The mystery of the events Step into Dovecote The National Trust’s Dovecote For information about Bruton events such stands in Abbey Park above as the Bruton Festival of Arts, Christmas the town. Evening, Packhorse Fair, the Spiral of Light, Perhaps this mysterious building began as part of concerts, art exhibitions and the flower show, Bruton’s Augustinian Abbey. After Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, the Berkeley pick up a copy of our parish family turned the abbey into a mansion and may magazine The Dove, or visit have used the Dovecote as a prospect tower in their deerpark. In the 18th century pigeonholes brutontown.com were put in for pigeons and doves, for their eggs, Below left: Spiral of Light, February meat and manure. The National Trust undertook Below top: Packhorse Fair, May considerable restoration work in 2010. An optional Bottom: Bruton Christmas Evening detour on the Town , overleaf, a walk here gives fine views of the town and leads onwards to the remains of the Abbey Fish Ponds. Welcome to Bruton Follow the Town Trail— ‘One of the proudest BB RC • Stunning art gallery churches in the county’ • Beautiful church BB Pevsner, The Buildings of • Ancient Bruton Museum St Mary the Virgin is unusual in having two towers, the mid- • Medieval bartons By train to Bruton 14th century one to the north and the larger west tower from The story of Bruton starts with fossils of the • 17th-century almshouse to Weymouth ‘Heart of Wessex’ line about 100 years later. A magnificent oak tie-beam roof covers trains call at Bruton up to 8 times a day each the nave and chancel, built by the Berkeley family in the mid- Jurassic age; artefacts come from a Roman • Climb to the Dovecote way, from stations including Bristol Temple 18th century, inspired by buildings seen on their Grand Tour. temple, Anglo-Saxon settlements, a 12th- • Fascinating old buildings Meads, Bath Spa, Bradford-on-Avon, century priory, the life of a prosperous market , Westbury, , , The church is used by both Church of England and Roman town and Bruton’s links with America from • Fine food Pen Mill, Dorchester and Weymouth. Catholic congregations. At the west end is a stained-glass Williamsburg to John Steinbeck. • High Street shopping For more information about this scenic window of Moses taking his people into the Promised Land rail line, see heartofwessex.org.uk and – an appropriate theme for a gift from an American family, Each month casespace contains the creative For longer walks into the local countryside, leaflets brutoncarytrains.co.uk and for train times celebrating ancestors who emigrated from Bruton to the USA work of a local person or a collection belonging can be bought in the Community Office, 26 High telephone 08457 484 950 250 years earlier. Other Brutonians to a Bruton resident. Street ba10 0aa. These are mainly field walks with Visit us by train were first Governors of Virginia, where some road and track over pleasant undulating Leaflet produced by Bruton Chamber of Commerce with the support see back page Entry is free. Telephone 01749 813 014 for more details another Bruton church stands in countryside, all starting at Bruton Station: & of The Heart of Wessex Rail Partnership, Bruton Town Council and 26 High Street ba10 0aa Williamsburg. Cole (7 miles), Stoney Stoke (10), King Alfred’s Tower South District Council. Photography by Stuart Adlington, Hélène Binet, Bryony Brook, Robert Carter, Heather Edwards, Open weekdays 11 am–1 pm, Saturdays 11 am–3 pm (10), Wyke & Huish Lane (4), The Groves (5&8), Vincent Evans, Jenny Guest, Andrew de Mora, Mark Pickthall, The mainly Gothic interior contrasts dramatically Summer opening hours may be longer The Coombes (9), Greenscombe (6) & Cole (4). with the Rococo gold plasterwork and marble of Alison Shingler, bentaylorphotography.com. Cover image by the chancel: it narrowly escaped destruction from or by appointment through the Community Office Phil Taylor. Designed by Lucy or Robert. brutontown.com AS Victorian restorers. SA AS on 01749 813 014 RC BT 37700_Step_into_Bruton_Advert_v4 12/02/2015 11:08 Page 1

Eat & drink . . . Bill the Butcher A At The Chapel Bakery, Restaurant, Winestore, ® The GODMINSTER Shop Clubroom, Terrace, Bedrooms. High Street ba10 0ae 11 High Street, Bruton. Tel. 01749 812388 (01749 814 070) TheThe Flower Flower Shop Shop Visit us and taste our Highest Quality, B The Bruton Castle Great beer, good food. Dinner 8 High Street, Award Winning Wed–Sat and lunch Thu–Sun. High Street ba10 0aw 8 High Street, “Outstanding food in a refreshingly Locally Produced (01749 812 104) Bruton, Somerset. BA10 0AA “Outstanding food in a refreshingly Cheese Range Bruton, Somerset. BA10 0AA “Outstanding food in a refreshingly Our classroom! C Cole Manor Tea Rooms Cream teas, coffees, cakes, Telephone:Telephone: 01749 01749 812465 812465 different atmosphere”. Meat & Poultry... different atmosphere”. All year Day & Residential light lunches and Sunday roasts. Tue–Sun 10–5. And much more! Cole Manor, Bruton ba10 0pj (01749 813 676) [email protected] [email protected] 51 High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0AW. D Green Monkey Juice bar & vegetarian café. 35 High www.theflowershopbruton.co.uk 51 High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0AW. www.theflowershopbruton.co.uk [email protected] High Street, Bruton, Somerset, www.mattskitchen.co.uk BA10 0AW. Find us at In the High Street Street (01749 813 856) [email protected] www.mattskitchen.co.uk [email protected] www.mattskitchen.co.uk E Matt’s Kitchen Wed, Thu, Fri evenings; private 01749 812027 Station Road, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0EH tel: 01749 813733 01749 812027 functions Sat. 51 High Street ba10 0aw (01749 812 027). www.facebook.com/godminster @godminsterfarm 01749 812 307 Trendle Farm BA10 0BA millonthebrue.co.uk www.godminster.com F Roth Bar & Grill Tue–Sun 9am–5pm (Summer), –4pm (Winter). Mon closed (except Bank Holidays). Fri Late 6pm–midnight. Durslade Farm, Dropping Lane TRUFFLES BRASSERIE ba10 0nl (01749 814 700) rothbarandgrill.co.uk TRUFFLES BRASSERIE G The Sun Inn Traditional pub food, eat in or take away 95 High Street, Bruton BA10 0AR plus authentic Persian menu. Sky Sports and Skittle contemporary accommodation in Bruton Alley. 33 High Street ba10 0ah (01749 813 493) Bruton’s award winning French Oak House, Coombe Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0EN Indulgence for House & Garden restaurant with recognition from & stay . . . ‘Taste of the West’ and TripAdvisor H Barefoots Orchard Station Road (01749 814 930) 21 High Street, Bruton Certificate of Excellence barefootsorchard.co.uk

Somerset. BA10 0A11 Brue House In town B&B with parking & without stairs 01749 813 011 Tel: 01749 812180 (01749 813 524) bruehouse.com www.trufflesbrasserie.com J Oak House Contemporary accommodation in the heart www.thegardenhouse.net Antiques Explorer of Bruton. Coombe Street ba10 0en (01749 812 022) © [email protected] oakhousesomerset.co.uk

01749 812022 www.oakhousesomerset.co.uk Photo K High House 73 High Street (01749 813 015) highhousebruton.co.uk L The Pines 1 Old Station Lane, Cole (01749 813 103) HUGH SEXEY’S HOSPITAL KING’S BRUTON thepinesbruton.co.uk 1638 Bill the Butcher M bx ( FOUNDED 1519 Turks Hall Lusty Gardens ba10 0 07807 193 450) The High Street ~ Bruton ARCHITECTURE BAR & GRILL Highest quality, locally produced turkshall.co.uk COMMUNITY EDUCATION EVENTS A unique 17th century, Grade 1 listed alms house, with a HMC |CO-EDUCATIONAL | DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL meat & poultry . . . and much more! 13 – 18 | SITUATED IN THE HEART OF BRUTON N The Wing Overlooking peaceful Somerset hills. EXHIBITIONS GARDEN LANDSCAPE RESIDENCIES beautiful Jacobean Chapel, courtyard, gardens. 26 St Catherine’s Hill ba10 0dg. Contact Amelia 07891 Open to the public from 9.00am to 5.00pm each day. 159 693 or 01749 812 716 Individual visitors welcome, with guided tours for groups & shop . . . by prior arrangement. O The Antique Shop Antiques, jewellery, silver, glass, Traditional Chapel services each Sunday and Wednesday. china, gifts. Open Thur–Sat. 5 High Street ba10 0ab For further information please contact the Master (01749 813 264) Durslade Farm, Dropping Lane, Bruton BA10 0NL 01749 813 369 Please contact Camilla Oulton P Church Bridge Stores Post Office & convenience T: +44(0)1749 814 060 Find us at 11 High Street, Bruton [email protected] www.hauserwirthsomerset.com [email protected] 01749 814 251 store. 14 Patwell Street ba10 0eq (01749 812 339) 01749 812 388 churchbridgestores.com B3081 to Evercreech & to Batcombe

North to Bristol, Bath Wells

HIGHERTOLBURY N A361 A359 Shepton Mallet

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G 59 N I B3 D J A3 D 08 A 1 P to 100 m ondon est 7 Bruton 71 W

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ST CATHERINE’SHILL ST to Castle 12 eter alisbury , L Cary ast H B3 Ex E MBE ST. U T S M O 08 P L Y HIGHER BACKWAY O 1

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. R I V E R S T R B R U E LVE D 14 I Mill on the Brue T O W E R H I L L S N 4 E Y A Activity Centre KW

T BAC S WER St Mary the Virgin

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D Bruton Station A

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E 12 A359 Playground to Sparkford & Yeovil Dovecote Town Trail Hauser & Wirth Somerset Detour to the Dovecote 1 F Other footpaths P A R K WALL L C

4 VE 13 AS the town trail

25 minutes walking from Church Bridge and back (excluding detour to Left along the High Street, where the buildings are in many styles, respect the fact that there are residents here. Inside the gateway, you to the High Street. You can see the gardens at the back of Sexey’s the Dovecote) plus all the time you need to enjoy the sights. with roofs of tiles, slate and stone. 7 Mostly they date from the could be in the quadrangle of an Oxbridge college. Hugh Sexey’s Hospital, 14 and a wonderful array of architectural styles, with 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries but numbers 34–36 and 16–20 are bust overlooks the lawn. Ahead is a fine view towards the Dovecote terraced gardens on the old burgage plots. Park at the station, or in the car park just below Station Road, or start 15th-century of timber construction. The beams on the latter used to and across the gardens, which still provide the residents with fruit, the walk after visiting the Hauser & Wirth Somerset gallery. 1 It was Further along, where the left-hand side of the road narrows in, you can be plastered over, then exposed by a recent owner who preferred the vegetables and a place to relax. a model farm just over 100 years ago but became increasingly derelict. see three arches of different shapes built into the boundary wall with look of them. A huge restoration project in 2014 by the gallery owners blended To the right is the entrance to the almshouse chapel, with Jacobean the back gardens; all these probably came from the ruins of Bruton new with the old and created gallery spaces, an onsite restaurant and The double-fronted building on the south side, dated 1893, was furnishing. Look in vain for the electric lights, as it uses almost entirely Abbey. In 1786 the Hoare family, owners of the Abbey, decided to a meadow garden designed by Piet Oudolf, whose other projects a garage with petrol pumps, but now houses the Museum and the original candle lighting. Through the next door on the right is an pull it down. The building provided a ready quarry for buildings in the include the High Line in New York. Community Office. 8 The Museum is well worth a visit (see details old muniments chest, a wrought-iron coffer with an elaborate lock town, where Abbey stonework can be seen in many places. 14 6 AS AS overleaf). In the Community Office are information sheets with country which covers the entire underside of the lid. Once someone closed it From the gallery car park, cross the road and follow the grassy footpath At the end of the tarmac road, the old ford with stepping stones can walks around Bruton. Next door is a former chapel, now a restaurant, by mistake, and an expert had to come down from the V&A to open it. down to the right. Nearing the bridge, 2 pass the dips in the ground be seen on the right, 15 and just beyond, the 15th-century Packhorse At the Chapel. As a result the lid is now chained open. which were once the fishponds of the old Bruton Abbey. Go under Bridge. 16 This has been repaired many times after floods, the last the railway bridge to the bottom of Station Road. On the corner is Bruton centre is laid out in the late medieval way, with restricted Back in the High Street, you could take a short cut left to the bottom in 1982. Packhorses were needed to carry the huge amounts of wool the recently built, traditionally designed signal box. Just uphill is the frontages on the main road, and long strips of land behind them, of the High Street, or turn right for a few yards to St Catherine’s Hill, produced in medieval Somerset down to Poole on the south coast for companion station building, 3 station clock and old-style red phone known as burgage plots, later used for gardens, outbuildings, stables which is almost opposite. This junction has on several occasions export. A heavily laden horse could cross this narrow bridge, even if its box, with its permanent lady caller, Rita. and stock. achieved national notoriety when a lorry follows its satnav down bulging load projected out on each side above the top of the parapet. the narrow hill and becomes firmly wedged at the bottom. Up this From the bottom of Station Road, continue down to St Mary the Virgin Alleys head north and south off the High Street, leading to the two The three arches of Church Bridge can be seen from here. Its parapet hill, then on reaching double garage doors facing you, turn left church 4 (see details overleaf). parallel roads, Higher and Lower Backway. The local word for the has also been repaired after flood damage. Cross the Packhorse down 12 Tolbury Lane. Downhill, fork left along the stream to the alleys is 9 Bartons. Bridge, pausing for a view to the right of the stepping stones, and Cross Church Bridge 5 to where the medieval fairs were probably start of the ford. Some of the water goes under the old mill house, and to the left of the enormous key in a ‘keyhole’ in the back of the held. On the right is the Patwell Pump, a small pointed-roofed building, Priory House, 10 part of King’s School, has a jetty or overhang jutting the rest continues along the mill leat. Community Hall. Pass the small riverside building that housed the one of a number of Bruton wells. out over the road. To the left of this is a relief sculpture of the Green The path continues 13 past the Duckpond. Where the path meets Bruton fire engine and the town bier. 7 Man with foliage in his mouth, with a unicorn, representing fertility and MP Left up Patwell Street, noting the flood marker, showing the level in the High Street, the house on the left is Town Mill House. There was purity. The shield on the front has the letters IH (I is the medieval J) At the main road, the large wall on the far side of the road is known 15 the great flood of 1917. Look back and imagine the whole area covered a waterwheel here until 1970. Turn right to the bottom of the High and PB, standing for John Henton, Prior of Bruton. Between the initials as the Abbey Wall, with a large blocked-up gateway that used to in flood water. Bruton was always liable to flood until the 1982 flood Street, and follow the main road round to the left. Note on the right: is the rebus (or punning picture) of a Hen and a Tun (or barrel). In the lead to the Abbey. Bruton Rectory is attached to part of the south prevention scheme, which includes a dam upstream of the town. Tower Hill, the way to Mill on the Brue Outdoor Centre. 15th century he brought to an end the somewhat relaxed regime at the side of the wall, and the rest is free-standing, and forms a boundary At the next junction the library is on the right, built by a teetotal Priory, banning the playing of dice, hunting, indulging in frivolities and After the river bridge, turn left along the riverside walk. Where the for the school. philanthropist on the site of the old Wellington Inn. women in the Priory, but he did improve their beer. path forks is an optional detour to the Dovecote (see details overleaf), The walk ends as you turn left, back to Church Bridge. Opposite is a former coaching inn, the Blue Ball, and on the left a fine old where you turn right uphill, up the steps and along the road opposite, Further along on the left is Sexey’s Hospital, 11 with the hanging Georgian residence, with its stone roof and original bow window. This has keeping to the road that runs adjacent to the play park. Bear left at sign outside ‘Hugh Sexey 1638’. These almshouses were founded by glazing bars not of the usual wood, iron or lead but copper to advertise the the crossroads in the direction of Wincanton. The access point to the Hugh Sexey, auditor to Elizabeth I and James I. This post enabled him work of the ironmonger formerly at the back of the building. Dovecote is 300 yards along. Toilets available to the public in to amass a fortune, so his executors could endow the Hospital and, Next is Bruton Pharmacy 6 and on the left the Old Post Office, both much later, Sexey’s School in Bruton. The first residents were 12 poor Returning from the detour, back at the fork in the riverside walk, follow business hours are located in the with Georgian façades. This building used to be a post office and four and elderly men and women from Bruton, with a rule that drunkards, the sign pointing to the High Street. Go down and across a footbridge. Community Office, At the Chapel, shops, was rescued from dereliction to become a restaurant, and has swearers, unquiet and disorderly persons should be removed. It is still King’s School can be seen on the south bank of the River Brue. 10 Cat’s Café, and the Bruton Castle. 16 AS now been converted to residential and office use. a popular residence for the elderly of the town, and visitors should Turn right where the path joins Lower Backway, which runs parallel JG