The Tiarks Family

A Little Genealogy

Henry F. Tiarks (1832-1911) was very generous and at Christmas he gave sugar, meat, tea, and rice to the poor of the parish. The Rector Rev. John Gerhard Tiarks and his family distributed the gifts. On Christmas mornings their daughters took oranges and other fruit to the children of the parish.

Every alternate year there was a Christmas Party in the schoolroom and a Christmas tree, the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Tiarks was set up and decorated with candles and gifts for the children. The Rev. John G. Tiarks officiated at the ceremony and after a speech distributed the gifts amongst the children. There was a raffle of small gifts for the parishioners, which were handed out with amusing remarks from the Rector. Three cheers were given for the Rev. Tiarks and his family, and after wine and cake the party finished with the National Anthem.

Frank Cyril and Herman together with their father Henry were keen sportsmen, especially hunting. The family had a mixed pack of beagles and harriers at Loxton. They formed a new pack of hounds in 1907 known as "Mr. Tiarks'." This was a pack of thirty couples of English harriers, hounds bred for hunting hares. They were a beautifully bred pack being 21 inches high and having light-coloured coats. The brothers ran the pack for eight years.

The painting by Alfred Munnings of the hunter "Slade Grey" owned by the Tiarks, shows the Loxton Valley (before its desecration by the M5) with Crook Peak in the background. Please click on the image to download (66K) a larger image of the painting of Slade Grey by Alfred Munnings.

Herman Tiarks revived the Mendip Foxhounds in 1914. He had 40 horses, 40 couples of foxhounds and 35 couples of harriers at Webbington Kennels. There was a temporary break in hunting during World War I, with a change of Master afterwards. Herman Tiarks became Master of the Mendip foxhounds from 1924 to 1928, a position he shared with his brother Frank. After 1928 Herman hunted on West Mendip with a private pack. In 1940 Herman Tiarks again became Master of the Mendip Foxhounds. The brothers Frank and Herman also held Hunter Trials and Puppy shows regularly at Webbington House. The photograph opposite is of Herman Tiarks outside Webbington Farm, near to his home at Webbington House.

Frank Cyril was President of Cheddar Horse show and provided funds to restart the Webbington Cricket Club. He was confined to a wheel chair in his later life because of a hunting accident.

When the hunt was out in Loxton the local children used to run along the bridle-way leading from Loxton to Christon (now part of the West Mendip Way), and open the gates for the riders. The riders threw money to the children for their efforts.

The Tiarks' brothers Frank and Herman were extroverts. They enjoyed a drink and had a reputation for strong language, however it is said that they had a very good sense of fair play and were well respected. Herman Tiarks was a very big man at 6' 6" (2 metres) tall. He was a Churchwarden and when asked to deputise at a church service for the rector who was ill, read the text :-

I am small of stature and of no reputation

Apparently, this caused much merriment among the congregation.

Once when he was in Weston-Super-Mare he saw a boy riding on tricycle advertising a play called 'Daddy Longlegs'. He took over the tricycle and rode around the centre of the town to the great amusement of the shoppers.

Another favourite story still told in the village is that of the pet stag that was kept at Loxton Lodge. The stag got loose one Sunday morning just before the church service was about to start. The hounds and horses were called out to recapture the animal. One version of the story says that the Rector, the Rev. J.G. Tiarks was not pleased, but another says that he tucked up his surplice, jumped on his horse and joined in the chase. There was also the time when there was not enough stabling for the horses at Loxton so it was decided to use the hall at Loxton Lodge as a stable for one of the mares. A sofa blocked the exit and water was taken to the horse during the night in a chamber pot. The hounds were often allowed to run on the lawn and after lunch were let into the house to finish off the remains of the meal.

Another of Herman's interests was motoring and he was once fined for driving through the nearby village of Winscombe after dark with no lights on his vehicle. Another of his escapades was to drive a London taxi up Crook Peak, a rugged hill of some magnitude near to Loxton.

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