The Past...
'Mr Knight of Worcestershire has purchased the allotment….. on Exmoor Forest for £50,000.
The property is near Simonds-Bath...affords great facilities…and will
under the judicious plans in contemplation, become an enviable possession'
Local press article, August 1818)
The property is near Simonds-Bath...affords great facilities…and will
under the judicious plans in contemplation, become an enviable possession'
Local press article, August 1818)
1820 - The Year of Change.
John Knight, who moved to Exmoor from Worcestershire, purchased most of the former Royal Forest of Exmoor by 1820 and began an ambitious land reclamation project – the single biggest of its kind in England. After 17 years he left Exmoor and never lived there again, retiring to Rome, leaving his 16,000 acre Exmoor estate in the hands of his son Frederic Winn Knight, who continued to reclaim the moors and build farms, many of which survive to this today.
No one person has done more to shape the direction of Exmoor’s landscape than John Knight who died in 1850. He is poorly understood and relatively little known. What kind of man was he? Who and what influenced him before he came to Exmoor? And how did these factors shape the Exmoor enterprise?
Now, an extensive collection of Knight family papers has been discovered in the possession of one of John Knight’s descendants by marriage who lives in Worcestershire. Most of the papers relate to the improvements of Exmoor and shed detailed light on John Knight’s great Exmoor project. These papers transform how we see John Knight and his ambitious plans for Exmoor and reveal how John Knight set about turning the empty moorland of central Exmoor into a productive estate.
For the first time we have detailed accounts of this work which show the fast pace of building. In 1819/20 John Knight began a great mansion at Simonsbath, built two farms, two canals, 22 miles of roads and a network of little ‘Scottish-style’ cottages all over his estate. In 2013, Exmoor National Park bought one of these, White Rock Cottage in Ashcombe, and has been trying to find a use for it that benefits the community, businesses and visitors to Exmoor.
John Knight, who moved to Exmoor from Worcestershire, purchased most of the former Royal Forest of Exmoor by 1820 and began an ambitious land reclamation project – the single biggest of its kind in England. After 17 years he left Exmoor and never lived there again, retiring to Rome, leaving his 16,000 acre Exmoor estate in the hands of his son Frederic Winn Knight, who continued to reclaim the moors and build farms, many of which survive to this today.
No one person has done more to shape the direction of Exmoor’s landscape than John Knight who died in 1850. He is poorly understood and relatively little known. What kind of man was he? Who and what influenced him before he came to Exmoor? And how did these factors shape the Exmoor enterprise?
Now, an extensive collection of Knight family papers has been discovered in the possession of one of John Knight’s descendants by marriage who lives in Worcestershire. Most of the papers relate to the improvements of Exmoor and shed detailed light on John Knight’s great Exmoor project. These papers transform how we see John Knight and his ambitious plans for Exmoor and reveal how John Knight set about turning the empty moorland of central Exmoor into a productive estate.
For the first time we have detailed accounts of this work which show the fast pace of building. In 1819/20 John Knight began a great mansion at Simonsbath, built two farms, two canals, 22 miles of roads and a network of little ‘Scottish-style’ cottages all over his estate. In 2013, Exmoor National Park bought one of these, White Rock Cottage in Ashcombe, and has been trying to find a use for it that benefits the community, businesses and visitors to Exmoor.
White Rock Cottage before the scaffolding went up to protect it from the Exmoor weather.
The Present...
White Rock Cottage Restored - December 2019
An extensive collection of family papers have been discovered in the possession of one of the family descendants by marriage in Worcestershire. Most of the papers relate to the improvements of Exmoor and shed detailed light on John Knight’s great Exmoor project.
White Rock Cottage Update
Latest Steering Group Meeting:
These are reports from the meetings as published in Across Exmoor...
2019...
Tuesday 7th May 2019 - Steering Group Meeting
RWN was reported that building work was well underway on White Rock Cottage and that the new timber roof structure on the buildings was being installed. Jan Ross who is now helping with the Trust application to the Charity Commission attended the meeting. Jan anticipates that the Charity Commissioners will take around 8-10 weeks to determine the application once it is submitted. CH reported on the monthly volunteer days in the gardens which have been running since March. A really committed group of between 10 and 20 volunteers are clearing debris and scrub, cleaning the white Rocks and generally getting to grips with Ashcombe Gardens. CH reported that the coffee morning event held in April was attended by low numbers, but SP found that there was strong interest from those few who came. The event clashed with another event that was happening in the parish and this is thought to have affected turnout. It was agreed that a Heritage Open Day event would be held in September 2019. RWN is leading a walk for the Somerset Gardens Trust (date tbc). It was pointed out that the project needs to engage with local schools. RWN mentioned that St Dubricius School, Porlock had been involved in the archaeological excavations in 2018 but that strong links should be made with Exford and Lynton too. He also mentioned the aspiration to approach Heritage Lottery Fund once the Trust is formed to discuss a Development Project from 2020-2022 to help audience development and school’s engagement in the project. RWN and TT have organised a site tour of White Rock Cottage for Steering Group members on Thursday 23rd May at 2pm. This is a chance to see the building before the new roof goes on and demolition gets under way.
Tuesday 5th March – Steering Group
A meeting was held at Simonsbath House Hotel and
Bob Walters who is a photographer and ENPA volunteer presented a slideshow of a selection of the images that he has taken. Bob has begun photographing aspects of Ashcombe and White Rock Cottage on a regular basis with the object of documenting the changes that take place due to the project, but also in order to capture the essence of the place.
Benjamin & Beauchamp Architects had been taken on as Project Managers for the building work. A start-up meeting has taken place and building work is planned to commence in April. Further advice from ENPA planning officers has resulted in a full application, going forward to the Planning Committee. It will be considered on 2nd April. An amendment to the Natural England bat licence is being considered by NE and should be determined on 22 March. Cyril Harriss, a highly experienced conservation builder, has been busy repairing the Gardeners’ Store: the front elevation and arch has been repaired and a new roof is being made. This work is funded by Caremoor and is due to be completed before the main building work on White Rock Cottage commences in order to provide bat habitat on site.
Paperwork about the Simonsbath and Exmoor Heritage Trust was distributed to those who have put their names forward to be trustees. The Draft Restoration Plan had been circulated to the Group previously and it was discussed. On 4th March around 20 volunteers began work on the planting schemes in Ashcombe: so far 2000 snowdrops have been planted, a stand of Scots Pine around one of the outcrops halfway up the Ashcombe valley, swamp cypress in a wet area in the valley bottom; as well, purple willow, Portugese laurel, English yew and box have also been planted. Volunteers have also begun working on site management – they will meet monthly from now on, on the first Monday. A volunteer work plan is being developed. A report on the 4th March was read out to the group, and this will be added to an Ashcombe Journal which will document our progress.
Posters about the Simonsbath Sprintime coffee morning event in St Luke’s Church on Saturday 6th April (10am to noon) were given to all in the meeting.
Tuesday 8th January 2019 Steering Group
The SSG met at the Simonsbath House Hotel and the following points were raised. Rob Wilson-North reported that the funding was now in place to begin the building work at White Rock Cottage and the former Simonsbath School. Work is planned to begin in March 2019. He also reported that the plan to begin work on restoring the adjacent Ashcombe Gardens will be starting in the spring with several volunteers already signed up and raring to go. The chairman of the SSG, Mr Steven Pugsley, produced the draft Trust Document and all members who were present were very happy for this to be accepted as the official Trust Document. It was then asked by members who would like to be a trustee and several members put their names forward. This is a very exciting next stage in the development of the original plan which is to preserve and promote the understanding and appreciation of the history, heritage, culture and traditions of Simonsbath and Exmoor parish. Following on from the success of the Simonsbath Sparkle, there are plans to hold a spring event in St Luke’s Church, Simonsbath, so watch this space as details will follow.
2018...
November 2018 Simonsbath Steering Group.
What a wonderful evening the Simonsbath Sparkle was on Saturday 10th November. The weather reports kept changing through the week and they even predicted thunder and lightning at one point, but thankfully from 4pm onwards it was dry and it ended up being a clear night so we could even see the stars! Ashcombe was a glow with night lights and lanterns and Simonsbath really did sparkle, especially when everyone lit their sparklers! Lorna Vigars kindly supplied the food which was a great success and members of the Simonsbath Steering Group and Exmoor Parish Council created the wonderful fire that certainly kept us all warm. The main reason for the event was to get the community of Simonsbath and Exmoor Parish together and it did. It was so lovely to see so many local people enjoying the food and fire and chatting and laughing together. Thanks go to ENPA for allowing us to have the bonfire at Ashcombe and we hope it will become a regular yearly event. We will be organising other events for the Simonsbath and Exmoor Parish community next year, so watch this space.
We are also looking for people to help with the gardens at Ashcombe, so if you think you might be interested and want to know more please get in touch. The Simonsbath Trust is beginning to take shape and so if anyone would like to know more about how they can get involved with this fantastic project for Simonsbath and the Parish of Exmoor then again, please do get in touch.
Tuesday 4th September - Steering Group
The Simonsbath Steering Group met at Simonsbath House Hotel and the following points were raised. Rob Wilson-North (RWN) spoke about his recent trip to Hafod in Wales, a massive estate created by John Knight’s cousin. Simonsbath and Hafod bear several comparisons and RWN said it was helpful to meet a trustee and also church members who were passionate about their project. It was agreed that if a Simonsbath Trust is created it should seek to establish long term links with Hafod. There was a discussion about how to move to Trust status and RWN updated the group with the intentions for the Ashcombe gardens this winter. The Simonsbath Sparkle was discussed and a date of 10th November proposed as an evening to hold a bonfire and burger social open to anyone who wished to attend. See advert for full details. Many thanks to Simonsbath House Hotel for the use of their room for the meeting and the chocolate brownies are always a delight.
Thursday 2nd August 2018 Steering Group
A meeting was held at the Simonsbath House Hotel to discuss the proposed Simonsbath Trust and the Trust Deed. A report on the recent Ashcombe Garden excavation was given which discovered a path from the original 1820 garden in the main meadow area and a wall and path below the leat. An outdoor social event was proposed to be held in Simonsbath to celebrate the Autumn Season. Watch this space, details to follow in the October edition of Across Exmoor for the ‘Simonsbath Sparkle’.
2017...
On Friday 8th September 2017 White Rock Cottage was open for the public to walk around under the Heritage Open Day Scheme. Representatives of the ENPA and the Steering group were there to meet and greet visitors and to explain the past, present and future of the buildings. People came from far and wide to find out what was happening and all who came were fascinated by the story of the Knights and also the possible developments of White Rock Cottage, the school and the lost gardens. We were told stories of school days by relatives of past pupils and even though it started as a damp Exmoor morning the sun came out in the afternoon and many people were able to see around the usually locked up and secure old buildings.
Tuesday 5th September
The Steering group met on to discuss the application process for Heritage Lottery Funding. It was also discussed that events will be organised for 2018 to raise the profile of the project. It showed from the open day which followed the meeting that allowing access to the site is something that can be done on a more regular basis as people were able to discuss the project with the Steering
Group.
Previous meeting dates:
Jan 2019
Nov 2018
Sept 2018
July 2018
Thursday 14th June 2018
Tuesday 1st May 2018
Tuesday 3rd April 2018
Tuesday 6th March 2018
Tuesday 9th January 2018
Tuesday 7th November 2017
The Future...
The biggest question of all for these buildings is, ‘what should they be used for in the future?’ To help answer this question, a Steering Group of local people and locally elected representatives has been working with Somerset-based architects Benjamin & Beauchamp to develop a range of possible uses. At their heart is a wish that they should benefit Simonsbath as a whole, help to make the heritage of Simonsbath more accessible to everyone and, crucially, that they must be sustainable – in other words, to earn their own keep.
Options for the future
The old schoolroom to be a community space or parish room. It would be a flexible space and could be used for a variety of community events and in support of other local activities. It would have modern facilities and the atmosphere of a Victorian schoolroom.
White Rock Cottage would become an unmanned museum to tell the story of the Royal Forest of Exmoor, John Knight’s reclamation of Exmoor, Simonsbath village and Simonsbath school.
The public toilets would remain and the other end of the building would be used as a workshop or pop-up shop for Exmoor businesses to showcase their work.
As well as this, the carpark in Ashcombe would be improved and access to the old gardens in Ashcombe would be enabled.
Testing and sustainability
Although there is strong local support for the options, before they can be taken any further, they must be tested to establish how viable they really are. Can they be made to work? How much will they cost? Who will run the buildings? How sustainable is the proposed use? This work is being done by the Steering Group with expert help and advice where needed. We would welcome your views and are still keen to learn more about the history of the buildings and of Simonsbath.
The old schoolroom to be a community space or parish room. It would be a flexible space and could be used for a variety of community events and in support of other local activities. It would have modern facilities and the atmosphere of a Victorian schoolroom.
White Rock Cottage would become an unmanned museum to tell the story of the Royal Forest of Exmoor, John Knight’s reclamation of Exmoor, Simonsbath village and Simonsbath school.
The public toilets would remain and the other end of the building would be used as a workshop or pop-up shop for Exmoor businesses to showcase their work.
As well as this, the carpark in Ashcombe would be improved and access to the old gardens in Ashcombe would be enabled.
Testing and sustainability
Although there is strong local support for the options, before they can be taken any further, they must be tested to establish how viable they really are. Can they be made to work? How much will they cost? Who will run the buildings? How sustainable is the proposed use? This work is being done by the Steering Group with expert help and advice where needed. We would welcome your views and are still keen to learn more about the history of the buildings and of Simonsbath.
If you are interested in this project then please get in touch via email at: exmoor1820@gmail.com
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