A Slice of Neroche

In 2010 the Forestry Commission commissioned a tactile sculpture of a cross section of the underlying geology of the scarp slope of the Blackdown Hills. The sculpture, which is made of wood and is now looking a bit worn, is on display on the easy access trail at Staple Hill.  It was made by local sculptor Robert Jakes from an oak tree, which had been felled in Staple Park Wood.  He assembled it on site from 35 numbered pieces on 11th November 2010.

You can still clearly see the geological layers.  From the top going down these are soil and Pebblebeds,  Upper Greensand, spring line, Lower Lias clays, Blue Lias, Red Marl.  

It also shows the type of landscape above each of the layers.  From the top these are plateau, backscar, landslip, marshy grassland and forest.

A Slice of Neroche sculpture

A Slice of Neroche sculpture

RAF Culm Head

The airfield at RAF Culm Head was constructed in 1940-41.  It was initially called RAF Church Stanton.  It was the first of 3 airfields to be built on the plateau at the top of the Blackdown Hills (the others were RAF Upottery/Smeatharpe and RAF Dunkeswell).  It was brought into service in June 1941 to provide shelter from bombing raids for aircraft, which were normally based at RAF Exeter but it was not officially opened until 1st August 1941.  

The first fighter squadrons to be based at RAF Church Stanton were with the Polish 2nd Fighter Wing (nos 302, 306 and 312).  They flew Mk II Hurricanes and later Spitfires Mk V.  They helped to defend the cities of Exeter and Bristol.  A Research Flight also conducted barrage balloon cable cutting experiments from Culm Head.

In June 1942 the Poles were replaced by Czechoslovakian Squadrons (nos 312 and 313), who flew Spitfires from here until June 1943.  In December 1943 the name of the airfield was changed from RAF Church Stanton to RAF Culm Head, to avoid confusion with other airfields with Church as a prefix e.g. Fenton and Broughton. 

The next occupants were the Naval Fighter Wing (Squadrons no 894 and 897) with Seafire IIIs.  They pursued enemy shipping in the English Channel and provided fighter cover for RAF Typhoon squadrons.

In March 1944 No 156 Squadron were based at Culm Head for a month with Mark IX Spitfires.  They were replaced by 610, 286  and 587 Squadrons with Mark XIV Spitfires.

After D-Day (6th June 1944), in July 1944 126, 131 and 616 Squadrons arrived to act as bomber escorts and to conduct attacks ahead of the arrival of ground troops in parts of France.  616 Squadron were equipped and trained with two Bristol Gloster Meteor fighters.  These were the allies first operational jet-propelled aircraft.

RAF Culm Head was placed under care and maintenance by November 1944.  It became active again in January 1945 when it was used by Flying Training Command when it was used as a satellite to RAF Exeter and Headquarters for No 3 Glider Training School.  They used it until July 1945 when it returned to care and maintenance status.  It was closed down in August 1946.

Map showing the layout of RAF Culm Head

Blister Hangar

This was used for the storage and maintenance of small aircraft

Pillbox with loopholes for rifles and machine guns

Key-hole shaped Gun Pit
This is the best preserved of 8 brick-lined gun pits located around the edges of the airfield. 

Aircraft Fighter Pens

These were designed to house two twin-engined aircraft

Aircraft Fighter Pens

Flight Offices

Splendid Seats

Most, but not all, of the following seats are in memory of an individual or a group of people.  As I come across them, I will add more photos to this post. 

Oak Leaf Seat in Combe Hollow near Compton Dundon

A plaque on the rear of this oak leaf seat says "This seat has been sculpted in memory of Anthony Clothier, a forester of great vision, who enjoyed managing woodland for future generations to enjoy.  Sponsored by friends and members of the Royal Forestry Society."
Grid reference ST 500 329.

St Leonard's Churchyard, Butleigh

This seat in the graveyard of St Leonard's Church at Butleigh is one of my favourites.  The base is a fallen or felled coniferous tree, which must have been very tall, judging by its considerable girth.  The back of each seat has a carving on it:

• St Leonard 2012,
• The Olympic rings,
• The Paralympic symbol
• A crown and 1952-2012 commemorating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

There are carved animals at each of the four corners:

• A squirrel
• A fish
• An owl
• A Rabbit

On the top of the seat are two lambs, one seated and one standing.

 St Leonard's Churchyard, Butleigh

 Two lambs on the top of  Butleigh Church's seat

Carved Squirrel on the Butleigh Church Seat

Wind and Weather Hut, Selworthy

The Memorial Hut on Selworthy Beacon (grid reference SS 915 476) is also sometimes known as the Wind and Weather Hut.  It is a stone built shelter, erected in 1878 and built as a memorial to Sir Thomas Dyke Acland 10th Baronet (1787-1871) by his youngest son, John Barton Arundel Acland of Holnicote, New Zealand. 

Jubilee Hut, Webber's Post

The original hut was constructed to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. It is designed so that whatever way the wind is blowing, there should always be a sheltered side.

Pilton Tithe Barn

This seat commemorates the Women's Land Army 1914-18 and 1939-45

Grid reference ST 589 407

 Pentley Seat, Ley Hill above Horner

The seat was erected by his wife in honour of Charles Thomas Dyke Acland 12th Baronet, who died in 1919.  The Acland family owned the Holnicote Estate, which included the Ley Hill from the mid-18th century until 1944 when it was donated to the National Trust by Sir Richard Dyke Acland, 15th Baronet.

 Kingston St Mary's Millennium Seat

The panels on the hexagonal seat on the village's small green depict the history of Kingston St Mary, including the wool trade, which provided money to build the church, general farming, the Kingston Black cider apple, Quantock wildlife and the future as envisaged by local school children.

Mitcham Seat, Allerford

View across the Vale of Porlock from the Mitcham Seat

Lady Lydia Hoare married Thomas Dyke Acland (the 10th Baronet), whose family owned the Holnicote Estate, in 1808.  She grew up in Mitcham in Surrey where there was a similar seat.  This one is located on a permissive path between Allerford and Selworthy (grid reference SS 910 467).  Lydia and Thomas had 10 children.

Carved wooden seat at Hawkridge on Exmoor

There is a large buzzard? on the right hand side and a small red deer stag on the left.

Man on Bench, Bruton

This bronze sculpture was designed by Giles Penny and installed close to the packhorse bridge in Bruton in June 2015.  Apparently it cost £22,000 and gets very hot in the summer when the sun shines, so if you choose to sit down on it on a hot day, beware!

Churchyard of Holy Cross Church, Middlezoy

Date and initials on the Middlezoy seat

This seat with carved stone ends is located in the churchyard of Holy Cross Church in Middlezoy.  Judging by the date and initials on the back, it was made by more than one person in 2016.  It is decorated with various wild animals, including a bat, a fox, a rabbit, an owl, a hedgehog and various birds.

Apple seat, King George V Playing Field, Trull



This seat at one side of the King George V Playing Field in Trull near Taunton is supposed to look like an apple, although I think it looks more like an alien spider!

Stone seat on Wavering Down

This stone seat has the words "Only a hill, but all of life to me" carved into the front of it.  This is a quotation from a poem by Geoffrey Winthrop Young (1876-1958), who was a British climber, poet, educator and author.  The rest of the poem is as follows:

Only a hill: earth set a little higher
above the face of Earth: a larger view
of little fields and roads: a little nigher
to clouds and silence: what is that to you?
Only a hill; but all of life to me,

up there between the sunset and the sea.

Seat in Ashbrittle Churchyard, 

which features the ancient yew tree in the same churchyard

Millennium Seat near Chipstable

Bespoke seat in memory of Ann Le Bas 1923-2020, Winsford

Presumably she liked cricket and attended the church in Winsford, as these are the decorations under the armrests.  She was a painter and printmaker, who lived and worked in Winsford.

Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee seat, Somerton

Deer, sheep, badgers, a heron and a bird of prey are depicted on it.

Another Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee seat in Somerton

War remembrance bench in Somerton

Second World War remembrance bench in Somerton

War remembrance bench in Somerton

High Street, Taunton

High Street, Taunton

High Street, Taunton - Glastonbury Tor

These concrete seats were painted by GoCreate and Rights Community Action in 2023 to raise awareness of climate change.

High Street, Taunton - flowers

Watchet Boat Museum

These benches were painted by Alison Jacobs, who is a local artist.

East Quay, Watchet

East Quay, Watchet

St Peter and All Hallows Churchyard, West Huntspill

This seat with a bicycle design on the backrest, was presented by West Huntspill W.I. to celebrate their 50th year and dedicated to the memory of Jennifer Tiley, 2001.

Giant clothes peg seat, Montacute House, Somerset

This seat is a reminder that the courtyard area was once a centre for a variety of domestic chores, including baking and laundry.   

Cow seat, Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury

Paul Foster's memorial bench, Williton Recreation Ground

Mick Orgill's memorial seat, Winsford
This metal bench is located in the small community garden in Winsford.  It was presented to the people of Winsford in memory of Mick Orgill (1942-2001), who was a farrier and Freeman of the City of London. The plaque on the right hand side of the photo says "Exmoor - here true peace I found."

Victoria Park, Frome

This animal themed bench was made from a 140 year old Norway maple, which had to be cut down in 2025, as it was diseased.  The bench was carved by Graham Derham.

Victoria Park, Frome

Wych Lodge Lake, Blackdown Hills

This fish themed memorial bench was made in memory of Tony Hills (12/7/1956-16/10/2015)