North Hawkwell, featuring Edward and Wendy Schofield (and the Collier Family)

North Hawkwell, featuring Edward and Wendy Schofield (and the Collier Family)

Edward Malcolm Schofield and Wendy Joy Stevens married at St. Petrock's Church in Timberscombe on the 13th of November 1965 (1) and would soon settle into North Hawkwell, a farm with possible pre-historic origins, situated up a steep drive on the southern slopes of the Dunkery moors (2). If coming from North Hawkwell, travelling to St. Petrock's to marry would have been but a short jaunt away. After descending the steep drive, one would likely turn left onto Draper's Way, an old route coming from Exford, which at this point runs alongside the River Avill. At the end of Draper's Way, one would make another turn left onto the A396 and soon arrive at the village of Timberscombe.

Yet Wendy Stevens, when growing up, would have basically made the same journey, starting out just a tad closer to the village, as her childhood home was West Harwood, another ancient farm just a few fields (across Harwood Plantation) northeast of North Hawkwell. The second photograph depicts Wendy on her horse, Jezebel, in the 1960's at West Harwood's courtyard, with a glance of the imposing farm buildings on three of its sides (3). West Harwood was (and is) situated on the hillside above Steart Bridge, crossing the River Avill and adjacent to the third historic farm in this area, Steart--where Wendy's husband-to-be, Edward, had lived since the age of nine. If this sounds claustrophobic, it is anything but-- as is evident by the upper photograph which depicts North Hawkwell during the 1940s, in the midst of the rolling hills of this area, one of the most beautiful, distinct (and uncrowded) sections of West Somerset.

The farmhouse at North Hawkwell is considered to be early 19th century but is likely the refenestration of earlier dwellings. While a homestead may have been on the site in 1086 (4), it is difficult to pinpoint when dwellings might have first appeared. While two late prehistoric enclosures have been discovered north and northwest of North Hawkwell (5), no hut circles or platforms that might have supported a house have been found. However a residence called "Hauckwelle" was located here (or near) on the 6th of April 1321, sadly on record because its tenant, John le Taillour, discovered his 16-weeks-old son, William, dead in it. An inquest followed on the 11th of April, with the verdict deciding this had been a tragic "misadventure" as the infant's cot was too close to the fire and thus William "was burned to death". Interestingly the names of the jurors is a roll-call of the current and still present neighbours of North Hawkwell, including Henry de Harwode (West Harwood), John de Northcomb (North Combe), John atte Sterte ( Steart), William de Weddone (Wheddon Cross) and likely Mr. Taillour's landlord, Adam de Hauckwelle (6).

Not until the 20th century was North Hawkwell considered to be in the Parish of Timberscombe. Previously its house and farm were part of the Parish of Cutcombe, as recorded on the 1772 Survey of the "Manors of Cutcombe", listing the farms of "Rawleigh", "Haukwell" and "Foord" (later Raleigh, North Hawkwell and Ford) as belonging to Sir Thomas Pym Hales (7). How much time Sir Thomas was able to spend at any of these properties is unknown as he was a 4th Baronet of Beakesbourne, Kent (later becoming "Bekebourne"), in the civil parish of the city of Canterbury, where his family was centred, as well as an active Member of Parliament for Dover (8). Besides, an unnamed Wesleyan preacher appears to have been occupying North Hawkwell in the late 1700s (9).

The great-grandfather of Sir Thomas Pym Hales, Sir Robert Hales, was created the 1st Baronet of Beakesbourne by King Charles II in 1660 (10). It is not clear if this gentleman had connections in Somerset but the next four baronets did. The 2nd Baronet of Beakesbourne, another Sir Thomas, had a younger son, Stephen, who became the Vicar at Porlock and the 3rd Baronet, also Sir Thomas, was a Member of Parliament for King George I, representing Minehead (11). The aforementioned 4th Baronet, Sir Thomas Pym Hales, died in March 1773, leaving five daughters so the title of 5th Baronet of Beakesbourne went to his younger brother, Sir Philip Hales, born in 1735 (12). While continuing to serve at court as a groomsman of the bedchamber of King George I and maintaining eminent homes in London at both Hanover Square and Berkeley Square, by 1798 Sir Philip Hales owned at least 35 properties in Cutcombe, four of which he "occupied for himself"--which included North Hawkwell. The 31 (or so) other addresses were occupied by other familiar Cutcombe names such as Crockford, Clatworthy, Ridler and Burnell (13).

Sir Philip Hales left another historic footprint in the Timberscombe Parish. He was one of three men nominated as trustees who attended a "deed-roll" on the 21st of September 1804 and re-examined the will of Richard Elsworth of Bickham Manor, who at his death at the age of 22 in 1714, had left various bequests, including money to have a school built in Timberscombe. After 90 years of hesitations and misuse, these gentlemen decreed the Elsworth legacy should be honoured and in 1805, a cornerstone was finally laid and the Timberscombe School was subsequently built. Just before his death in 1824, Sir Philip Hales was also instrumental in a schoolroom being opened at Cutcombe Village (14).

His sole heir was also a daughter and thus the Hales family title ended. Miss Elizabeth Hales may not have been the 6th Baronet of Beakesbourne but on the 1826 Survey entitled "Manors of Cutcombe", Raleigh, North Hawkwell and Ford now belonged to her (15). Indeed she was likely owner of many of the 35 (or so) Cutcombe properties of her father, with these three considered to be "Manors". Elizabeth Hales may have actually lived, at least part time, at Raleigh. In his classic book, "History of the Hundred of Carhampton", published in 1830, James Savage referred to her as "Miss Hales, lady of the manor", who had lately built a handsome lodge at Raleigh, "which commanded most delightful views of the surrounding country" (16). With North Hawkwell's farmhouse-- as seen in the fourth photograph --supposed to be early 19th century and her apparent fondness for renovation, it's quite probable that Elizabeth Hales was responsible for the building of the current North Hawkwell --or more likely, the modernising of a previous structure. She likely leased North Hawkwell but unfortunately not for long. Elizabeth Hales died, probably in 1836, at Brymore, Somerset (near Bridgwater), which is where her father had yet another house in his later years. In her will, Miss Hales instructed that she was to be buried in the family vault at Beakesbourne, Kent. She also designated the Hon. Philip Pleydell-Bouverie (1788-1872), a banker at Westminster, London, to act as her Executor, placing him in charge of her "Real Estates" and their "Profits and Rents" (17). Pleydell-Bouverie was a relative of Miss Hales--of sorts.

Hon. Philip Pleydell-Bouverie's grandfather was William de Bouverie, the First Earl of Radnor, whose third wife was Ann Hales, born in 1736, the daughter of Sir Thomas Hales, the aforementioned 3rd Baronet of Beakesbourne--making Hon. Philip Pleydell-Bouverie and Miss Elizabeth Hales third generation cousins by marriage (18). The families continued to intertwine with Hon. Philip Pleydell-Bouverie's son, also Philip Pleydell-Bouverie (born in 1821) and his wife, Jane (nee Seymour) Pleydell-Bouverie relocating to live part-time at Wheddon Cross (19)-- perhaps because there were so many Cutcombe properties now managed by their family. An eastern window in the Church of St. John's in Cutcombe was erected in memory of Philip and Jane Pleydell-Bouverie at their respective deaths in 1890 and 1892 (20). By the time of their passing, like Sir Philip Hales and Elizabeth Hales, they lived at the house in Brymore. Philip and Jane Pleydell-Bouverie also named their eldest son Henry Hales Pleydell-Bouverie. As his parents had done, Henry Hales also kept homes in London and Cutcombe. When younger he lived in the village of Wheddon Cross at The Cottage (aka Syms Cottage), yet before his death in 1925, he too had moved to Brymore (21).

At the time of the first census in England in 1841, two Agricultural Labourers, John Winter and William Barnes, were living and working at North Hawkwell, so likely were leasing from the first Hon. Phillip Pleydell-Bouverie. Indeed until December 1928, it is likely all of the inhabitants of both North Hawkwell and North Combe Farms rented from the Bouverie family, who continued until then as Trustees and at least partial owners of both properties (22).

John Winter married Mary Bailey on the 9th of April 1833 at the Church of St. John's in Cutcombe (23). He had been baptised in 1802 at Exton and she in 1808 at Luxborough but it seems after their wedding they remained rooted in Cutcombe (24). Their first child Elizabeth, was born in 1834 at Cutcombe as were their next six children, John, Mary, Ann, Harriet, Eliza and finally Sarah, born in 1850 (25). Conceivably all could have been born while at North Hawkwell. If not, the younger ones were born at Watercombe Farm, closer to Cutcombe Village, where the family had relocated by the 1851 Census. By then the three oldest children were employed elsewhere, including their only son, John, who at the age of 14 was working as a servant in Caldicut, Monmouthshire, Wales (26). By 1861, with only Sarah still with her parents and apparently a new 7-year-old son--also named John, also born in Cutcombe--John and Mary Winter were living in Cutcombe Village at an unspecified house. It is not clear when John Winter (the father) died but in 1881, Mary Winter was a widow on her own in Cutcombe Village, where she died in 1890 (27).

The Barns family, sharing North Hawkwell on the 1841 census with the Winter family, consisted of William and Mary (nee Spurrier) Barns, along with their 8-year-old son, George, 5-year-old William and 2-year-old Mary. William and Mary (the parents) had both been baptised at the Church of St. John's in Cutcombe, respectively in 1802 and 1804, were married there in 1831 and all five of their children (including Jane and Rebecca, born in 1843 and 1850) were baptised there as well (28). By the 1851 Census, the Barns family had moved into Cutcombe Village. William continued working as an Agricultural Labourer, even when he was 69-years old and he and Mary where living at Golden Hill Farm in Wiveliscombe with George, then 35-years-old, also a Labourer (listing his surname as "Barnes") and his wife, Lavinia (nee Howell) Barnes (29). William died in 1874, followed by Mary in 1881 and both were buried (as "Barnes") at Wiveliscombe (30).

During the 1851 and the 1861 Census, North Hawkwell was occupied by William Williams and his wife, Diana. Her name was actually given as "Deanna" in 1851 and "Dina" in 1861 but is "Diana" on other records ranging from her baptism to her burial (31). William was 34 and Diana was 21 when they married on the 4th of June 1844 in their mutual hometown of Winsford, both the offspring of local farmers and their wives, Richard and Mary Williams and William and Elizabeth Ridler (32). By the 1851 Census William and Diana had three children, Mary Elizabeth, Robert and Sarah, adding James, twins named Thomas and John, and Lucy by the 1861 Census, when William recorded he was farming 150 acres at North Hawkwell. By 1871, the family had relocated to Edgcott Farm in Exford (a luxury bed & breakfast in modern times) and in 1881 were at Pooles Cottage, adjacent to Edgcott Farm--probably the cottage later renamed Cascade Cottage (33). William Williams died in 1888 (34) and after his passing, Diana seems to have taken on a new career. In 1891, sixty-seven-year-old Diana was still in Exford, having moved to Lower Mill. With her were three of her sons, 42-year-old Robert (agricultural labourer), the twins, Thomas (carpenter) and John (labourer), now aged 33, and 31-year-old Lucy. Diana was Head of the household and listed as "Miller", with Lucy as "Assistant Miller". Diana died on the 25th of April 1894 and was buried with William at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Exford (35).

James and Maria Jane Sage were at North Hawkwell on the 1871 Census. Thirty-two-year-old James had married 30-year-old Maria Jane Norman in Cutcombe, where her father, James Norman, was the Steward (or Bailiff) of Raleigh Cottage (36). James Sage was born in Exford, his father also being James Sage, who later relocated to Little Langham at Cutcombe and where the younger James farmed with his father before his marriage (37). With James and Maria Jane at North Hawkwell was their 10 -month-old daughter, Francis Mary Maria and three servants. The young family must have been doing well as by the 1881 Census, when James was farming 146 acres at North Hawkwell, he and Maria had hired 20-year-old Mary E. Bale from London, to move in at North Hawkwell and be Governess for 10-year-old Francis as well as their second daughter, 6-year-old Annie Edith Emma (who went by the name "Edith"). Also in 1881, Maria Jane Sage's father, James Norman, was still farming Raleigh Cottage. However Mr. Norman died in November 1889 and by 1891, the Sage family had moved into Raleigh Cottage (38). By 1901, James, Maria Jane, Edith and Charlotte Norman (Maria Jane's older sister) had moved to The Cottage in Wheddon Cross, where James Sage died in September 1902 (39).

North Hawkwell was occupied on the 1891 Census by Nicolas Cowling, aged 48, his wife, Elizabeth Ann, 46-years-old and their younger five children--six other children had preceded them (40). Elizabeth Ann Cowling was born in Old Cleeve as Elizabeth Ann Mogfold and was raised at the East Harwood Cottages on Harwood Lane, just northeast of North Hawkwell (41). Nicolas was born in Dunster but baptised in Timberscombe as the son of John and Phyllis (nee Hensley) Cowling (42), likely named after John's father, Nicolas, a shepherd who lived at Ford Cottage in Timberscombe from at least 1851 to 1871 and whose surname is usually seen as "Cowlin" --basically the two spellings are interchangeable with these families. When baptised at St. Petrock's Church at Timberscombe, Nicolas and his parents are "Cowling" and when he married Elizabeth Ann in 1870, also at St. Petrock's, he was Nicolas Cowlin (43). By the 1901 Census most of the family that had been at North Hawkwell had moved to Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, where 58-year-old Nicolas found work as a stableman. Elizabeth Ann died in Monmouthshire in 1910 (44) and on the 1911 Wales Census, Nicolas was a widower living with John Cowlin, their eldest son who was a Police Constable in Newport, Wales-- where Nicolas died as Nicolas Cowlin in 1923 (45).

In 1901, North Hawkwell continued to be leased and was being farmed by 29-year-old Charles William Reed and his 30-year old wife, Francis--returning to her first home as she was the former Francis Mary Maria Sage, the older daughter of James and Maria Jane Sage. On the 4th of November 1897, she had married Mr. Reed, at that time a shoemaker in Cutcombe, living with his parents, Charles and Ellen (nee Ridler) Reed at the village Post Office where the elder Mr. Reed was the Postmaster, as well as also being a shoemaker (46). By the 1911 Census, Charles and Francis were living with her mother in Cutcombe Village, likely on Park Lane, where Maria Jane died in 1918, with Francis and her husband listed as her heirs (47). In 1920, when the Wootton Courtenay Estate was broken up and auctioned off, Charles and Francis Reed purchased Stile Farm, were Charles Reed died in February 1932 (48). Sadly Francis died in September 1939 at Townsend House, a Public Assistance Institute in Williton, listed as "Incapacitated" (49). She was buried with her husband at All Saints Churchyard in Wootton Courtenay (50).

Frederick George and Elizabeth May (nee Mantle) Webber, 30 and 29-years-old respectively, farmed North Hawkwell at the time of the 1911 Census. He was born in Withypoole, she was from Bampton, Devon and they married in 1907 in Tiverton (51). They were likely at North Hawkwell at least since the 28th of January 1909, the birthdate of their daughter Kathleen May, whose birth place was recorded as Cutcombe (52). The Webber family's stay at North Hawkwell was probably relatively brief. On the 1939 England and Wales Register, Fred (as he was called) and Elizabeth were back in Tiverton, where he listed himself as a "Gent Farmer" and where Kathleen May had married four years earlier (53). Elizabeth died in 1965, Fred died in 1966 and they were buried together back in her hometown of Bampton (54).

The Webbers' stay was also likely brief as Marjorie Ethel Branfield Govier was born on the 14th of January 1913, probably at North Hawkwell and it is certain her sister, Nancy M. Govier was born there on the 14th of January 1914 --plus their father, Hugh Govier was listed as "Farmer" at North Hawkwell on the 1914 Kelly's Directory of Somerset (55). He and the girl's mother, Florence Ethel (nee Branfield) were both from Brompton Regis, where they married in 1911 (56). By June 1908, when their third child, Henry Thomas H. Govier was born, the Govier family too had moved on from North Hawkwell and were settled in Wellington, Somerset (57).

Possibly the last occupants of North Hawkwell Farm that rented from a Bouverie family member were recorded on the 1921 Census, being Charles William and Sarah Heard, with their 25-year-old son, also Charles William and their daughter, Emily, aged 23. The senior Charles William Heard was born on the 22nd of July 1860 in Treborough, Somerset, where he was baptised on Christmas Day (58). At the age of 20, he was in Luxborough, working as an Iron-Miner (59). Like so many of his generation, by 1891 Charles was in Glamorgan, Wales, working as a coalminer and in his case, he was also a young widower, aged thirty (60). Fortunately on the 15th of November 1894, Charles Heard was back in Treborough, where he married Sarah Bryant, also born in Treborough (61). On the 1901 Census, they were in Huish Champflower, with Charles now a farmer and the father of 5-year-old Charles William and 3-year-old Emily and on the 1911 Census the family was farming at Brendon Hill in Washford. It is not clear how long they remained at North Hawkwell but on the 1939 England and Wales Register, Charles Heard was again a widower. He was also a retired farmer, living at Cross Cottage in Cutcombe, with his son, Charles, now a Postman and Ada, his wife. Two years later, the elder Charles William Heard died on the 14th of April 1941 at Combe Farm in Wheddon Cross (62).

On the 1st of December 1928, the ownership of North Hawkwell was conveyed to "Mr. W. H. Burge" by " P.H.P. Bouverie & Others" (63). Perhaps the Bouverie who was Trustee at this time was Philip Hales Pleydell-Bouverie. Henry Hales Pleydell-Bouverie, who had inherited control (if not at least partial ownership) of the properties of Elizabeth Hales, had died childless in 1925. He had a younger brother Seymour George Pleydell- Bouverie who had died in March 1927. Philip Hales Pleydell- Bouverie was Seymour's son, born in 1900 and who died in 1951 (64). His initials match the name on the Conveyance of North Hawkwell, he was 28-years old and in the line of inheritance. However he also does not appear to have have spent much (if any) time in Cutcombe, unlike his uncle and grandfather who both served as High Sheriffs of Somerset, in 1878 and 1904 respectively (65).

In July 1916, the Knowle Estate, in the parish of Timberscombe, had been divided into lots, including many of the larger farms, that were sold separately at auction, The same thing happened in 1920 with the Wootton Courtenay Estate. Perhaps it was time to do the same with the multiple Cutcombe estates held by the Bouverie family-- such as North Hawkwell. The new owner in 1928 , "Mr. W.H. Burge", was William Henry Burge, born in 1879 at High Bray, Devon, whose parents, William and Elizabeth (nee Nott) Burge , successfully farmed 175 acres at Stoke Farm, Devon (66). By the 1901 Census, the Burge family had relocated to Reddon Farm at Exton, Somerset and in 1910, William Henry married Rosetta Wake Case at Carhampton (67). In March 1916 Burge was renting various Knowle Estate properties to farm, which was likely upended when most of these, such as Knowle House, Duddings and Totterdown, were sold at the 16 July Knowle Estate Auction (68). When W.H. Burge purchased North Hawkwell, it may have been speculation but it also may have been a needed home. He and Rosetta later lived at Totterdown--but perhaps not before 1935, when it was listed as their property in the Kelly's Directory.

William Henry Burge remained at Totterdown until his death on 15 November 1942, when he was buried at St. Petrock's (69). However six and a half months before his death, on the 30th of April 1942, Burge had sold North Hawkwell to the Collier family (70)--who certainly did make it their home.

They arrived from Shropshire. Robert Blakely Collier was born 5 May 1908 in Bucklow, Cheshire, as was Monica Nellie Sugden, on the 16th of March 1910 (71). They married in 1933 at Stockport, Cheshire (72) and by 1934 were in the hamlet of Brockton in Shropshire, living at Brockton House, where Bob (as he was called) Collier worked as a Dairy Farmer and Heavy Labourer (73). In October 1937, their daughter, Margaret G.S. Collier (but always called "Gay") was born in Wenlock, just south of Brockton (74). After coming to North Hawkwell, their second daughter, Monica (known as "Liz) was born January 1943, followed a year or two later by a brother, Jonny (75). The third photograph pictures the young family at North Hawkwell, with Bob holding Liz, Monica with Jonny and Gay in the centre. In fact Robert and Monica Collier bought three farms, all (somewhat) adjacent to each other and totalling some 500 acres --North Hawkwell, North Combe and East Harwood. North Combe had a large barn but no house and there were tenants at East Harwood --so North Hawkwell became home.

However as Gay remembered "The farm had none of the things Mother was used to, Father too for that matter". That included electricity, indoor plumbing and a telephone. The drive up to the house from Draper's Way was a "steep rutted track" and the only way Mr. Collier could approach the house was to drive backward. (In 2023, Gay figured this did no favours to the car's gearbox). Mice and cockroaches were rampant at North Hawkwell. Nevertheless there was a two-storey barn built into the hillside, so both floors could be entered at ground level, a large Dutch barn for storing hay and straw, stables with cobbled floors, a tool shed, dog kennels, and a linhay and a house with two floors and a porch, all to become a busy family farm and a home, where the Colliers lived and worked until September 1957.

Gay Collier, now Gay Brooks, wrote beautifully about their life at North Hawkwell for "Exmoor" magazine in the Spring edition of 2023, now archived with the St. Petrock's History Group (76). Her father passed away in 1974 and her mother in 1999 (77). On the 27th of September 1957, ownership of North Hawkwell was conveyed from "Mr. R.B. Collier to Mr. A. J. Rollings" (78). The buyer may be Arthur J. Rollings, born in 1912 at Kington, Herefordshire, who was a Master Blacksmith and Dairy Farmer, married to Effie Margery Rollings (79). If they are the correctly identified couple, they were at North Hawkwell until 26 March 1962 when Mr. A. J. Rollings sold the property (80). It appears the couple (like the Govier family) moved to Wellington, Somerset, in the district of Taunton, where Effie Rollings died in 1996 and Arthur J. Rollings died in 2003 (81).

The 1962 purchaser of North Hawkwell was William Schofield, the father of Edward Schofield (82). The elder Mr. Schofield, who was born in 1906 at Hunslet, Leeds in West Yorkshire, identified himself as a "carpenter"--as had his father, William Willans Schofield, listed variously throughout his career in West Yorkshire as "joiner", "cabinet maker"and "Master Builder" (83). By the time of his marriage to Laura Cooling in 1936, William Schofield had established his own Yorkshire building company (84). William and Laura Schofield's children, Edward and Janet, were born at Rothwell in West Yorkshire, respectively in 1938 and 1940 (85).

William Schofield (profiled in further detail at SP-321) came to Somerset in 1943, having established a professional relationship in West Yorkshire as a builder often working for Eric William Towler, a leader in the rapidly growing steel business but who had strong interests in farming and farm properties, evident when he bought the Timberscombe/Cutcombe estates of Beasley, Kersham, Croydon and Steart in one swoop. Likely Towler had alterations in mind for all of these properties, as well as other planned construction projects. William Schofield was convinced by Towler to relocate, which he did, bringing along Laura and five-year-old Edward (known then--and now-- as "Eddie) and three-year-old Janet (86).

High on the Towler/Schofield list of projects was to construct ten residences into a steep embankment on the southwestern edge of Timberscombe. The Schofield family was conveniently housed by Mr. Towler at Corner Cottage (later renamed Hillcrest), at that time the last house on the southern end of Great House Street (likely then called Duck Street). Corner Cottage had a clear view of where the project--later known as Willow Bank-- was to be built (87). Sadly, Laura Schofield died at Corner Cottage on the 29th of June 1944 (88). Her husband took Eddie and Janet back to Yorkshire to live with their grandparents, William Willans and his wife, Mary Anne (nee Child) Schofield.

In 1946, with Willow Bank well underway, Mr. Towler sold Steart Farm to William Schofield, who in July of that year married Mary Amelia Land, a schoolteacher at Timberscombe School (89). By June 1947, Eddie and Janet returned to live at Steart. Both children attended St. Teresa's Convent School in Minehead--not because their stepmother was at Timberscombe School as Mary had retired on the 26th of July 1946, on marrying Mr. Schofield (90). In August 2023, Edward Schofield suspected his father thought St. Teresa's was more upmarket and admitted he wished he had gone to Timberscombe School (91).

As stated, on 26 March 1962, William Schofield was the official owner of North Hawkwell. However on 6 May 1962, as a "Deed of Gift", the farm was purchased by his 24-year-old son, Edward (92). Unlike his father and grandfather, Edward Schofield chose not to build but to farm. However he did not immediately inhabit North Hawkwell, as it was rented to Mr. Lesley George Riley and his wife, Marion Riley, from Ashford, Kent. In the 1950's, Riley had been Master of the Ashford Valley Hunt and by leasing North Hawkwell, after the end of the season in Kent he could come and hunt with his old friend, Ronald Colin Webber, Hunt Master of the Minehead Harriers. A benefit to Timberscombe was Mr. and Mrs. Riley's daughter, Wendy, would also visit. In 1962, she became Wendy Hellewell, and by 1971, with her daughters, Henrietta and Chanelle, plus Tessa, a Mongrel Terrier, moved into Bracken at No. 3 Holes Square (93) --establishing a family of four generations in Timberscombe (at this writing) all integral and vital to the village.

The origins of West Harwood Farm, Wendy Schofield's childhood home, are medieval, likely being a hamlet in 1327 when it was part of the Old Knowle manor estate of Carhampton, which by 1329 included a freehold consisting of a house and half a curate of land (between 30 to 80 acres) held by the aforementioned Henry de Harwode (94). Seemingly this became the farm that flourished over the centuries and that the Stevens family owned by the 1901 Census, headed by Robert Stevens, born in Winsford in 1856 and his wife, Mary (nee Cording), born at Wootton Courtenay in 1864 (95). At the time of this writing, West Harwood has been farmed by four consecutive generations of the Stevens family (which are detailed at SP-134 and SP-323). In 1945, Wendy Schofield was the first child born in the fourth generation, followed by her siblings, Val, Gill and Bryan Stevens (96)-- who with his wife, Pam, continues to farm West Harwood.

After marrying, Edward and Wendy Schofield took possession of North Hawkwell (97), quite possibly living here longer than any of the previous occupants. In various documents, Edward and Wendy are described as doing "mixed farming" (98)--which could have meant, just as well, doing whatever needed done, when it needed done and doing it on their own. While at North Hawkwell, Wendy and Edward had two sons. Peter William Schofield was born in August 1966. He married in Copenhagen in 2001, where he continues to live. Andrew Edward Schofield was born in November 1969 and married Jill Summers in 1997 (99).

The fourth photograph, taken later in 1966 or 1967, depicts Wendy holding a very young Peter, with Edward to their left. The fifth photograph is of Wendy and Edward Schofield in the kitchen of North Hawkwell, taken on the 8th of January 2024. They are standing behind a burred walnut panelled cabinet which opens to reveal a series of hidden and elegant drawers, created by Edward's father, William Schofield, when he was 26-years-old and was awarded the first place certificate at the annual 1932 prize distribution of newly designed furniture held at the Leeds College of Arts (100). A more complete photograph is at SP-321.

The bottom photograph, depicting North Hawkwell, was taken on the 8th of August 2023 (with a glimpse of Edward Schofield on the bottom right). A 2-storied structure , with a 2-cell cross passage and 3-bays, the house is rendered over rubble, has a slate roof with overhanging eves and gabled ends, topped with two brick stacks, all evident in the photograph. Perhaps its most distinctive features are the five arched windows on the front facade with wooden casements, created with a Gothic Architectural design, a style unusual for the area. Four windows are 3-light with a 2-light version over the front entrance. The overlapping Gothic arches within the windows were popular in the Edwardian area and indeed, they are believed to be original to the early 19th century work done on North Hawkwell. In August 2023, the Schofield family had begun the longterm (and not easy) restoration of the windows, with the bottom right, seen here, recently completed. A 20th century front door within the front porch is not visible because of the camera angle. There is also a early 19th century studded door at the rear entrance on the right side of the house (hidden by the shrub behind Mr. Schofield). North Hawkwell was Grade II listed on the 5th of June 1985, at which time it was suggested the side door was the original front door (101).

On the northern edge of North Hawkwell farm is a broad ridge of land known as the Harwood Brakes. First appearing in aerial photographs taken in the 1940's, a "D"-shaped (or oval) hill slope enclosure was discerned on the edge of a prominent northern scarp, with suggestions of earlier ploughing within an area measuring 55 metres by 35 metres, enclosed by a ditch being 4 to 5 metres wide. In the later 1970's the site was surveyed by Ed Dennison and Vince Russett. A possible entrance existed roughly midway along the southwestern side of the enclosure and any inhabitants would have had extensive views to the north, east and west--certainly vital to any prehistoric settlement, supposed to have been here with dates ranging from 42 AD to 4000 BC. The results of the survey, permitted and assisted by Edward and Wendy Schofield, resulted in the area being protected (102).

In 2020, Wendy Schofield joined her brother and her sister-in-law, Bryan and Pam Stevens, when they welcomed Marion Jeffrey and Tom Sperling to West Harwood Farm to share information on the history of their farm and family history. Thus all the greater appreciation is owing to Wendy to do it again, along with Edward and Andrew and Jill Schofield on 8 August 2023, welcoming Marion and Tom to North Hawkwell, facing yet another round of questions and generously sharing documents and photographs of the ongoing history of their section of the Timberscombe Parish. (It should also be mentioned that Mr. and Mrs. Schofield are longtime friends of Gay Brooks, now their neighbour and still close to the farm where she grew up and whose memories and descriptive writings reveal so much about this area.)

Anonymous /
Anonymous /
Anonymous /
Anonymous /
Thomas Sperling /
Marion Jeffrey

1940's
1960's
mid 1940's
later 1966 or 1967
8 January 2024
8 August 2023

English

1940's photograph featuring North Hawkwell , Timberscombe / 1960's photograph of Wendy Stevens (later Wendy Schofield) at West Harwood, Timberscombe / mid-1940's photograph of the Collier family at North Hawkwell, Timberscombe / c. 1966 photograph of Edward and Wendy Schofield with their son, Peter William Schofield / 2024 photograph of Wendy and Edward Schofield at North Hawkwell / 2023 photograph of North Hawkwell Farmhouse

2023 and 2024

Gift

PLACES: Farmhouses / Timberscombe
FARMING / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe

Good

entered by Tom Sperling

2023 and 2024

W X L

cm

13 x 19 (PHOTOGRAPHS)
13 x 19 (PROPERTIES)
13.5 X 15
13 X 16.5
11 X 14
13.5 X 16
12 X 18.5 (PHOTOGRAPHS)
9.5 X 15 (PROPERTIES)

St. Petrock's History Group

(1) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 and as recalled by Wendy Schofield at North Hawkwell on 8 August 2023 (2) as described by Gay Brooks in "Gay Brooks on Growing up at North Hawkwell", Exmoor (Magazine), Spring 2023 (3) courtesy of Wendy Schofield, 8 August 2023 and as seen in Exmoor, "Farming In the Forties", by Michelle Werrett, Autumn 2023 (4) HistoricEngland.org.uk and as recorded by Marion Jeffrey at 8 August 2023 meeting with Edward and Wendy Schofield and Andrew and Jill Schofield (5) Historic Environment Record, Exmoor National Park, MSO8310 and MSO2604 (6) Somerset Coroner's Roll, 1315-1321, No. 12 Somerset County Court, 6 April 1321, first shared by Wendy Schofield at West Harwood in 2020 (7) Somerset Archaeological and Natural History, 1983, page 90 (8) en. wikipedia.org, kentpast.co.uk and History of Parliament, www.historyofparliamentonline.uk (9) as recorded by Marion Jeffrey at 8 August 2023 meeting with Edward and Wendy Schofield and Andrew and Jill Schofield (10) "HISTORY OF THE HUNDRED OF CARHAMPTON", by James Savage, William Strong, Clare Street, Bristol, 1830 and "A Chronological History of Both Houses of Parliament", by Robert Beaton, Longman, Hurst, Res and Orme, London, 1807 (11) Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Baronet, en.wikipedia.org and "HISTORY OF THE HUNDRED OF CARHAMPTON" (12) Sir Philip Hales, 5th Baronet, en.wikipedia.org and Sir Philip Hales, Ancestry.com.uk, conroy-2021 (13) "HISTORY OF THE HUNDRED OF CARHAMPTON", London, England Tax Records, 1692-1932, London, England, City Directories, 1736-1943 and UK, Land Tax Redemption, 1798 (14) "HISTORY OF THE HUNDRED OF CARHAMPTON" , pages 564 and 565 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 (15) "HISTORY OF THE HUNDRED OF CARHAMPTON", page 227 and England & Wales, Perogative Court of Canterbury, 1384-1858 (16) "HISTORY OF THE HUNDRED OF CARHAMPTON", page 210 (17) England & Wales, Perogative Court of Canterbury, 1384-1858 (18) the peerage,co.uk (19) Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900, UK Poll Books and Electoral Registers, 1538-1893 and 1881 England Census (20) HER, MSO9208 (21) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995 (22) "SCHEDULE OF DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO NORTH HAWKWELL AND NORTH COMBE FARMS, TIMBERSCOMBE, SOMERSET", dated 1972 , received of Messrs. Hosegood, Burges and Co., 17 The Avenue, Minehead, as shared on 8 August 2023 by Edward and Wendy Schofield and Andrew and Jill Schofield (23) Somerset, England, Church of England, Baptisms, Marriages and Buriels, 1531-1812 and Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 (24) Somerset, England, Church of England , Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1531-1812. (25) 1841 and 1851 England Censuses (26) 1851 Wales Census (27) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 (28) Somerset, England, Church of England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1531-1812, Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 and Somerset, England, Church of England, Baptisms, 1813-1914 (29) 1871 England Census (30) Somerset, England, Church of England, Burials, 1813-1914 (31) Somerset, England, Church of England, Baptisms, 1813-1914 and UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (32) Somerset, England, Marriage Registrations, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 (33) Edgcott House, edgcotehouse.co.uk. (34) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 (35) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (36) Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 and 1851,1861, 1871 and 1881 England Censuses (37) HER, MEM246212 and 1851 and 1861 England Censuses (38) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995 (39) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 (40) 1871, 1881 and 1891 England Censuses (41) 1851 and 1861 England Censuses (42) Somerset, England, Church of England, Baptisms, 1813-1914 (43) Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 (44) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 (45) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 (46) Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 and 1881 and 1891 England Censuses (47) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995 (48) 1921 England Census and England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995 (49) 1939 England and Wales Register (50) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (51) 1911 England Census and England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 (52) 1911 England Census and 1939 England and Wales Register (53) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (54) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (55) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Indexes, 1837-1915, UK, City and Country Directories, 1766-1946 and Smith, Clapp, Branfield Family Tree, Hugh Govier, Ancestry.com (56) 1891 and 1901 England Censuses and Smith, Clapp, Branfield Family Tree, Hugh Govier, Ancestry.com (57) 1911 England Census (58) Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1914 (59) 1881 England Census (60) 1891 England Census (61) Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 (62) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations)
1858-1995 (63) "SCHEDULE OF DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO NORTH HAWKWELL AND NORTH COMBE FARMS, TIMBERSCOMBE, SOMERSET, dated 1972 (64) peerage. com and UK and Ireland, Find A Grave, 1300s-Current (65) Philip Pleydell-Bouviere served as High Sheriff in 1878 and his son, Henry Hales Pleydell-Bouviere was High Sheriff in 1904, Peerage.com (66) UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current and 1881 England Census (67) Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1915 (68) "THE KNOWLE ESTATE, DUNSTER, PARTICULARS, PLANS and CONDITIONS OF SALE OF THE KNOWLE ESTATE", by Messrs. W.R.J. Greenslade and Co. for the Public Auction of the Knowle Estate at the Luttrell Hotel, Dunster on July 20th, 1916 (69) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995 and UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (70) "SCHEDULE OF DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO NORTH HAWKWELL AND NORTH COMBE FARMS, TIMBERSCOMBE, SOMERSET", dated 1972 (71) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 (72) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 (73) Kelly's Directory of Shropshire, 1934 and 1939 England and Wales Register (74) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007 (75) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007 and "Gay Brooks on Growing up at North Rockwell", Exmoor, Spring 2023 (76) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Indexes, 1916-2007 and England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995 (77) "SCHEDULE OF DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO NORTH ROCKWELL AND NORTH COMBE FARMS, TIMBERSCOMBE, SOMERSET", dated 1972 (78) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915, England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 and 1939 England and Wales Register (79) "SCHEDULE OF DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO NORTH HAWKWELL AND NORTH COMBE FARMS, TIMBERSCOMBE, SOMERSET", dated 1972 (80) UK Electoral Registers, 2003-2010 (81) England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Indexes, 1916-2007 (82) "SCHEDULE OF DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO NORTH HAWKWELL AND NORTH COMBE FARMS, TIMBERSCOMBE, SOMERSET", dated 1972 (83) West Yorkshire, England, Church of England, Births and Baptisms, 1818-1910, 1911 England Census and 1939 England & Wales Register (84) 1939 England and Wales Register, England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 and as recalled on 8 August 2023 by Edward and Wendy Schofield and Andrew and Jill Schofield at North Hawkwell (85) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Indexes, 1916-2007 (86) "obituary of Eric William Towler CBE 1900-1987" dated "19.01.88", written by a longtime friend of Mr. Towler, as shared on the Towler Family Tree, Tree Search, Adam Towler, "Eric William Towler.CBE., 1900-1987" and as recalled by Edward and Wendy Schofield and Andrew and Jill Schofield on 8 August 2023 (87) a copy of an illustrated design of the proposed properties on Willow Bank by William Schofield is seen at SP-321 (88) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995 (89) England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (90) Timberscombe School LOG BOOK, 3 April 1910-25 March 1947, page 491 (91) as recalled by Edward and Wendy Schofield and Andrew and Jill Schofield on 8 August 2023 (92) "SCHEDULE OF DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO NORTH HAWKWELL AND NORTH COMBE FARMS, TIMBERSCOMBE, SOMERSET", dated 1972 and as recalled on 8 August 2023 by Edward and Wendy Schofield and Andrew and Jill Schofield (93) as written by Wendy Hellewell and shared with the St. Petrock's History Group in 2022 (94) Victoria County History.ac.uk (95) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Indexes, 1837-1915, England Select Marriages, 1535-1952, Somerset England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 and as shared in 2020 by Bryan and Pam Stevens and Wendy Schofield at West Harwood (96) as recalled in 2020 by Bryan and Pam Stevens and Wendy Schofield at West Harwood (97) as recalled on 17 December 2023 by Wendy Schofield (98) examples of "Mixed Farming by Edward Schofield: Edward Malcolm Schofield, Category-Mixed Farming, Category: Mixed Farming, The Evening Standard and Kompass.com/ edward-malcolm-schofield /gb55196347/ (99) England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Indexes, 1916-2007 and a Family Tree, shared on 8 August 2023 by Edward and Wendy Schofield and Andrew and Jill Schofield (100) "BETTER FURNITURE DESIGNS, LEEDS COMPETITION RESULTS", The Furniture Record, The Furnisher and Hire Trade Designs, March 9, 1932, page 351 (101) HistoricEngland.org.uk and HER MSO10547 (102) HER MSO8318 and "Cutcombe, Harwood Brakes, SS928410 , McDonnell, R. 1980, 'Report on the survey of Aerial Photography in the CRAAGS Region' (Copy held with County SMR) (E. Dennison)

St. Petrock's History Group Archive

2024

St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
St. Petrock's History Group PROPERTIES

SP-322

Copies