Bawdrip in the 20th century

The Village circa1920 Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• Up to the start of the 20th Century people tended to stay living in one place

• The class structure was still much in evidence; Lower classes were still expected to show due deference to the middle and upper classes.

• The most important people in the village would still have been the Lord of the Manor and the Vicar. What they said went.

• Marriages tended to be between fellow villagers

• Most ordinary folk and some of the more affluent landowners could not write. Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• Church services were well attended

• Generally, village life was hard with water being drawn from wells in the garden, or pumps around the village.

• Serious illness and death was not uncommon, particularly amongst infants.

• A quarter of the children suffered from malnutrition.

• Smallpox was also another killer disease Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• In 1900 Bawdrip had a population of approx. 340 and is described as a village and civil parish, part of Bridgwater Rural District in Somerset.

• The village consisted mostly of smallholdings in the centre and the larger farms along Eastside Lane Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• It was a predominately agricultural village with numerous farms but also with a bakery, post office and public house, its own police station and resident policeman

• Employment reflected this with most workers involved with these activities, the Dunball quarry or in service

• Bawdrip had a railway passing through the village but no station

• But the world is changing Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• In 1901 Queen Victoria died after 63 years on the throne

• Following the death of Rev John Warren in 1901 a new Rector Edward Brice took office followed in 1903 by William Townsend

• In August 1902 the coronation of King Edward VII took place having been postponed because of his illness.

• The village celebrated this with a dinner for all those over 16yrs old and a tea for the younger ones.

• There were mugs for the children, fireworks and an arch was erected at Bradney Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• A long standing popular local event ended in 1905

• The final Crook Bend Race Meeting took place

• Known as the Bridgwater Steeplechase and Hurdle Races began at Crook in September 1820 and were run under National Hunt rules.

• As many as 3,000 spectators attended, some arriving from Bristol and Exeter by trains which stopped at Dunball Station Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• Up to this time most people let a simple life keeping a small amount of livestock a pig, a cow and some chickens as food for the family.

• Only larger households employed servants, and the biggest employers were the local farmers.

• Child labour was essential to the rural economy.

• There was no care or protection for children or other farm labourers working in the fields. Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• 1910 saw the end of an era with the important land sale by the Lord of the Manor of Bawdrip Mr J C Allen-Jefferys of several prominent local properties.

• The 28 lots included Knowle Farm and the lordship of the manor and any manorial rights.

• Other property sold included Brices Farm for £520 and the school house and village school for £100. Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• In 1913 Coal drilling was underway at Puriton

• The working of the small seam would not have been an economical proposition and the project was abandoned.

• Having drilled 2074 feet brine springs were discovered and salt production is undertaken by John Board and Co Ltd

• The Salt Works worked for many years and bars could be purchased measuring 14" x 9" x 4" for about 4d ! Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• Things did not improve quickly, mains water only arrived in the village in 1919

• There was still an open sewer running from Little Wall Lane over the fields, west of Peasey Cottage and into the ditches as late as 1960.

• Oil lamps and candlelight were in use until 1950 when mains electricity came to Bawdrip during the summer of that year. Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• 1914 saw the beginning of the first World War at midnight on Monday 3 August with numerous local volunteers enlisting

• On 19th April 1916 sad news arrived, Private Lionel Vernon Varmen (29), son of Mr and Mrs William Varmen, Church Villa, Bawdrip was killed in action

• His body was never identified and does not have an individual grave. However his name commemorated on the huge memorial at the Menin Gate.

• Sub Lieutenant Pelham Benjamin Knowle Greenhill died on 5th June 1916 on HMS Hampshire with Lord Kitchener on route to Russia

• A joint memorial to them in the gates inside Bawdrip church. Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• Other local families lost loved ones in the first World War

• Volunteer Private George Conduit who had moved to South Wales as a coal miner died 18th April 1918 during the battle of the Somme.

• His name is mentioned on the Tyne Cote Memorial in Belgium

• Private Leonard Milton died on 8th September 1919

• Others were injured but thankfully most returned to the village Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• In 1918 Following the end of the first World War optimism begins to return

• Some women got the vote for the first time

• 1919 Bawdrip School becomes a Council School following the 1918 Act which raised the school leaving age from 12 to 14, abolished all fees in state elementary schools and widened the provision of medical inspection, nursery schools, and special needs education.

• This Bawdrip School group is from the period Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. The old order was changing in November 1921 parts of the Knowle Hall estate was sold by auction Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. Throughout the 1920’s the country was still trying to recover from war.

. Locally poor drainage was being improved

. Radio came of age – ‘wireless’ sets appeared in most people’s houses, bringing global events and entertainment into homes for the first time.

. Unemployment was high culminating in the general strike of 1926

. In 1929 the first TV broadcast took place Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. In spite of this some changes must have helped improve everyday lives in the village.

. 1923 In July the Bawdrip Railway Halt opened 33 years after the opening of the line

. 1924 The village shop is open

. 1925 In December the new Parish Hall is completed Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. More leisure and fun activities were taking place

. The first of many Flower Shows was held in 1925

. Increased motor transport made the occasional outing easier

. And the ever popular village fete with fancy dress Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. During the 1930s the village grew a little with the building of some new properties

. In New Road the bungalow by Clifford March

. And Griff House by William Conduit

. Shannon in Bawdrip Lane by William Parsons Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. The influence of the wider area was increasing during the 1930s with easier travel and increased car ownership

. An outing from the Knowle Inn

. The Knowle Hill garage is now established

. And another at Woolavington Corner

. By 1935 the Silver Fish Hotel Knowle was open and the Tea Room extended a year later Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. In its day the Silver Fish must have been a welcome facility for travellers and very go ahead

. It produced its own publicity material

. It offered a wide range of services and facilities Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. Although times had been hard there was always time for some celebration

. Centenary of Sion Chapel Knowle in 1930

. A concert at the Parish Hall in 1936

. And another in December 1938 Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. Patriotism in the village was also alive in the 1930’s

. In May 1935 the celebration of King George V’s silver jubilee

. And in 1937 the coronation of King George VI with a day of celebrations Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. Unemployment remained high in the 1930’s

. But the arrival of a large new employer must have helped to bring some recovery

. British Cellophane came to Bridgwater opening in 1937 becoming the towns largest employer Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. But in the late 1930’s war again seemed almost inevitable

. The King Sedgemoor Drain was widened

. The ROF built at Puriton

. And war was eventually declared on Germany in 1939 Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. Everyday village life would change again

. World War II was barely a year old, things locally had seemed “normal” but –

. The ROF at Puriton was opened in 1941

. Bridgwater and Taunton Canal now formed part of the Taunton Stop Line, designed to prevent the advance of a German invasion. Pillboxes can still be seen along its length

. The first bombs fell on Bridgwater on 24 August 1940, destroying houses on Old Taunton Road, and three men, three women and one child were killed. Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. The first evacuees had arrived in the area by 1940

. Between 1940 and 1941 housing for workers was built as "pre-fabs" in Woolavington.

. Hostels for single workers were built at Dunball by the King's Sedgemoor Drain

. Later a prisoner of war camp was established at Colley Lane holding 500 German and at Goathurst 500 Italian prisoners.

. But what about in Bawdrip – what was happening Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. Some of the evacuees were now living at Uplands House and had come from the East end of London

• It was known as Bawdrip House Sick Bay when opened for use by evacuee children. Children between the ages of 5 and 15 could be looked after.

• They were children who had had an illness or operation but no longer needed to be in hospital, but still needed looking after.

• It became a County Council nursery and employed young female staff which created considerable interest to the local young men ! • At least one wedding resulted from such associations Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. During this period the 1920’s air field at Westonzoyland was upgraded for operations as were other installations

. This brought a more people into the village to live

. We know that a Gerald Johns and Edwin Miles lived with their families in Bawdrip. Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. The community spirit was truly present in the village with various fund raising for war related causes.

For instance:

. In 1941 the Merchant Navy

. The Home Guard

. The Russian Red Cross Fund

. Collecting Ship Halfpennies for Navy War libraries

. Air Raid Distress Fund Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. However, if you were bored you could always:

. Learn how to deal with Incendiary bombs by attending a demonstration by the chief fire officer in Mr Burston’s yard

. Join the proposed scout group in the Parish Hall Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. In 1945 life began to start to recover following five long years of hardship, shortages and sadness

. In June a welcome home week was organised in celebration

. The welfare state began in 1948

. Electricity installed in the Village and Church in 1950

. But seven years after the war there was still felt to be a need to be prepared Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. Other significant post war events to effect the area were

. St. Andrew's school opened at Knowle Hall in 1947

. In 1950 the local landmark 83 year old Knowle Tower was demolished Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. On 29 June 1951 an explosion killed six men at the Royal Ordinance Factory . No cause was ever identified

. In 1967 the Royal Ordinance Factory experienced a further accident

. Strangely it was covered in a comic of the time detailing the heroic rescue of the two workers Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. But the growing impact of the wider world had a negative impact on village life too

. Bridgwater Branch Railway closed after 64 years in 1954

. The Silver Fish Café was demolished in 1963 to widen the King Sedgemoor Drain

. Sion Chapel closed after almost 160 years in 1988 Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. The future of smaller shops was increasingly in doubt

. Sainsburys came to Bridgwater in July 1973

. The village shop closed in 1975 when Mrs Baker retired after some 40 years

. By then Knowle Hill garage had become Ireland and Stock Farm suppliers and its then closed to develop into Mole Valley Farmers in Bath Road in 1980

. More pressure came in 1994 when Sunday Trading was allowed Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. Over time therefore the Village became more dependant on the outside world for everything

. 1973 saw plans for a hypermarket at Woolavington Corner but this was refused

. The opening of the M5 in 1977 brought more mobility and passing traffic on the A39 which is still growing

. But some relief by 1987 with the provision of a footpath Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• In 1976, four years after it was established, The British Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential moved into Knowle Hall

• Better known as the British Institute for Brain Injured Children or BIBIC as it was renamed, it supported youngsters with brain injuries and other conditions

• It brought the local area more into the public eye with the support from many prominent figures including the Royal Family

• This is the Duchess of York in 1987 opening the new wing. She was the third Royal visitor to the area in eight months following HM the Queen and Princess Anne Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• As we move towards the next century - Some positive events do emerge

• Bawdrip Infants School was extended in 1995 when it merged with Chedzoy securing the lifeblood of the village for the future.

• Skylark Meadow was purchased by Plantlife in 1999 following a local appeal. A wildflower meadow under threat by imminent change of ownership and farming methods it was important as a flower meadow and providing breeding habitat

• The Sustrans path opened in 2000 on the former railway line. It is part of the Sustrans network, National cycle path 3 Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• We have come through 100 years in the life of Bawdrip

• It was and still is a mainly agricultural village but

• Now with fewer farms

• The railway, bakery, post office and the shop have all gone

• As well as the police station and policeman, local buses and Knowle Hill Garage

• Most employment is further away not in the quarry or in service Bawdrip in the 20th Century

• But the Knowle Inn public house is still the popular local pub for the village

• One garage is still trading

• We still have our Parish Hall Bawdrip in the 20th Century

. The World has changed dramatically during the 20th Century as has the village but Bawdrip still clings on to its rural heritage.

. But it is ready to go forward for the next 100

. No doubt with many more challenges to face Bawdrip in the 20th century