In response to a request via this website, this month we are looking at Hillgate Cottages, right at the top of Stoney Street. The upper cottage is believed to date from the early 17th century, the lower one from a little later. Both have had subsequent alterations.
Over to our resident historian, Eric:
“Unfortunately, I have only two relevant picture-postcards in my collection, one of which is quite modern, both of which are shown here. I have also included another photograph which looks like it was taken by the Minehead photographer Kingsley-Tayler. This too may have been published as a postcard, but I have not got it in that format.
“The earliest people that I can remember living there were Phillip Moore and Miss Price. My uncle, Edward Staddon, who was born in 1902 told me that the earliest occupiers that he could remember were Tom Moore (Phillip’s father) in the top cottage, and David Rew, who lived in the lower one. Both worked at the Holnicote Estate Yard, which at that time was a very thriving place, being the location of a well-equipped and busy sawmill. Later occupants included the Amber family and Miss Small.
“Lilliput Lane produced three miniatures based on Luccombe cottages. The one called “Spring Gate Cottage” is modelled on the lower Hillgate Cottage and was produced from 1994 to 1997.” (The other two homes featured in the series were Ketnor aka ‘Postmans Knock’ and Wychanger Cottage aka ‘Little Treasure.’)
“I am also including a photograph on which is written “At Blackford, August 26th 1938”. It shows three Holnicote Estate woodsmen in the time before chain saws, removing limbs from a fallen tree. From the left they are: Bill Tame (lived further down Stony Street in the highest of the three cottages, which were later made into two, now called Gould’s & Myrtle), Edward ‘Ted’ Rowlands (Wychanger Cottage) and Phillip Moore (Hillgate). In later years Phillip worked for the local council as part of a road maintenance gang. He had a son, Thomas, who tragically died aged 22 in a motor-cycle accident on the eve of the Coronation, June 1st 1953.”
Click on an image below to see a larger version. See our previous pictures of the month and other posts about local history here.
Thank you so much! Absolutely brilliant. Thanks Eric.