On Thursday, 19 June 1913, the Yeovil “Come and Welcome” Lodge of the International Order of Good Templars held their annual picnic at Hardington Rectory. After tea, the Rev Cleife took them on a guided tour of the church and village and showed them the carvings on an old farmhouse.[1]

The old farmhouse in question was probably Cary’s in the High Street.

The Rev Sawyer, writing in the early 1940s, says that “the old building was recently pulled down, and most of it transported to America”, adding: “Two carved heads, known in the village as Adam and Eve, were taken to West Coker Manor House.”[2]

This drawing of Cary’s farmhouse daring from 1848 clearly shows the two carved heads.

References

[1] Western Chronicle, 27 June 1913, p.5.

[2] Ralph Fitz James Sawyer’s typescript history of Hardington Mandeville.