Salvation Army Riots
There were ‘Salvation Army riots’ in Worthing, East Sussex in the 1880’s and in Eastbourne in the early 1890s as the evangelical movement clashed with publicans and members of the…
Six Trains a Day
An entry in William Margery’s school book (circa 1930) shows that there were six trains a day from Taunton to Yeovil and eight in the opposite direction, the journey taking…
Getting home after a few jars of ale
Recalling conversations just after the First World War of how to get home after a few jars of ale:- In 1919 I remember my elders discussing how a farmer got…
ANZAC Day – Shrapnel Gully an Account
For ANZAC Day – An personal account of 26th April 1915 in Shrapnel Gully :- Corporal Robson D.C.M., 4th Battalion, AIF, saw ‘a young fellow get shot in Shrapnel Gully…
Sign to Pedwell
Mrs Lily Tapscott was born in 1893, in Stout, a hamlet of High Ham, Somerset. She remembers when there was a signpost on the village green which read “Beer” in…
The Doctor's Car
The Red Flag Act was repealed in 1896 and Mrs. Grimstone of Halse, Somerset remembers seeing the first car in Bishop’s Lydeard bring driven up the Minehead Road, preceded by…
Letters for Just One Penny
An elderly lady recalls life before the First World War. She remembered that while in service in London her mother regularly sent her the Somerset Herald. The postman took the…
Cricket and Whisky Don't Mix.
Mr A.K. Grabham of Bickenhall, recalls that between 1920 and 1939 Bickenhall had a very good cricket team at staple Fitzpaine, Curland and Bickenhall. The Rector, Rev. Cooke, played himself…
Sunday School Outing
A woman from Enmore, Somerset, remembers a Sunday School Outing to the Quantocks. They set off in a horse drawn wagon prettily decorated by the children towards Will’s Neck Quarry,…
Building Folies
About 1866 there was much poverty in Yeovil and the surrounding districts. Many poorer people being near to starvation and begging at the larger houses. The Messiter family of Barwick…