The Tower at St. Petrock's Church before the 1971 Churchyard Levelling
Title
The Tower at St. Petrock's Church before the 1971 Churchyard Levelling
Subject
Description
The top undated photograph highlights the tower of St. Petrock's Church in Timberscombe, taken from a northwestern angle. Petrock (also seen as Petroc) was reputedly the son of a Welsh prince who dedicated his life to religious callings, particularly that of establishing churches throughout Devon and Cornwall--with this one foray into Somerset. He is said to have died c. 564 A. D. at Treval, Wales (1).
While Petrock and the beginnings of this church may be shrouded in a mix of legend and fact, between March and June 2020 , a monitored trench being dug on the southern side of the church revealed incontrovertible evidence of early activity at the site. An unknown previous structure was discovered and subsequent carbon dating of unearthed wooden material confirmed that the location of today's church had been the ancient centre, likely sacred, of a Saxon community by 777 A.D. (2).
The building of the present church is considered to have commenced by the early 1100's, with additions in the 1500's (3), neither of which included the tower seen in the photograph. This 2-stage tower, with its two-light bell openings visible under hooded mouldings, was likely completed by 1708, replacing a more medieval version and was made possible by the patronage of the 16-year-old Richard Elsworth (variously seen as Ellsworth or Elsworthy) of Bickham Manor (4).
The young benefactor, who died at the age of 22 (5) is only remembered with praise but the tower itself is the subject of varying opinions. In their 1955 booklet, "THE VILLAGE OF TIMBERSCOMBE AND ITS CHURCH", Churchwarden James Henderson and his brother, Edward Henderson, the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1960-1975 (6), wrote concerning the tower, "The intention was good, the builders's efforts were not quite so happy" and went on to say that the upper part of the tower and its lower level simply do not conform . They describe the upper part as a "rather fanciful pinnacles and parapets". Indeed there is an unusual pyramid slate roof and below the corner pinnacles, instead of gargoyles are the four Evangelists with St. Matthew as a Man's Head, St. Mark as a Lion, St. Luke as an Ox and St. John as an Eagle (6). Atop everything is a weathervane, utterly current for the 1880's and inscribed with "1708" and "RE" (for Richard Elsworth). This upper section of the tower was designed and built during the early 1880's, under the direction of John Dando Sedding, the diocesan architect of Bath and Wales. Mr. Sedding was a great advocate of decorative design and his London office at Bedford Square in London became a centre of the Arts and Crafts movement (7). The solidity of the lower part of the tower is appropriate to the small, mostly poor and hardworking community of Timberscombe during the Victorian era. Yet also, wealthier people, some arriving and others established, were building or redesigning the local and larger farm buildings as manors, such as Great House, Knowle House or Bickham. St. Petrock's tower represents all facets of the era.
While the church tower dominates this photograph, what is most unusual and rarely pictured is the abundance of gravestones across the bottom edge. SP-048 and SP-211 feature photographs taken from about the same angle. The former, photographed between 1905 and 1910, depict the northwestern churchyard with relatively few gravestones. The latter has two photographs taken c. 1936 by Alfred Vowles of the same area with more gravestones (as would be expected) but not as congested as the photograph seen here suggests. A 1971 graveyard map of "The Old Graveyard" at St. Petrock's, indicates at least 160 plots in just this section of the churchyard (not including the northeastern and southern sections at the front and back of the church).
The 1971 map was likely commissioned as plans had been underway, at least by 1969, for the Vicar (the Rev. Edward Jeffery Miller) and the Churchwardens of St. Petrock's to apply to the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Bath and Wells for a Faculty to move "certain headstones and curbs in the old churchyard and to re-site them around the boundary wall". A Notice followed that was more specific, saying the church was seeking authorisation to level all "un-cared for graves and move certain dilapidated headstones.... from their present positions and to re-erect them against the boundary walls". The letter of application was sent to the diocese on the 20th of August 1969, with a reply returned to James Henderson, Churchwarden of St. Petrock's, dated 25 August 1969 and from Harris & Harris, the solicitors for the Chancellor of the Diocesan Registry at Wells (8).
Mr. C. W. Harris informed Mr. Henderson that at least three advertisements must be placed in a local newspaper, making public the church's plans and at least a month must be allowed for objections. St. Petrock's also had to confirm to the diocese if a grave was ancient or "modern" and report what steps had been taken to trace surviving relatives . If there were objections, they were to be made public and the church was to also inform the diocese what they proposed to do if any person wished to continue to care for a grave. Only after these steps, would a Faculty be considered (9).
The Vicar and the Churchwardens did prepare a list of all the graves that had headstones and curbs which they intended to move. Relations, descendants or friends with objections were asked to make these known to the Vicar or Churchwardens by the 1st of January 1971. At this point the church asserted that no attempt would be made to remove a headstone from a grave site, if the objection was considered valid and the descendant or friend was "prepared to care for the grave in the future "(10).
Letters were sent to known relatives and friends, seemingly toward the end of 1970. No doubt these were highly sensitive messages to post and to receive. In the first words of his reply, Michael O. Davies, a great-nephew of Samuel and Julia (nee Farr) Norrish, wrote about receiving his letter "Just before Christmas" (11). In at least a draft of the notices sent by the church, the reason given for the levelling was "to make easier the task of caring for the churchyard" (12)---which certainly may not have satisfied some family members who thought they had purchased a headstone that would remain, perhaps forever, over the grave of their ancestor.
Two sets of letters survive in the archive, perhaps because the family replies kept at least one headstone in place. Samuel Norrish, the great-uncle of Michael O. Davis had died in 1914, while living at Great House on Great House Street in Timberscombe (13). His wife, Julia, died four years later and was buried with her husband (14). A silk-merchant, Mr. Norrish and his wife had only been at Great House since c. 1910, originally living at Ealing, Middlesex, London, where he still maintained their address and a drapery warehouse (15). He and Julia Norrish had likely come to Great House as other members of the Norrish family had occupied Duddings, just north-east of the village, since before 1851 (16). At least five other members of the Norrish family were buried in the same northwestern section of the churchyard pictured here and is where Samuel and Julia Norrish were buried (17).
In his letters, Michael O. Davis , who lived in Leamington Spa, Warwick, pointed out that a Mrs. Middleton of Alcombe had been caring for Norrish family graves on his behalf. He also expressed his belief that on 16 August 1956, his Aunt Dora Blanche Norrish, the unmarried daughter of Samuel and Julia, had died and her ashes had been interred with her parents--which seems to have taken James Henderson by surprise (18). By the 1st of September, after consulting with a cousin, Richard Norrish , the only other relative "immediately concerned" but who had been in hospital, Mr. Davies wrote that they were agreeable to "any scheme to make it easier to keep the church yard tidy" (19). The other Norrish family headstones were relocated but that of Samuel, Julia and their daughter, Dora Blanche, remains over their grave.
Betty (nee Gould) Griffith of Weacombe Road in Taunton had six ancestors buried among the 160 plots in the northwestern section of the churchyard, all situated, closely together on the northern side of the walkway from the western churchyard gate before it turns to the right approaching the North Porch, the main entrance to the church (20). Mrs. Griffith 's grandparents were Henry (1854-1905) and Jane (nee Tame) Gould (1856-1934), who were buried with their son, Francis (Frank) Gould, who had died at the age of 20 in 1904 (21). Another son, Edward Gould (1893-1946) was buried next to their grave (22).
John Gould , born in 1889 was the eldest son of Henry and Jane Gould (23). He married Emily Maud Barwick in 1920 and they lived at Holes Square in Timberscombe (24). Betty Griffith was their oldest child (25). Mr. Gould died in 1941 (26). When Mrs. Griffith received her letter, she consulted with her brother and two sisters and they gave permission for the graves of their grandparents and two uncles "to be removed". However, as Betty Griffith wrote concerning her parents, "we would like our grave left as it is as we do look after it and are down as often as possible". And indeed, their mother, Emily Maud Gould, had outlived her husband 23 years and had been buried by her children in 1964 (27), only five years before the levelling letters were posted.
The two colour photographs, under the church photograph, were taken in December 2022 and depict these headstones still in their original position. On the left is that of Samuel and Julia Norrish and their daughter, Dora Blanche (who is not inscribed on the stone but is listed in the church records). On the right, is the headstone of John and Emily Maud Gould, with flower holders still evident. Of the 160 headstones mapped in this section of the churchyard in 1971, these are two of the 28 that remain in place. In both photographs, some of the removed headstones are visible in the background, positioned against the churchyard wall.
While Petrock and the beginnings of this church may be shrouded in a mix of legend and fact, between March and June 2020 , a monitored trench being dug on the southern side of the church revealed incontrovertible evidence of early activity at the site. An unknown previous structure was discovered and subsequent carbon dating of unearthed wooden material confirmed that the location of today's church had been the ancient centre, likely sacred, of a Saxon community by 777 A.D. (2).
The building of the present church is considered to have commenced by the early 1100's, with additions in the 1500's (3), neither of which included the tower seen in the photograph. This 2-stage tower, with its two-light bell openings visible under hooded mouldings, was likely completed by 1708, replacing a more medieval version and was made possible by the patronage of the 16-year-old Richard Elsworth (variously seen as Ellsworth or Elsworthy) of Bickham Manor (4).
The young benefactor, who died at the age of 22 (5) is only remembered with praise but the tower itself is the subject of varying opinions. In their 1955 booklet, "THE VILLAGE OF TIMBERSCOMBE AND ITS CHURCH", Churchwarden James Henderson and his brother, Edward Henderson, the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1960-1975 (6), wrote concerning the tower, "The intention was good, the builders's efforts were not quite so happy" and went on to say that the upper part of the tower and its lower level simply do not conform . They describe the upper part as a "rather fanciful pinnacles and parapets". Indeed there is an unusual pyramid slate roof and below the corner pinnacles, instead of gargoyles are the four Evangelists with St. Matthew as a Man's Head, St. Mark as a Lion, St. Luke as an Ox and St. John as an Eagle (6). Atop everything is a weathervane, utterly current for the 1880's and inscribed with "1708" and "RE" (for Richard Elsworth). This upper section of the tower was designed and built during the early 1880's, under the direction of John Dando Sedding, the diocesan architect of Bath and Wales. Mr. Sedding was a great advocate of decorative design and his London office at Bedford Square in London became a centre of the Arts and Crafts movement (7). The solidity of the lower part of the tower is appropriate to the small, mostly poor and hardworking community of Timberscombe during the Victorian era. Yet also, wealthier people, some arriving and others established, were building or redesigning the local and larger farm buildings as manors, such as Great House, Knowle House or Bickham. St. Petrock's tower represents all facets of the era.
While the church tower dominates this photograph, what is most unusual and rarely pictured is the abundance of gravestones across the bottom edge. SP-048 and SP-211 feature photographs taken from about the same angle. The former, photographed between 1905 and 1910, depict the northwestern churchyard with relatively few gravestones. The latter has two photographs taken c. 1936 by Alfred Vowles of the same area with more gravestones (as would be expected) but not as congested as the photograph seen here suggests. A 1971 graveyard map of "The Old Graveyard" at St. Petrock's, indicates at least 160 plots in just this section of the churchyard (not including the northeastern and southern sections at the front and back of the church).
The 1971 map was likely commissioned as plans had been underway, at least by 1969, for the Vicar (the Rev. Edward Jeffery Miller) and the Churchwardens of St. Petrock's to apply to the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Bath and Wells for a Faculty to move "certain headstones and curbs in the old churchyard and to re-site them around the boundary wall". A Notice followed that was more specific, saying the church was seeking authorisation to level all "un-cared for graves and move certain dilapidated headstones.... from their present positions and to re-erect them against the boundary walls". The letter of application was sent to the diocese on the 20th of August 1969, with a reply returned to James Henderson, Churchwarden of St. Petrock's, dated 25 August 1969 and from Harris & Harris, the solicitors for the Chancellor of the Diocesan Registry at Wells (8).
Mr. C. W. Harris informed Mr. Henderson that at least three advertisements must be placed in a local newspaper, making public the church's plans and at least a month must be allowed for objections. St. Petrock's also had to confirm to the diocese if a grave was ancient or "modern" and report what steps had been taken to trace surviving relatives . If there were objections, they were to be made public and the church was to also inform the diocese what they proposed to do if any person wished to continue to care for a grave. Only after these steps, would a Faculty be considered (9).
The Vicar and the Churchwardens did prepare a list of all the graves that had headstones and curbs which they intended to move. Relations, descendants or friends with objections were asked to make these known to the Vicar or Churchwardens by the 1st of January 1971. At this point the church asserted that no attempt would be made to remove a headstone from a grave site, if the objection was considered valid and the descendant or friend was "prepared to care for the grave in the future "(10).
Letters were sent to known relatives and friends, seemingly toward the end of 1970. No doubt these were highly sensitive messages to post and to receive. In the first words of his reply, Michael O. Davies, a great-nephew of Samuel and Julia (nee Farr) Norrish, wrote about receiving his letter "Just before Christmas" (11). In at least a draft of the notices sent by the church, the reason given for the levelling was "to make easier the task of caring for the churchyard" (12)---which certainly may not have satisfied some family members who thought they had purchased a headstone that would remain, perhaps forever, over the grave of their ancestor.
Two sets of letters survive in the archive, perhaps because the family replies kept at least one headstone in place. Samuel Norrish, the great-uncle of Michael O. Davis had died in 1914, while living at Great House on Great House Street in Timberscombe (13). His wife, Julia, died four years later and was buried with her husband (14). A silk-merchant, Mr. Norrish and his wife had only been at Great House since c. 1910, originally living at Ealing, Middlesex, London, where he still maintained their address and a drapery warehouse (15). He and Julia Norrish had likely come to Great House as other members of the Norrish family had occupied Duddings, just north-east of the village, since before 1851 (16). At least five other members of the Norrish family were buried in the same northwestern section of the churchyard pictured here and is where Samuel and Julia Norrish were buried (17).
In his letters, Michael O. Davis , who lived in Leamington Spa, Warwick, pointed out that a Mrs. Middleton of Alcombe had been caring for Norrish family graves on his behalf. He also expressed his belief that on 16 August 1956, his Aunt Dora Blanche Norrish, the unmarried daughter of Samuel and Julia, had died and her ashes had been interred with her parents--which seems to have taken James Henderson by surprise (18). By the 1st of September, after consulting with a cousin, Richard Norrish , the only other relative "immediately concerned" but who had been in hospital, Mr. Davies wrote that they were agreeable to "any scheme to make it easier to keep the church yard tidy" (19). The other Norrish family headstones were relocated but that of Samuel, Julia and their daughter, Dora Blanche, remains over their grave.
Betty (nee Gould) Griffith of Weacombe Road in Taunton had six ancestors buried among the 160 plots in the northwestern section of the churchyard, all situated, closely together on the northern side of the walkway from the western churchyard gate before it turns to the right approaching the North Porch, the main entrance to the church (20). Mrs. Griffith 's grandparents were Henry (1854-1905) and Jane (nee Tame) Gould (1856-1934), who were buried with their son, Francis (Frank) Gould, who had died at the age of 20 in 1904 (21). Another son, Edward Gould (1893-1946) was buried next to their grave (22).
John Gould , born in 1889 was the eldest son of Henry and Jane Gould (23). He married Emily Maud Barwick in 1920 and they lived at Holes Square in Timberscombe (24). Betty Griffith was their oldest child (25). Mr. Gould died in 1941 (26). When Mrs. Griffith received her letter, she consulted with her brother and two sisters and they gave permission for the graves of their grandparents and two uncles "to be removed". However, as Betty Griffith wrote concerning her parents, "we would like our grave left as it is as we do look after it and are down as often as possible". And indeed, their mother, Emily Maud Gould, had outlived her husband 23 years and had been buried by her children in 1964 (27), only five years before the levelling letters were posted.
The two colour photographs, under the church photograph, were taken in December 2022 and depict these headstones still in their original position. On the left is that of Samuel and Julia Norrish and their daughter, Dora Blanche (who is not inscribed on the stone but is listed in the church records). On the right, is the headstone of John and Emily Maud Gould, with flower holders still evident. Of the 160 headstones mapped in this section of the churchyard in 1971, these are two of the 28 that remain in place. In both photographs, some of the removed headstones are visible in the background, positioned against the churchyard wall.
Creator
Anonymous /
Tom Sperling /
Tom Sperling
Tom Sperling /
Tom Sperling
Date
undated, perhaps 1960's or earlier 1970's
2022
2022
2022
2022
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
undated photograph of St. Petrock's Church, taken from a northwestern angle, indicating some of the gravestones that will be removed during churchyard levelling in 1971 / Timberscombe / village centre
Acquisition Date
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
Acquisition Method
Gift
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
12 X 20
14 X 10
14 X 9
14 X 10
14 X 9
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) celticsaints.org, earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios 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 (2) "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 (3) "St. Petrock's Church Timberscombe", church pamphlet written by Marion Jeffrey, 2017 (5) British Listed Buildings.co.uk (6) "ANNIVERSARY OF TIMBERSCOMBE SCHOOL, CHARITIES INITIATED BY RICHARD ELLSWORTH" written by James Henderson, July 1964 for Timberscombe School (6) "THE VILLAGE OF TIMBERSCOMBE AND ITS CHURCH" (7) Historic England.co.uk and The Victorian Web.org>art>architecture>sedding (8) "Timberscombe-Churchyard Levelling &c", letter dated 25th August 1969 from HARRIS & HARRIS, Solicitors for Diocesan Registry, Wells, Somerset, sent by C.W. Harris to J. M. Henderson, Esq. at Allercott, Timberscombe and "NOTICE," given by the Vicar and Churchwardens of St. Petrock's, that application would be made to the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Bath and Wells for a Faculty authorizing a churchyard levelling, copies retained by the St. Petrock's History Group Archive (9) "Timberscombe -Churchyard Levelling &c" letter (10) a handwritten copy of the intentions of the Vicar and Churchwardens to apply for a Faculty for permission to move certain headstones and curbs in the old church, placed after a typed copy of a list of such headstones, retained by the St. Petrock's History Group Archive (11) "Re: Norrish Family Graves," a letter dated 4th January 1971, sent by Michael O. Davies of Dassett Farms Ltd., Leamington Spa, Warwicks. to Mr. Henderson, Churchwarden at St. Petrock's Church, retained by St. Petrock's History Group Archive (12) the handwritten copy of the intentions of the Vicar and Churchwardens to apply for a Factory, cited in Note No. 10 (13) Somerset, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1914 (14) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (15) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1865-1995, 1911 England Census and Kelly's Directories of Somerset, 1910 and 1914 (16) 1851 England Census (17) members of the Norrish family included on the 1971 list made of the headstones to be removed where of John Norrish (1841-1905) and his wife, Jane Snow Norrish (1831-1896) and Thomas Norrish (1851-1934), his wife, Jane Ellen Norrish (1865-1955) and their son, Richard Samuel Norrish (1910-1937), as seen on the levelling lists in the St. Petrock's History Group Archive and UK and Ireland, Find A Grave, 1300s-Current (18) handwritten on "Re: Norrish Family Graves", the letter written on 4 January 1971 by Michael O. Davies is "??no record on church register", written by James Henderson concerning Dora Blanche Norrish being interred with his parents (19) as stated on a second letter written by Michael O. Davies to Mr. Henderson, dated 1st September 1972 (20) as stated in a letter send by Betty Griffith of Taunton to a Churchwarden (likelyJames Henderson) at St. Petrock's dated 16 August 1981 and as indicated on "The Old Grave Yard" map at St. Petrock's, prepared in 1971 (21)UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current, 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 England Censuses, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 and Somerset, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1914 (22) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 and England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1865-1995 (23) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1916 and 1939 England and Wales Register (24) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 and 1939 England and Wales Register (25) as stated in Betty Griffith's letter of 16 August 1981 (26) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (27) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 and UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2002
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-206
Technique
Copies
Citation
Anonymous /
Tom Sperling /
Tom Sperling, “The Tower at St. Petrock's Church before the 1971 Churchyard Levelling,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed April 16, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3595.
Comments