUMMARY of "The Parish Church of St. Petrock, Timberscombe, Somerset, The Results of Archaeological Monitoring" Ref: TSP 18-30/2020. April 2021
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2022
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PUBLICATIONS
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-205
Technique
Copy
Citation
James L. Brigers, PROSPECT ARCHAEOLOGY, “The Prospect Archaeology Report, April 2021, Concerning the Beginnings of St. Petrock's,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 18, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3476.
Comments