Snippets Sept 2012 - Friends of Somerset Archives

Snippets - No.25
September 2012
Dear All
Apart from the weather, what a glorious summer 2012 turned out to be! I had no intention of watching any
of the Olympics, professing that it would be far too boring. I found myself loving every minute – don’t ask
me why but I especially enjoyed the cycling “Omnium” . I am sure that 2012 will be long remembered by
everyone, not just for the Jubilee and the Olympics, but for what seemed like a real return of community
spirit.
2012 is also the year I found (or rather they found me) two new cousins – one on each side of the family.
The amazing thing is that when my parents and I met the cousin on my mother’s side, they knew so many
people in common, even though they lived about 15 miles apart. I have yet to meet the other cousin but
now have a good excuse for a holiday next year in Cornwall.
The next edition will be published late November/early December so if you have any articles for
publication please let me have them by mid-November.
Liz James, Editor
Future Events:
Your Criminal Ancestors – A talk by David Hawkings to be held on September 20th at 2 pm at the
Somerset Heritage Centre
Everyone has Criminal Ancestors whether we like it or not! They may have been anything from a Petty
Thief to a Murderer! However, by modern standards, many crimes were trivial. How do you find the
records?
The talk will cover from Trial, Conviction and Imprisonment including those who were transported - often
for crimes that would surprise us!
Please come along and support the Friends,
email archives@somerset.gov.uk to book a place or see Beverly or Helena on the Front desk of the
Heritage Centre.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF SOMERSET ARCHIVES
The AGM is now set for Saturday, October 13th. The Centre will be open in the morning from 9 a.m. and so
will be available for people to use the facilities. Malcolm will be available in the Search Room in the morning
to give people tips on managing and improving old photos on a computer. Bring your lunch and the Friends
will provide Tea and Coffee over lunchtime so we can all have an informal Chat. If it stays this sunny, we
may even be able to have the Coffee and Tea in the Foyer with an overspill so that we can enjoy the
sunshine!
The Business of the AGM will start at 2 pm.
War Memorials – a talk to be given by Sue Tall on Saturday, 10th November at 2 pm at the
Somerset Heritage Centre
On the day before Armistice Sunday, at 2 pm, Sue Tall will give a talk on War Memorials, outlining the
general sources you need to use to research them. Sue is a prominent member of the Friends of
Warwickshire Archives.
Stratton on the Fosse War Memorial .
Tithes maps – an update from Janet Tall, Head of Archives and Local Studies
All of the digitised tithe maps have now been handed over to the Heritage Service. The enormous master
images are stored on our preservation server. We also have a dedicated server for the copies that we will
be making available to researchers.
We have been working with the People’s Network engineers to get access to the tithe maps through the
People’s Network PCs in our searchroom, and are delighted to say that this is now available. Staff have
been able to use the digitised maps for a few weeks, and even in that short space of time we have really
noticed the difference they make – it is wonderful to have coloured, zoom-able, electronic copies rather
than having to peer at the fiche or cope with the original maps.
The next stage of the project will be to “geo-rectify” the maps. This process will match points on the
tithe maps to the national grid, and would mean that other maps, aerial photographs, etc., could be
superimposed over them to show the parish at different times. We are currently trying to raise the
funding to enable this to be done.
We are also purchasing the software to allow us to add the tithe apportionment details to the maps, and
will receive training on how to do this. Completed tithe apportionments are coming back to us at regular
intervals – 'thank you Jenni for organising the tithe scheme and thank you to all the volunteers who
are doing so much hard work on the transcriptions!' The tithe apportionment transcription is a very
important part of the overall project to transform access to Somerset’s tithe maps.
The Dickinson Papers – A Volunteer’s View – by Bob Warren
I first came into contact with the Dickinson Papers in 2008 whilst researching the eighteenth century
sugar industry. They yielded a considerable amount of useful information about the West Indian plantation
and trading activities of the family but, in sifting through the many bundles of documents, I found that
they also revealed themselves to be a resource of much wide significance whose potential had not been
particularly well exploited because of their limited reference information and often poor condition.
Therefore, when The Somerset Heritage Centre asked for volunteers from the ranks of FOSA to
undertake a major programme of preservation, cataloguing and indexing of the Dickinson collection, I was
keen to become involved and make it more readily accessible, whilst at the same time being given the
opportunity to see a lot more of this valuable archive.
Photo of the Dickinson team at the inaugural meeting
Our first task was to unfold each document, flatten it and place it into new, acid free, storage folders and
boxes. This was undertaken in a separate room away from the main area used by the general public.
Tuesday was allocated as “Dickinson Day” and usually about eight volunteers came for either a half or
whole day. Unfolding the documents frequently revealed something of interest to us all and the contents
were often read out and then discussed, so the task was far from tedious and often entertaining. The
atmosphere was very convivial and as work continued the full potential of the collection and its diversity
became very evident. What was revealed was a fascinating tale of the varying fortunes of the family over
many generations. Such was the enthusiasm and the motivation of the group that we surprised the
Heritage Centre staff by finishing well ahead of the anticipated time!
The first phase having been completed, the six people who wished to continue working was divided into two
groups, Indexers and Conservators, according to individual inclination. I decided to be an Indexer and was
allocated the first letter book of Graffin Prankard, dated between 1712 and 1718. Referenced as DDDN423, it contains copies of the outgoing letters of a Bristol merchant, father in law of Caleb Dickinson,
the man who purchased the family estate at Kingweston, near Somerton, in the 1740s’. Whilst indexing the
topics found in a book full of business correspondence might seem to be rather boring, it has turned to be
absolutely fascinating! Prankard was a businessman who would try any form of venture in order to make a
profit and his personality, well described by the historian, J. H. Bettey, as “a fussy, querulous man, closely
attentive to his business affairs, fearful of being cheated, constantly complaining to suppliers about
quality and condition of goods, and always concerned at with maximum profits and avoidance of expense”,
comes off every page. The handwriting in this letter book is so appalling that it can only be his own,
probably because he was unable to afford the services of a clerk at that early period of his career.
Interpretation is often difficult; he does not punctuate and the use of upper and lower case lettering is
random. His style was circumlocutory in the extreme, often to point that what he was trying to convey to
his correspondent is completely unclear and one often aches to précis his writings. Also the reader is at a
continuous disadvantage in that you are only seeing one side of the correspondence. Notwithstanding this,
the picture of Bristol commerce in the eighteenth century comes through vividly and the next page turn is
always made with anticipation.
As is always the case with such work, after a while one gains familiarity with the topics, the personalities
and the archaic style, and they then tend to occupy a small, separate, compartment of one’s mind. Each
uncertainty in the letter book has to be researched and this often leads one down avenues of the past
which are highly interesting and rewarding. A typical one is that of the eighteenth century banking
system. A technique that I have discovered in working on this letter book is that of interpretation of
uncertain handwriting by using a crossword solving website. Type in the recognisable letters of a word that
are not completely readable, leaving gaps where necessary, and then you are given every possible word that
might fit. It is then usually possible to use the context of the sentence to get the correct answer. It
works surprisingly well. I use http://www.wordfun.ca/ but there are many other similar websites.
At present there are four of us regularly doing indexing on a Tuesday. We each bring in our own laptop to
use and have another, supplied by the Heritage Centre, which is connected to the internet. This is a very
useful facility, as “Googling” of unfamiliar words or locations is often required. During the day there is
much discussion and cross referencing of problems of interpretation. Tea and coffee are on hand in the
corner of the room, a very welcome facility.
The Indexing Team at work with, from left to right, Ted Ewens, Rosanna Barton and Sarah Baddeley at work. Bob’s
laptop is in the foreground. Note the catering amenities in the background!
In the afternoon the Conservators come in from their workroom up the corridor for a cuppa and a chat. At the end of
the working day we save our efforts to an “in house” memory stick for obvious reasons. It is a very pleasant working
environment. I am near to finishing my work on the first letter book and will hand it over to Liz Grant for processing
fairly soon and have already been allocated the next volume, Prankard’s letter book for 1734-6. A quick glance has shown
that by then he was able to afford to employ a competent clerk who has a fine copperplate hand. Bliss!
Anne Leamon carrying out conservation whilst Mervyn Richens looks on and advises.
If any other member of FOSA would like to give a hand to progress this work on the Dickinson archive, you
are welcome to come along on a Tuesday and see what we get up to. At least two more people together with
their documents and laptops could be fitted around the work table. If you do not have a suitable computer
of your own, the Heritage Centre can supply one. The conservation workshop has lots of space if that is
more your thing.
A pauper inventory made 1708 in Edington – by Anne Murch
Inventories of possessions which were attached to early wills are fascinating in giving us a glimpse at
details of our ancestors’ lives but perhaps less well known are the inventories which sometimes appear in
poor law overseers’ accounts, listing the belongings of the poor.
An example in the Somerset record office dated 1708, from the village of Edington, is headed “an account
of Tamzen Cooke’s goods when she was moved over to John Hodges.”
This includes:
3 sheets, 2 changes (shifts – body garments usually of linen or cotton), 1 peelcloth (pillow case ), 2 caps, 1
dresing, 2 coverleds, 1 peere of blankett, 2 peels ( pillows), one very bad blankett, 1 very bad bed, 1
bedstead and mat, 1 bord (table) that stood by the fier, 1 bad amory ( cupboard for food ), 1 paile, 1 joynt
stool ( a four legged stool joined with wooden pegs) and 2 other stools, 2 chairs, 3 timber boles and platers
( flat dishes), tranchers and a littel timber saser (saucer), 3 earthen platters, 1 pewter salt seller and 3
spoons, 2 tin pints, 1 board with a cubard in it, 1 cofer (wooden box or chest) and a turn (spinning wheel), 2
crocks and 3 kettles ( at this date open cooking pots which hung above the fire ), 1 is a littel one, 1 tub, 2
ranges, 2 barells, 1 bad frying pan, 1 truckle bedsteed (on wheels or truckles), 2 cofers and 1 bad trunk, 1
blew apron, 1 green apron, 1 mantell with a badg (was this a pauper’s badge?), 1 good cloth wastcoate and
stomacher, 1 sad fullard ( soft material ) clothe coate, 1 apron, 1 cap, 1 binder, 1 old flasket (? a flask for
gunpowder)), 1 large timber bole, 1 reall, 1 half peck ( container for gallon of dry food), 1 cloth mantell, 1
camlet (a fabric) coate, 1 littell fether peel (pillow) , 2 pair of gloves ( 1 lining (linen) and 1 lether ), 1 suite
of hedcloths, 2 napkins, 2 binders, 1 dressing, 1 bad old tabell napkin, 1 great pan, 1 littell tin saser, 2 paire
of pothooks, 2 paire of tongs, 1 box gown, 1 hower (hour) glass, 1 hangings, 1 glass bottel, 1 littell old paile,
2 old bad foarms (seats without backs) and 1 bad stooll, 1 hamer, 1 hatchett which John Roster have, 1 old
bad reap hook, 1 ladell, som timber dishes, 1 bad choping board, 1 peper quirn (pepper mill?), 1 ? handel pot.
Tamsen Cooke was in regular receipt of a weekly poor law allowance of 2 shillings from at least 1696 and
was described as a widow. The overseers also paid for turves for her heating and cooking and for the cost
of ruckling (stacking the drying turves in a ruckle or pile with gaps in between them) and carrying them to
her.
It wasn’t until 1707 that John Roster and John Inker were paid 1 shilling for moving her over to John
Hodge’s. He is later paid 3 shillings “for trobell about Tamzen Cook”. She continues to be paid 1s 6d a week
allowance and he is paid a lesser amount for keeping her.
This list does seem quite substantial and one wonders whether she had been better off, perhaps when her
husband was living, and had fallen on bad times. She appears to have needed money and fuel for daily living
but, unlike other paupers in the village at this period, she does not receive any clothes until 1709 when the
overseer buys 4 yards of douliss (dowlas-a coarse linen material) at 1s a yard which made her a change and
cape. A shift was probably one of the garments which would have worn out over the years as it was
probably washed more frequently than garments like coats which were made of wool or heavier material. It
seems from the list that she may have had sufficient non perishable possessions not to need help with
household goods.
A George Cooke died in 1683 and Tamsen did not die until 1711. If he was her husband, unless he died quite
young, it suggests she was fairly elderly, if she had been widowed for 28 years. It would also perhaps
explain the number of things referred to as “bad”. Perhaps possessions dating from their married life had
gradually deteriorated.
In the last year of her life she receives for 39 weeks £2 18s at 1s 6d a week and John Hodge receives £1
3s for keeping her for the same period. The overseer also receives 15s 6d from John Hodge for Thamzen
Cook’s goods.
The Axbridge Catalogue – from Sue Berry
Back in February 2009 I wrote a piece for Snippets on the archives of the Borough of Axbridge which I
was in the process of cataloguing as a little job to keep me amused in my retirement. I had, at that time,
listed only 16 boxes of the 58 in the collection but as they were the ones containing most of the extensive
collection of medieval deeds I thought that another couple of years would see the work finished,
A 1263 Inspeximus by the Dean and Chapter of Wells of the grant of William, Bishop of Bath and Wells, to Ralph
Hereward and Muriel his wife of three cottages, one at Axbridge and two at Cheddar, and other lands.
Now, three and a half years on, the end has been reached to the extent that I now have 1608 catalogue
entries and 405 pages of typescript. However, it is too soon to celebrate just yet because now these 1608
“descriptions”, varying in length from a couple of lines to a couple of pages, have to be sorted into an
archival order which fits the Somerset Archives scheme for Borough records.
CALM, the cataloguing system used by the Somerset Archives, is capable of turning a numerical list into a
catalogue arranged by title and within title by date. So, for example, the list I have printed out begins
with Acts of Parliament and goes on through charters, deeds, enclosure, financial, minutes, parish etc.
However, an alphabetical order is no more archival than a numerical one and the entries have to be
rearranged to start with the charters, continue with the minute books, then the financial records with
everything else fitted into the scheme after that. I’m still not sure where to put the glorious run of
medieval deeds – somehow ‘Housing’ doesn’t seem quite right and I refuse to put them under
“miscellaneous” at the end as this is simply an admission of defeat.
Despite the wonders of modern computery, there are times when it is necessary to fall back on the good
old fashioned archival method known as “slip sorting”. This involves cutting the printed catalogue into slips,
each slip being one entry, and then playing a gigantic game of patience at home on the dining room table
with all 1608 of them. The deeds, for example, cannot be listed simply in date order; the majority relate to
properties in Axbridge but there are also properties in Cheddar, Compton Bishop, Wells and other places in
Somerset and out-county. Each parish will need its own section in the list. Within Axbridge itself, it has
been possible to trace the history of some individual properties over the course of 150-250 years. For
example, number 954 is a lease for three lives of a messuage on the east side of the market place with a
garden on the north side of the church, dated 1658. Numbers 49 and 902 relate to the same property as
possibly do 117/6 and 133 so these slips will need to be identified and put with 954 so that the deeds for
that property can be listed in chronological sequence.
When all this has been done and new numbers assigned to the records, then my original pencil number on
each document will have to be erased and the new number written on. Where several documents have been
put into folders, the folders will have to be labelled with the relevant numbers and finally the collection
will have to be re-sorted in the boxes and the boxes re-labelled. So, perhaps it is truer to say that I have
reached the beginning of the end rather than the end itself but now I can at least see light at the end of
the tunnel.
HOLIDAYS AT HOME WEEK 1943 by Jack Sweet
Travel during World War Two could be long, tedious and very difficult. Petrol for private use was tightly
controlled and almost non-existent for recreational motoring; also the ‘war effort’ took priority on rail and
road. The discomfort of rail travel can be imagined when a check at Waterloo Station during the August
Bank Holiday week-end in 1943 revealed that over 1300 people had travelled in a main line train which
normally carried 460. Holidays at Home was a national scheme to provide entertainment for those people
who could not, or who did not wish to get away during the usual summer holiday weeks. In Yeovil, the
Borough Council’s Holidays Amenities Committee worked hard to organise a varied programme of
entertainment for the 1943 ‘Holiday at Home Week’ which ran from Saturday 31 July to Sunday 8 August.
On Saturday 31 July, between 700 and 800 people paid their one shilling (5p) entrance fee and attended
the Great Sports Attraction on the Westland Sports Ground. The sports included foot races, relay races,
cycle races, long and high jumps and tugs-of-war, with competitors entering from the local civilian
population and the army at Houndstone Camps; soldiers won the flat mile race and the men’s relay, but the
Yeovil Police team won the tug-of-war. The children enjoyed a Punch and Judy Show presented by Corporal
Stafford the well known ‘Uncle Tommy’ on West Regional Radio. That evening, the Fleet Air Arm Dance
Orchestra presented ‘Band Waggon’ in the Princes Street Assembly Rooms in aid of the Merchant Navy
Comforts Fund. Guest artistes included BBC pianist Ernest Lush and Johnny Fanton, formerly resident
guest artiste with the Columbia Broadcasting Company; Paddy Dolan and ‘Chips’ Chappell provided the
comedy routines.
A full programme was arranged for Bank Holiday Monday, 2 August. At 2.30pm a team from Westland
Aircraft played Yeovil in a cricket match on the company’s sports ground off Westbourne Grove -
Westland won by four runs. A Monster Whist Drive was held at Huish Junior School at half past seven in
the evening, and there were dances in Summerleaze Park School hall with music by Billy Kelly and His
Orchestra, and at the Assembly Rooms with the Divisional Dance Orchestra directed by Mons. Paquay.
However, the highlight of the day, a Speedway Meeting on Mr Chudleigh’s field at the Pen Mills, which
included a Ladies Pillion Event and a Chance for an Enthusiast, was cancelled at the last moment due to the
non-arrival by rail of the racing fuel. During the day the organiser, Mr Schofield, had toured the local
railway stations trying to find out what had happened to the precious petrol, and had tried unsuccessfully
to obtain supplies from local petrol dealers.
On Tuesday, 3 August, Grass Royal School hall was filled to capacity, with many people standing, for a two
hour entertainment presented by the Westland Players and an ENSA party (Entertainments National
Service Association). The Westland Players performed a farcical comedy ‘Brown with an E’ which was
reported to have ‘harmonised well with the holiday mood of the audience.’ ENSA presented instrumental
music, songs and dances described as being ‘both “hot” and “sweet”’ - Lena Fordyce danced and Shenton
Harris sang.
On Wednesday afternoon, a large crowd turned out at the Huish Football Ground to watch an exhibition
baseball game by two visiting teams of American servicemen. In the evening the Americans drew another
large audience to the Assembly Rooms for a concert of Spirituals and Gospel songs followed by a ‘jam
session’ from The Rhythm Boys.
Over a thousand people attended a horse and pony gymkhana at the Huish Football Ground on Thursday
afternoon. Despite the entries being limited to horses and ponies kept within 15 miles of Yeovil because of
transport difficulties, the twelve events attracted 182 entries. No professional riders took part but the
standard of jumping was reported to have been very good on the slippery course; the young riders were
said to have done well in the conditions. The Sherborne Boys’ Brigade Band played selections during the
afternoon. On Thursday evening an ‘Under Twenty’s Dance’ organised by Yeovil Junior Youth Council with
Mr Jack Willey as Master of Ceremonies, was held at Grass Royal School, and Ron Webb’s Savoy Orchestra
played at the ‘Popular Dance’ in the Assembly Rooms - admission three shillings (15p) - Forces two shillings
(10p), all proceeds to the Red Cross Prisoners of War Parcel Fund.
There was a Whist Drive in Reckleford School on Friday evening - a quiet day.
On Saturday afternoon, 7 August, ‘A Great Children’s Fancy Dress Parade and Competition’ assembled in
Sidney Gardens at half past one, and at two o’clock the 80 entrants marched behind the band of the 1 st
Yeovil Company of the Boys’ Brigade to the Huish Football Ground. The prize winners were A Lord Mayor, a
Schoolmaster, Modern Girl, Eighth Army, A Squander Bug, Save for Victory, John Bull, Wooden Soldier,
Salvage, and the two Prettiest Children prize winners were Gypsy Girl and Puck. The parade was followed
by school children’s sports with some 280 entries.
The Yeovil and District Horticultural Society, the Town Allotments Association, Somerset Beekeepers’
Association and Yeovil Cage Birds Society held an Open Show of vegetables, fruit, flowers, honey and cage
birds on Saturday afternoon in the South Street Baptist Sunday School Rooms, with 422 entries. Several
hundred people visited the show which raised £110 for the Red Cross Prisoners of War Parcels Fund.
The last dance of the Holiday at Home Week 1943 was held in the Assembly Rooms with Billy Kelly and His
Orchestra providing the music.
The final event of the Week was a United Service and Carolare on Sunday evening in Sidney Gardens,
where a section of the Yeovil Philharmonic Society accompanied the hymn singing.
As a result of Jack’s article, I have asked my mother to write down her memories of the Chard Holiday at
Home Scheme. She has already dictated her memories of her school days for me (we both went to the Girls’
School at Ilminster and even had one teacher in common). (Liz, ed)
Right Royal Symposium - By Mary Siraut
From Anglo-Saxon charters to 103-year old chocolates!
The Right Royal symposium was a sell-out and if you missed it you missed a wonderful day. Thanks to
members and others who sent messages of appreciation.
Those attending the Somerset Heritage Centre on Saturday 23 June enjoyed a wonderful day of royal
stories, including the escape of Charles II, and hearing about the trials and tribulations of organising
Jubilee events and memorials past and present including Somerset’s struggle to establish the Victoria
County History.
Prize-winning decorations at Merriott Road, Hinton St George, in 1953 (A\DDJ/4/4)
There were photographs of extreme decorations, huge meals and a procession along Burnham seafront to
celebrate Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee. We were treated to historic films including the excavation of
the royal palaces at Cheddar in the 1960s and, of course, moving snippets from our Queen’s coronation in
1953.
A hearty buffet lunch was followed by the opportunity to view an exhibition of past Jubilee memorabilia
and other archive and museum objects with Royal connections such as Ethelred the Unready’s charter of
995 and a tin of chocolates from 1909, followed by tours behind the scenes that revealed further royal
treasures in the archive and museum strongrooms including royal portraits and underwear. The day was
rounded off with a reminiscence session on life in 1952 accompanied by tea and traditional cakes.
Souvenir chocolate tin (still full!) commemorating the Prince and Princess of Wales’ visit to Shepton Mallet
in 1909.
New Accessions 21 May-24 August 2012
Not all of these collections have been listed, but they are all available for research at the Heritage
Centre. If you cannot find the details on our online catalogue (www.somerset.gov.uk/dserve), please get in
touch and we can give you more information.
Photo from a recent accession, which show soldiers at the (unfortunately rather damp) Victory Parade at Street in
1918.
Parish records
Cheddar: digital images on CD-Rom of Cheddar baptism register D\P\ched/2/1/13 ([1875-1932]) and two
banns registers ([1823-1897]) (T\PH\ched)
Chedzoy: burial register, orders of service, restoration appeals, correspondence, inspection reports, plans,
articles of inquiry, accounts, and documents relating to the village hall and playing field, 1898-2011
(D\P\chedz)
Evercreech: minute books and correspondence relating to Evercreech Relief in Need (including the
Susannah Hayward Educational Charity), 1943-1997 (A\DNA)
Deeds relating to the advowson of Hemington with Hardington, and associated correspondence, 1883-1985
(A\DNB)
Over Stowey: poor rate book, 1842-1843 (A\DMP)
Priddy: tithe map and apportionment, 1840 (D\P\prid)
Rockwell Green: additional parish records, including accounts, correspondence, plans and specifications,
1860-1987 (D\P\rw.g)
Taunton St. James: engraving of the church and parsonage, c.1850; Festival Service books, 1900-c.1990;
complete run of parish magazines, 1961-2006; and PCC minutes and annual report, 2009-2010 (D\P\tau.ja)
Ubley: accounts and PCC minutes, 1960s-2006 (D\P\ubl)
West Coker: parish magazines and newsletters, 1902-1979 (D\P\cok.w)
Westonzoyland: additional parish records, including marriage registers, 1970-2008; banns register 19301969; registers of services, parish magazines, PCC accounts, charities' accounts Westonzoyland Council
School correspondence and church scrapbook, 1909-2008 (D\P\w.zoy)
Whitestaunton: service registers, PCC minutes and report, 1870-1964 (D\P\wtsn)
Winscombe and Sandford: marriage registers, 2000-2011 (D\P\winsc)
Photo from a recent accession, which show the flower cart at the (unfortunately rather damp) Victory
Parade at Street in 1918.
Local government records
Somerset County Council: Area Working Panel minutes, County Council minutes and Special Accounts
Committee minutes, 2004-2008 (C/Min)
Somerset County Council: Environment and Property Planning and Research Section: County Development
Plan reports, 1950s-1970s (C/PL) (3 boxes)
Somerset Record Office: correspondence and reports concerning parochial church measures recording;
correspondence and permissions relating to the microfilming of parish registers; photographs of the past
County Archivists, 1980s (A\CVL)
North Somerset Council: historical records of the Historic Environment service, including reports on sites
of interest, public guidance leaflets, drainage plans, town plans, papers concerning listed properties/age of
properties and development plans, 20th cent. (D\DC\n.som) (14 boxes)
East Somerset Coroner: inquest files, 2006-2011 (C/CR/SE) (34 boxes)
Banwell Parish Council: correspondence, minutes, reports, declarations of acceptance of office, planning
papers, and other miscellaneous records, 1890s-2000s (D\PC\ban) (17 boxes)
Kingston Seymour Parish Council: letter books, rating records, accounts and minutes, 1894-1997
(D\PC\k.sey)
Langport Parish Council: account books and bank book, 1921-1955 (D\PC\la)
Mudford Parish Council: minutes, accounts and other papers, 1894-2003 (D\PC\mudf)
Nailsea Town Council minutes, agendas, reports and associated papers, 2004-2012 (D\PC\na)
Wellington Without Parish Council records, 1933-2008 (D\PC\wel.wo)
Wembdon Parish Council: minutes, 1890s-2011 (D\PC\wem)
Wessex Water Authority and National River Authority Committee minutes, 1974-1996 (A\BER)
Research papers
Burnham on Sea: research files of Samuel George Nash, including research on Burnham families, Burnham
spa and lighthouse, Walter de Douai, Richard Locke, Blew and Tutton families, Hardwick family, John
Buncombe, tithe, land tax, hearth tax, Burnham church, poor and church rates, 20th cent. (A\DMQ) (20
boxes)
Compton Bishop, South Brent and Badgworth: tracings of maps of the Mordaunt estate, c.1857 (A\DMH)
High Ham: documents, photographs and transcripts, gathered from parishioners, 1906-2010 (A\DMZ)
Lovington: CD-Rom containing a history of Lovington School and interviews with eight local families, [2012]
(A\DML)
Nailsea: research project entitled "Nailsea Coal and Coke Company Ltd" and Diamond Jubilee papers, 2012
(A\BDY)
Quantocks, Spaxton, Wedmore and Clevedon: papers and photographs compiled by the late Burt Harris,
local historian, relating mainly to the sale of the Quantock Lodge Estate and members of the Agapemone,
Spaxton, 20th cent.; records relating to St Hilda's School, Clevedon, 1910-c.1918; deed concerning land in
Wedmore, late 17th cent., 17th cent.-20th cent. (A\DMK)
River Tone: correspondence and research notes on the navigation of the River Tone, 1940s-1960s (A\BLG)
Somerset: miscellaneous architectural surveys and reports, the majority of which are in PDF format,
2004-2010 (A\CQQ)
Military records
Somerset Light Infantry: additional regimental papers, including photographs, illustrations, personnel
papers and army instruction books, 19th cent.-20th cent. (DD\SLI) (about 200 documents)
Somerset Light Infantry: additional photographs of the Somerset Light Infantry and North Somerset
Yeomanry (DD\SLI) (55 files)
Memorial booklet for Private William George Reed, a member of the Somerset Light Infantry, 1917
(A\DNE)
Bundle of documents relating to Percy Frederick Baker, a military driver during WWII, 1941-1986
(A\DNC)
Archaeological records
Shapwick Project archive: additional records, including background research, draft publications, maps and
drawings, late 1980s-2000s (A\CKK) (9 boxes)
Professor Mick Aston: correspondence and paperwork relating to publications; maps, charts and posters,
20th cent. (A\DMW)
Deeds and Family papers
Blake and Clatworthy families: CD-Rom of transcripts of documents relating the families, 1698-1891
(A\DGH)
Shepton Beauchamp: sermon notebooks of the Revd Arthur Lethbridge, 1903-1922 (A\DMU)
Paper of Mrs Caryl Freeman of Taunton, relating to her career in hockey, 1920s-2012 (A/DKT)
Wellington: will of Hannah Middleton and correspondence of the Adair, Steckie and Fox families, 18351856 (A\CSD)
Weston super Mare, Milton, etc.: CD-Rom of scanned photographs of groups of individuals, members of the
Clark family, etc., [1890s-1950s] (A\CRM)
Yeovil: deeds relating to Deane Cottage, 49 Eastland Road, 1884-1910 (A\DNF)
Letters to Miss Kathleen Wadland, a teacher at Stover House School, Newton Abbot, from Ted of
'Gotton', Cheddon Fitzpaine, a friend in the Taunton Home Guard, 1941 (A\DKI)
Cassette tapes relating to A.J. Cook, unionist and miner, with a brief biography, 1977 (A\DMI)
Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire, etc.: deeds and other estate papers including those relating to the
Walker-Heneage, Troyte, Bullock and Warry families, 18th cent.-20th cent. (A\BCP) (44 boxes)
Photo from a recent accession, which show Pierrot at the (unfortunately rather damp) Victory Parade at
Street in 1918.
Clubs and Societies’ records
Langport and Huish Episcopi Senior Citizens' Bowling Club records, 2004-2010 (A\DMM)
Masonic Lodge of Love and Honour (no. 285): minutes, attendance books, accounts, membership papers,
correspondence, menus, 200th Anniversary Year Celebration papers (1992) and other miscellaneous papers,
1792-2008 (A\DLY) (11 boxes)
North Somerset: leaflets, newsletters, etc., relating to politics and local elections, 1976-2007 (A\DMA)
Stogursey: CD-Rom of images of documents relating to Stogursey Ladies Skittles, [1960s-1990s] (A\BGE)
Trull and Staplehay Women's Institute: minute books, 1940-1993 (DD\WI)
Wells: photograph album concerning the centenary of Girl Guiding, 2010 (A\DFK)
Witham Friary Women’s Institute records, 1965-2010 (DD\WI)
Other records
Bawdrip: John Whitby and Sons’ Handy Directory of Bridgwater and Neighbourhood, rate book, tithe book,
two maps of Bawdrip, 1885-1930 (A\DMX)
Butleigh: sale particulars and plans for Butleigh Court, 1941 (DD/X/SOM)
Chard: deeds and associated papers relating to the Chard Turnpike Trust, 18th cent.-19th cent.
(DD\X\WBB) (2 boxes)
Andrew Crosse and Edmund Turner: volume including details of Andrew Crosse and his experiments,
Somerset villages and areas, the autobiography of Edmund Turner, and writings on Galvanism, 19th cent
(A\DMF)
Milverton: Queen's Diamond Jubilee commemoration book, using villagers' photographs to show
celebrations and events in Milverton, 2012 (A\DMY)
North Somerset: copies of tithe maps for the parishes of Worle, Bleadon, Kewstoke, Locking and Hutton;
enclosure map for Bleadon, 1791; tithe map of Weston super Mare; aperture cards of maps of Somerset,
[17th cent-19th cent]; 1991 colour aerial photographs for North Somerset, [17th cent.]-1991 (A\AKH)
Street: twelve photographs of the Victory Parade held at the end of the First World War, 1918 (A\DMV)
Taunton: reports concerning the proposal to incorporate the Crown/County Courts in Shire Hall, 1980-1982
(A\DLZ)
Wells Cathedral Development project, documentation and plans, 1999 (A\DMC)
Set of maps signed by Captain Frederick Elton (Commander) of Whitestaunton Manor, with a coloured
index based on the 1891 6" OS map and manor preserves throughout Somerset, c.1891 (A\BEN)
Two CDs of compositions by Mr. Les Beresford, and nine 'Photographic Rhymes' also written by Mr
Beresford, 1991-2012 (A\DMO)
Contact Information
Chairman: Malcolm Daniels - chairman@friendsofsomersetarchives.org.uk
Treasurer: Frances Daniels - membership@friendsofsomersetarchives.org.uk
Membership Secretary: Frances Daniels - accounts@friendsofsomersetarchives.org.uk
Newsletter Editor: Elizabeth James - editor@friendsofsomersetarchives.org.uk
Deputy Newsletter Editor: Anne Murch - anne@amurch.plus.com
Minutes Secretary: Carol Dimmer - carol.dimmer@btinternet.com
Web-master: Malcolm Daniels - web@friendsofsomersetarchives.org.uk
Tithe Awards project: Jenni Llewellyn – tithes@friendsofsomersetarchives.org.uk
Other useful contacts:
Somerset Heritage Service
Somerset Heritage Centre, Brunel Way, Norton
Fitzwarren, Taunton, Somerset TA2 6SF
Call: 01823 255088
Historic Environment
Call: 01823 278805
Email: heritage@somerset.gov.uk
Web: www.somerset.gov.uk/heritage
Archives and Local Studies
Call: 01823 278805
Email: archives@somerset.gov.uk
Web: www.somerset.gov.uk/archives
Museums
Call: 01823 278805
Email: county-museums@somerset.gov.uk
Web: www.somerset.gov.uk/museums
Somerset Rural Life Museum
Call: 01458 831197
Email: county-museums@somerset.gov.uk
Web: www.somerset.gov.uk/museums
The Museum of Somerset
Call: 01823 255088
Email: museumofsomerset@somerset.gov.uk
Web: www.somerset.gov.uk/museums