Contents

1 Earlier Days in East Brent by Ivor Punnett

3 East Brent 60 Years Ago by Grace Hudson

4 The Knoll Villages by Rosa Chivers

6 Brent Knoll Station by Rosa Chivers

7 Last Thatch at East Brent - Weston Mercury & Somersetshire Herald

8 East Brent in the 1920's and 1930's by Waiter Champion

9 A Musical Note by Freda Ham

9 A Journey Along Life's Path by Chrissie Strong

16 Childhood Memories of Old East Brent by Ruth Rider

19 East Brent Methodist Church by Grace Hudson

20 Random Recollections by Connle Hudson

25 Raise the Song of Harvest Home by Ronald Bailey

27 The First Harvest Home in East Brent by Ronald Bailey

30 'The Golden Age' at East Brent by John Bailey

32 Somerset Year Book, 1933 (extract)

33 Burnham Deanery Magazine (extracts, June and November 1929)

35 Acknowledgments

35 Index to Photographs

36-45 Photographs

46 Map of Brent Knoll

47 Map of East Brent

Foreword

It must have been about 1985 when we invited Chrissie Strong (nee Edwards) to have tea with us. She had been a family friend for many years having helped us in the house when we were children.

She had a wonderfully retentive memory, and after she had been reminiscing about life in the village, we asked her to write down some of her memories. She was rather diffident about such an undertaking, but sometime afterwards we received a notebook through the post, containing her recollections.

This was the start of the book. Chrissie's memories are not necessarily in chronological order, as they were random jottings, but we feel this in no way detracts from its interest. In some cases there is repetition, but this is unavoidable and highlights events which had made the most impact on people.

Others from the village have added their stories, and articles from various publications have been included, making it into a worthwhile whole.

We believe this to be a true picture of life as it was in the earlier part of the twentieth century, and we hope it will be enjoyed by its readers.

Grace and Connie Hudson

papers everywhere, and shouted 'get out and don't dare set foot in here again.' I went to the door and then his secretary, a Miss Bingham, caught my wrist and said 'If you go now you'll never get anything.' She then turned on Sir William and told him he was wrong and did owe us the money."

"In the end, after much haggling, he paid up and I got my contract and from that moment on I was able to payoff all our debts and start EARLIER DAYS IN EAST BRENT farming by buying two or three cows and calves here and there. I worked like a dog for years Weekly News, March 20th 1992 and ended up owning two farms. In those days Feature by Ivor Punnett men were paid 15 shillings a week but I always paid an extra shilling for the best." Retired farmer Mr George Hill will be 91 in July and is one of the best known personalities in Mr Hill admits he always loved making a deal East Brent. He left school at the age of 12 but and smiles over one gamble. "For three years faced no handicap in life because he became running we had very wet summers and there a very astute businessman. wasn't one sheep left alive in the valley between the Mendips and the Quantocks. I "Like all country lads I would do anything to thought things just had to get better and when I earn a bit of pocket money and when I was ten went to a market near Minehead I bought two I went off milking for local farmers. I used to loads of sheep, all delivered for under a pound milk in the fields before I went to school and each." when I got back at night, and was paid sixpence a week. Mind, you could do a lot with "The next summer was long and hot and a penny then." farmers were glad to let me graze these sheep to eat up their grass. In the end I had 1,000 "I was born in this house and Dad was a sheep and didn't lose one. We had a small car manager of the Cheddar Valley Dairy. Then then and I put six lambs in the back and went he went out on his own making cheese, mainly off to Weston Market. They were snapped up double Gloucester. He was a very honest man and after that we couldn't keep the buyers who always stood by his word and when the away." great Depression came he always honoured . the milk contracts he had made with local He remembers as a boy how the roads were farmers. The result was that he was buying laid with limestone, which caused great clouds milk at five pence a gallon and selling cheese of white dust in the summer and were two at a penny a pound, and that was the road to inches deep in mud during the wet weather. ruin." "On Saturdays, the farm workers had to turn out and help scrape the mud off the roads so "Things became so bad that the family faced people could get to church in style. In those bankruptcy but were saved by a hard winter days the church was nearly always full." which created a demand for milk which they sent to London. Because of having a short Mr Hill remembers one local tradition which term contract, they were offered a penny extra always caused a lot of excitement. May rolling on each gallon. Later, when a long term contract was offered, there was a problem over down the Knoll. "It was held on the first Sunday the payment of the sum owing. So I went of the month and the winner was the one who down to London to see Sir William Price head rolled the furthest. It was hard going, they of United Dairies, who was a real tartar. ' I told would roll through cow pats and gorse bushes, and the reward for the winner was a cheese." him he owed my father £97 and at first he refused to listen." Another very well known village personality is 87-year-old Mrs Cicely Poole, a lively and "I told him a deal was a deal and asked him cheerful person who still enjoys a game of point blank if he was a man of his word. At skittles." I was born in Oxford but came to live that he banged his fist on the desk, scattering here 60 years ago as a young married woman. My husband sold sewing machines and it was a

hard business. If he sold one machine a week would give you enough gas for one evening's we were comfortably off, if he didn't things light. And as a bonus we got a small rebate were hard. One Christmas he sold three to a from the meter, perhaps a couple of shillings, lady who wanted them as presents for her but every penny was useful." daughters and we had a good celebration." Though those were hard days for the women, "In the end he got a job delivering papers for a Mrs Moore believes times were better then. local newsagent and though it didn't pay a lot it "People were kinder then and helped each other was better than the dole. We rented a small much more." cottage for six shillings a week and when we moved to a larger house the electricity came to One person who has always taken a keen the village and they offered us three lights and interest in the history of the village is Miss a power point free if we would have it Grace Hudson, who came to the village as a girl connected." in 1922, when her father took over the post office and stores. During the Second World War, Mr Poole worked at an aircraft factory making "He was a director of a London drapery Beaufighters and she remembers the business and when he came here he sold frustration of trying to make hearty meals out everything, from boots and shoes to gowns and of 11d worth of corned meat, then a week's bedding and ironmongery. At first we had ration. acetylene lighting in the shop and made our . own gas supply. When the electricity came Mrs Poole is secretary of the East Brent Happy here, they offered to put it in for a pound a Circle and helps at the local day centre. She light." also gives a hand at the village harvest home, along with her daughter, Mrs Rita Thomas. Miss Hudson worked as a telephonist at Says Mrs Poole: "If you want to keep well you Burnham for nine years, returning home to take have to keep busy and active. That is my over the business in 1942. She remembers the belief and I think if you sit down and stop you war years as "very stressful" with all the soon go downhilL" coupons and problems of rationing. A family friend was Mrs Chrissie Strong, who died three Mr Moore, who is in his 79th year, was born in years ago at the age of 84. "We asked her to the village and remembers being paid three- write out her memories and she did so and it is and-sixpence a week at his first job. During a valuable piece of local history." the Second World War he joined the RASC and was one of those fortunate enough to "Another friend was Miss Norah Emery, who make an escape from the beaches of Dunkirk. died recently at the age of 81, and who often used to tell me of the village bonnet maker, who Mrs Jo Moore remembers wartime years as used to make special creations for the gentry very hard for the wives of serving soldiers. "I and farmer's wives to wear to church." had only 29 shillings a week, out of which I had to pay seven-and six rent. When my husband Miss Hudson's father was parish clerk for some joined up I had one child and was expecting years and her sister, Mrs Rosa Chivers, another and didn't see him for five years. continued with the job until she died. Miss Those who talk about hard times today don't Hudson herself was a parish councillor for some know the half of it." 36 years.

To make ends meet, she took a job at a local farm sorting potato sacks. "I was paid two pounds a week for that dirty job and got an extra two pounds a month for cleaning the local school. Those were days when they had a stove and on a winter morning it was often very difficult to get it started."

"We had gas in those days and my mother was given a free stove and three gas lights when the supply came to the village. There was a meter supply and during the war a penny

at Harvest time! Cream, eggs, butter - lovely farm butter - poultry and vegetables would be taken by horse and cart to nearby towns each week.

There were five shops in the village in those days. The Post Office stores sold everything including groceries, hardware and drapery. There was a newsagents, two sweet shops and a baker from a nearby village delivered bread regularly in a horse-drawn van. If you wanted milk you took your jug to the nearest farm and the milk was poured out in a dipper from the churn. EAST BRENT 60 YEARS AGO A row of cottages, now mostly demolished, housed a cobbler, a bonnet maker and there by Grace Hudson were three dressmakers from whom to choose. At the centre of the village, and nestling at the A gifted wheelwright worked from his shop foot of Brent Knoll, stands the lovely Parish making hay wagons and all implements Church of St. Mary's as it has done for many required by the farmers. It was a joy to see the hundreds of years. The spire, with the golden beautiful wheels and finished articles brightly weather vane, gives an imposing background to painted which he displayed outside his the surrounding roads and houses. The workshop. He was also the undertaker. entrance gates were given and erected to the memory of Prebendary A.P. Wickham who, with Two schools served the village - the Church his wife, were well loved and highly respected in School and the Council School. Both schools the village. The Vicarage was at the centre of taught children from the age of five years to 14 village activity in those days and the Women's years. There seemed to be many children in Institute was founded and monthly meetings those days as both schools were full. Pupils. were held there for many years. attended from the outlying villages of the Parish, many walking two or three miles each The Church stables can still be seen, but part is way, in all winds and weathers. now used as a Church room. These stables housed the horses during church services, as Harvest time was exciting with the grass cut they had brought their owners to Church in and dried in hay cocks. It was a thrill to be pony-traps from outlying parts of the village. allowed to ride on a hay wagon to the field and The Wesleyan Church, too, had stables where play among the hay cocks. It was hard work the traps were left in safety while their owners loading the wagon, and building the hay ricks - attended church. a very skilled job.

The village was mainly self-supporting with The Harvest Home was the climax. Early in many small farms. These were named often the week, horse drawn caravans would arrive after trees such as Yew Tree Farm, Ash Tree in the village with trailers of equipment. These Farm, Chestnut Farm and Poplar Farm. Sadly, belonged to the family of Heals' Roundabouts. these are no longer farms but private dwellings. These caravans were beautiful with brass Knoll Farm still remains a farm but Church fittings and gaily painted, and were housed in Farm and Manor Farm are farms no longer. Church Street, the stables being used for the horses. A large marquee was erected in the Farmers were the biggest employers of labour, field in front of the Vicarage and then the Heal and farm produce could be bought direct from family set up their sideshows, roundabouts, the owners. Milk would be taken to the Factory swinging boats, coconut shies and many other at Rooksbridge to be made into cheese and exciting stalls. The marquee itself was cream. Quantities of milk were put into churns, decorated with evergreen garlands looped taken by cart to Brent Knoll Station, and sent off along the roof, and banners, which had been to the cities. Cider apples were grown widely, made and decorated over the years, hung from most farmers making their own cider, which always proved a very popular drink - especially

the sides of the tent giving a festive background. On the day, the Church Bells would ring at 6 a.m. and at eleven o'clock the procession for the Church service would assemble. The band would lead the march, followed by the choir, the clergy, who had been invited, and finally the parishioners. After the service came the luncheon. This was attended by the men only and women and children received a free meat tea at 5 p.m. As now, the luncheon menu consisted of quantities of meat which had been cooked by the committee members, cider and beer to drink and Christmas puddings. This was followed by cheese - a giant truckle cheese donated by the Cheddar Valley Dairy of Rooksbridge - and crusty bread. I must add that the ladies of the village had spent many hours stoning raisins, washing fruit, grating suet and preparing all the other ingredients for the Christmas puddings which were made and cooked at the vicarage. No charge was made for the luncheon and tea to the village people, as donations had been THE KNOLL VILLAGES collected from farmers, business folk and other by Rosa Chivers (1972) well-wishers who all subscribed generously, It takes fifty years to be accepted in a village - Children's sports were held in the afternoon and so they say. But does it take so long? I do not then there was all the fun of the fair. Dancing in agree. I have now lived in a village community the evening continued into the early hours with for 50 years and have felt "one of them" for the band adding to the sounds of the fair most of that time. This is a tribute to the outside. parishioners with whom I have lived and worked for many years. The family of Heals packed up, taking their beautifully decorated caravans away until the In August, 1922, a family consisting of father, next year, (The Harvest Home Committee still mother and three children moved from a invites Heals' Roundabouts each year). The London suburb to one of the villages at the foot marquee was taken down and the fiei

described the countryside around the hill to us all.

Several visits had to be made during the transfer of the business. On one of these trips a retired Methodist minister had asked some children to collect wild flowers for father to take back to London with him. Mother was delighted when the box of fragrant flowers was

opened and presented to her. But for me, from In a street nearby many folk obtained their that moment I wished to 'always live in the water from an old parish pump. Houses were country' - and I have. I think that the memory lighted by oil lamps; my father sold vast of being hustled off the grass by an irate park numbers of glass chimneys for them. keeper in London's Regent's Park when picking little daisies may have had something to do with The Vicarage had its own gas supply, and this my wish. was used in our shop too. We had a gas house outside and a miniature gasometer swimming On the day of our move to this entirely new way in a water tank container. Two drawers were of life I can only remember the arrival at a little filled with carbide, a rocky substance also used country station. A kindly porter met us. Oil in our bicycle lamps. This made a bright lamps hung on posts and a large number of acetylene gas. It could also take a gas ring. milk chums - the old-fashioned variety wider at Woe betide any member of the family who had the base - seemed to cover one platform. been detailed to fill up the water tank and had These were awaiting transport back to London. forgotten during the daytime.

Our arrival at 'home' was filled with excitement. When evening came and we were sitting by the The windows were like church windows - typical fire and the lights began to dim, someone of many houses in the area. Mother was would have to dash out in the dark and remedy extremely worried for, although the house the situation. Oil stoves and coal ranges were pleased her very much, it as yet had no used for cooking. bathroom. The previous owner told her 'it was Being a farming community, most of the good enough for we' and he had brought up a inhabitants worked on the land; most had good family. My father - bless him - bought a gardens and grew their own vegetables, and second-hand bath from the vicarage. He was farmers' wives made cheese and butter. Milk told with awe that 'it had been used by the late was sent to one of several factories in the Archdeacon'. This was rigged up in a shed that district. had an outside drain, an oil-stove and a drum with a tap, and 'hey presto', mother had a My father took me with him when he collected bathroom. orders from distant farms and later to deliver goods. I was able to watch cheesemaking - As a family we had to learn the hard way how to mostly Caerphilly - for the Welsh miners which deal with oil-stoves and many times I can would be sold in the local Markets. remember a completely black room with flames pouring out of the stove! At that time a social scale seemed to exist in the villages. When I was invited to a dance, I I believe that the vicar and my father were the can remember my Mother saying that I could only two persons who had cars. In a farming not go as I had not "come out." What that community, horse wagons and traps were used; really meant still eludes me. church and chapel both had shelters with tie- ups for the horses. Our daily milk was collected In my memories of the parish I must not leave from the farm in a can with a lid. out the important part called Rooksbridge, which has its own Public House, small Chapel The Post Office store that my father had taken, of the Good Shepherd attached to st, Mary's, a sold everything from fashion clothes to chicken Baptist church, and a milk factory employing feed, and in the summer we made ice-cream in many local people. a type of churn in a bucket of ice - and very good it was too. Many housewives had set The factory supplied much milk and cream for Shopping times; a little lady living in a cottage the London market. This business kept the in the village always arrived at 2.15 p.m. on a sub-Post Office very busy with telegrams, Saturday, and collected her shopping and which were delivered by bicycle. Many a time I pension at the same time. did this ride on a very windy road. Sunday delivery was different. If I took a cocoa tin, it In front of the Post Office and adjoining would be filled with lovely cream. Mother property, which was to be our family home for always made an apple pie for Sunday dinner! over thirty years, ran a dusty lane, used mostly by horses, farm carts and ponies and traps. Politically the villagers were either Periodically the lane was tarred. Conservative or Liberal. At election times

feelings ran very high and business folk dare / BRENT KNOLL STATION not let their own party be known. I never knew to which party my father gave his support. Everyone was either church or chapel - a little by Rosa Chivers lower in the social scale if the latter! Leisure- time was enjoyable. Concerts were frequently When our family first moved to East Brent, we arranged, dances and country dancing classes were welcomed by a friendly porter at the were held in the schoolroom. railway station. The station had obviously had much care lavished on it. There were flower In 1925 talk was of the need to build a Village beds on either side of the railway line, sweet Hall, and also council houses. Life was so peas were climbing over lattice, the oil lamps, different in those far-off days, and yet, looking well polished, were hanging on brackets each back, so very similar in Parish problems. side of the platform, and numbers of old- fashioned milk chums were waiting to go to The changing years roll on. More and more London, and clotted cream in large tins, people decide to live in the country and labelled Cheddar Valley Dairy Co. awaited commute to their places of work in the nearby collection. towns. Many more roads and indeed, a Motorway, nearly completed abound. A St. This became our station and the staff were Mary's Church Hall for smaller numbers of folk always courteous and kind. On cold days the and a Hall has been built by the Methodists. porter would invite us to wait in their office with its blazing fire. It was from this station that we Yet still the cry goes up: "We need a Village were able to go on rare excursions and visit our Hall". A group of young people are now trying grandparents who lived at Epsom. to raise money for this worthy cause mentioned so many years ago - to be precise on 16th When I first left home to work in London, I was March, 1925, by the late Mr. Vernon Ward. And naturally homesick. Money was very short, so this year, on Shrove Tuesday, the first event of visits home were few and far between. It cost its kind was held in the Village - a pancake £1.3s.9d to buy a return ticket and that was a race. A fund has been commenced to try to considerable amount of money to save. I carry out the plans suggested so many years remember taking a bus to Paddington just to ago. watch the trains steaming out to the West Country - and HOME. This is the community of East Brent, a Somerset village where past and present meet. The G.W.R. did a grand job with the post. My parents wrote twice a week to me. Postage was cheap, and letters posted at 8 am. In the country would be delivered in London at 10 o'clock the same evening, and one posted in London before midnight would arrive at my home next morning.

Another incident occurred to show how considerate and helpful staff were. It was during the early part of the war. I was returning home late one night on a blacked-out troop train. There were no lights in the carriages and I was sitting on my case in the corridor. The train was not scheduled to stop, but I was advised to be ready to jump when we arrived at Brent Knoll station. The train actually stopped for me, and I was led to a waiting car by the porter with his dimmed torch.

The old station, like so many, was closed and the building bulldozed away. It broke the old porter's heart - he died soon afterwards.

LAST THATCH 'AT EAST BRENT in the 1920's, with several churches and shops, this parish is a very desirable place in which to Weston Mercury and Somersetshire Herald live. Many of the folk who have retired to the west country have found a home here, and are May 1971 finding opportunities of serving the community, Clerk to East Brent Parish for more than 30 by so doing joining with those who have lived years until her retirement a short time ago, Mrs. most of their lives within the parish. Rosa Chivers, of Brent Knoll, has acquired a painting which shows what she thinks may well "To stand at the top of St. Mary's churchyard and to look around to the distant hills and to be the last thatched roof building in East Brent. remember all those of previous generations who She writes: have lived, loved and worked here some living in thatched cottages, some even in mud huts, "Recently an oil painting of Nut Tree Farm, East perhaps gives one a feeling of timelessness." Brent, has come into my possession. It was painted by the late Mr. Ernest Bishop of Burton "Another celebration will be held shortly for the Row, Brent Knoll. The painting shows a Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth. A bonfire will thatched farmhouse which is most attractive. be lit on top of Brent Knoll shared by the two You will not find this farm anywhere in the parish Knoll villages, its rays will be seen for many today for this building was burnt to the ground. miles and like the beacons of old either warning A farm does stand on the same site, although it of attack or other disaster or of rejoicing. This is comparatively modern and is known by time it will convey a message of happiness and another name. It would seem that this was the hope and villages and towns alike will sing God last building with a thatched roof in East Brent Save The Queen." and maybe within quite a large area. Even today some farms and cottages have traces of thatch under their tiles."

"As clerk to East Brent for more than thirty years, I have many memories of East Brent, Rooksbridge and Edingworth. It is probably unique in parish council history for there to have been only four parish clerks to a parish council from 1894 to 1976 from two families; the first was Mr. W. Hutson followed by his son, Mr. E.E. Hutson, then my father, Mr. G.E. Gunniman Hudson, then in 1945 by myself - although during that time I did change my name."

"One feels that The Knoll itself is a very famous landmark. From time immemorial it has been famous in some way. It was certainly a hill fort. What stories it could tell. It is known to have been inhabited in early times, and there are several legends of King Arthur being in the neighbourhood. At one time a resident spent much of his time trying to trace his family connections with this King Arthur of whom we know so little. Interesting finds are on show in various Somerset and Avon museums, and one member of my family wears a ring made of a Roman coin he found as a very small boy.

National celebrations and disasters at home and. beyond these shores have all been recorded in the villages and many generous collections have been made. For East Brent it now seems that with the acquisition of a suitable building for a parish hall, first suggested by the parish council .

garden, and the older boys and girls had a plot and learnt the basics of gardening which was an asset to those living in a rural parish.

After the 11 plus, the successful passed on to the Weston Grammar School or Sexey's School at Blackford which had a farm and concentrated on agriculture. Others stayed on until they were fourteen, or they went to a town school if there were vacancies and suitable transport to get them there.

There were two bus companies plying through the village - Burnell's Motors based at Cheddar and the Bristol Omnibus Company - the Blue Bus, It is well to note that the return fare to EAST BRENT IN THE 1920's and Weston was 1/- (5p) and 6d (2 1/2p) for those under 14 years. 1930's One of the great events in East Brent - as it still is today - was the Harvest Home. Pre the by Waiter Champion (1996) Second World War it was held in the fields Life was very much slower in these early days. adjoining the top school. The school was still Most of the inhabitants were engaged in trying to carry on against the noise of the fun agriculture. There were some fifteen farms in fair moving into the first field. Bringing the fun East Brent then, and most had one or more fair was a major operation and consisted of workmen. Most of the work was done by horses Charles Heals' Roundabouts, and later years the as tractors were very few. It was chiefly dairy Dodgems. The magnificent Steam Engines, cows with herds of 10-20 or 30. Milk was 'His Majesty', 'Her Majesty', and 'Little Jimmy' delivered to a collecting point at the South View towed the luxurious caravans which housed the Dairy which is the farm by the East Brent . show people and pulled the trailers. It was roundabout. From there the milk was taken in almost impossible to continue lessons above the chums (the old conical type which was called the din. After school, the larger boys were only too London Churn) to Brent Knoll Railway Station en keen to help set up the fair and earn free rides route to the large towns like Bristol or London. the next day. The surplus was made into cheese. There was also a cheese factory at Rooksbridge. The Harvest Home day was a grand day, and is still today. The Flag flew on top of the Knoll to There are now only two working farms in the tell the world, and the Church Bells rang out at 6 centre of the village. Most of the land is being a.m. to announce the day had come. They rang farmed by outside farmers. again for the start of the Church Service at 11.15 a.m. Another memory is from the schooldays. There were two schools in the village. It is understood The procession started at the Vicarage (now that Archdeacon Denison would not allow the Rossholme School), It was headed by the Government Inspector into "his" school - hence Bridgwater Imperial Silver Band, followed by the the report was that there was no school in East choir and parishioners. The Church was full to Brent. Therefore another was built (which is now hear the sermon preached by a Bishop or the Village Hall). They were called locally the top Archdeacon. school and the bottom school. After the service the luncheon was held in the My memories are from the top school where large marquee - this was for men only and free there were three classes and two teachers. The to parishioners. The Christmas puddings were head teacher was Mrs. Yeomans. The made at the Vicarage by Mrs. Edwards in the curriculum was basically the three Rs, leading to previous days. (Sadly she died with the recipe.) the Scholarship, the 11 plus. Where the two temporary classrooms are today, there was a

The main speaker was usually the Member of Parliament for the area. It was a great opportunity for him to speak to his people and people came from far and wide to hear him, for in -those days there was no wireless or media - perhaps a weekly newspaper,

The tea was for the ladies and children. It was a sit-down ham tea, free for parishioners. In the evening there was old time dancing (Quadrilles, and Lancers, Barn Dance etc.) to the stirring tunes of the Bridgwater Imperial Silver Band. Those who were tired just sat and listened.

It was always a great reunion of people, for those who had left the parish and had come A JOURNEY ALONG LIFE'S back for the day. PATH (There were many paths at East Brent)

by Chrissie Strong (nee Edwards)

To start with, a few stories told by my father and other older people of East Brent. My grandfather could not do much work, he had been wounded in the Crimean War, so grandmother earned a living by sewing ladies' dresses, handmade, for a few pence. She reared a family of ten, and lost two, a boy and a girl. Grandmother used to sew by firelight, and when she had money to spare she would buy a few candles - they were called "dips" in those days. Every day my father and his brother Bob A MUSICAL NOTE would take a bowl to the Vicarage for soup, other families went as well. If there were a few pence to spare, grandmother would send them, by Freda Ham but if not, they had thick soup all the same. The soup was made from bones and vegetables. I would have been about 16 years of age when The cook was called Mrs Briggs. as a special treat I was allowed to cycle to St Mary's Church to play the organ. There was Father left school when he was eight years old, no electricity at that time - therefore we had to and rode the bull in the plough for farmer Rich at rely on our local sexton, Mr Ted Edwards. He Brent Knoll - I believe there are some Rich would arrive on his tricycle, and for a fee of descendants still at Brent Knoll. My father and sixpence, he would unlock the small door at the his brother Bob used to go bird-keeping for the back of the organ, and manually work the farmers, that was to keep the birds off the corn. bellows. He had to continue this arduous task I understand they got into a lot of mischief. as long as I wished to play. They were paid two pence each week. Father cut three fingers off in the chaff-cutter, getting Ted Edward was a stalwart employee of the the bull's supper. Grandmother got them well Church, and always ready and willing to help in herself, and had eight pence compensation - any way. what a grand price!

In those days it was a familiar sight to witness I had an uncle named William Lee (from another the farming folk dressed in their 'Sunday Best' family in East Brent). He married mother's arriving by pony and trap to attend the Morning sister, and he was an engine driver on the Worship. Somerset and Dorset Railway. Then he was

moved to Bath from Highbridge. He died at the graves etc., when Mr Thomas Francis had Christmas 1978 aged 95 years. He told the got beyond it, he took over. He had 10/- for story of the bull. each grave. Then a Mrs Woodman gave up cleaning the Church, so Mother did that for 2/6d Father used to play in East Brent Band, and on. per week, doing the oil lamps as well. There Sundays they played in the church, before the were a lot of them, and glasses and globes to organ. Mr Brooks of Lympsham told me a story; clean, and often the lamp glasses would break Dad was at band practice, and the teacher told and smash with the draught. father to use his fingers properly, and he said "I can't, because I haven't any." The only other By now I am growing up. We were all at band members I can recall were Alfred Hubbard, Burnham on a Sunday School outing when the Frank Woodward and a Mr Comer from First World War started. We had just said Rooksbridqe. Grace, and were ready to start our tea, when Mr Wickham said that War had been declared with My Mother came to East Brent in 1900, from Germany. I did not know what it was all about, somewhere near Dulverton, and was cook at the and clapped my hands! But as the War went on, Vicarage. Old Mr Lee (James) was the and the boys and men in the village were called gardener, and Mrs Lee did the washing, for the up, I soon knew what it was all about. Denisons. Of course, you were "someone" if you worked there. I was by then doing more jobs, but I had rheumatic fever, and was very ill for some time, I was born in the Bristol Road, in 1904 in the and then I walked with two sticks - I must have house now called 'The Gables'. I can looked a sight with nearly all my hair off. remember mother and dad changing houses, Anyway, with very good care from Doctor, and a and living next door to Mr & Mrs E Francis, in neighbour called Mrs Fry, I recovered. Prospect Cottage where Mr & Mrs Alford now live, and then moving to Brent Street, opposite The doctor lived at Brent Knoll. He came most the blacksmiths' shop. How I used to like to see days in his pony and trap. I don't expect he got the horses being shod. I remember Mr Hubbard paid always, but he never refused, or got into being bad tempered, he only had one eye. tempers. What a lot, Dad with only half his fingers, and Hubbard with one eye! Dare say there were a I remember the day I started school. I went to few other odd ones - Ha, yes, Mr Bawdon on the Church school, and another little girl started crutches! Mr Hubbard had two sons and a the same day, Agnes Emery. We were always daughter. She was a nurse named Annie, she good friends. She passed away about three lived away, but came home for the holidays. years ago, quite near her birthday. She was two days older than me. Next door to what used to be James paper shop lived Mrs Grace Tincknell. She used to be Now in Brent there were some people named always called "Granny", and every week she Starks. Mr Starks was a cattle drover. I never called to collect money. It was for a coal club, knew what their parents did, but I should think and was taken to Miss Wickham at the they did the same kind of job. Miss Starks did sewing, but things had moved along a bit since Vicarage, and each December all the members Grandmothers' day, and Miss Starks had a had 5 cwt. of coal; if they did not have enough sewing machine! She also had two coconut money in, they finished paying the next year. shells, one with pins in, and the other had The coal came from Jeffries. The boats came in tacking cotton, to be used again. They had a on the tide to Lympsham Wharf. kind of parlour shop, sold lace, cotton, and ladies undergarments. I can remember Mother Where the paper shop is now used to be the buying a red waist petticoat trimmed with black post office. I can remember the horse mail cart, braid, 2/6d each, plain ones 1/6d, and corsets and Mr Geoff. Ham and his butchers' cart. Mrs /- upwards. (Whoever reads this I trust they Ham looked after the shop while he was on his won't be bored, I write as it comes to memory). rounds. The cattle were slaughtered near the shop. Dad used to buy his heavy boots from Sealey's shop, they were 4/6d a pair. He earned I am now ready to work at the Vicarage 12/- per week, and in the summer he used to cut evenings, as Mr Cooke the gardener has been around the hay fields, ready for the mowing called up, and is sent overseas to Egypt. I used machine - he started at dawn and worked until to clean the boots and shoes, and steel knives in dark. He also worked in the Church yard, dug the evenings - Oh what a job to get them clean

when they had used vinegar! It was a job with The Gentry and farmers always sat on one side bath brick and cork, and what a pile of them! of the church, and all the rest of the village sat After that I had to fetch the milk from Church in the black seats. "Theirs were the white Farm, a gallon, and take the big can for milk in seats," Dad used to say, "They thought they the mornings, take the evening mail to the post, would go to Heaven first." and if there was any time left over, weed the garden, weather permitting. I also had to take a As I am writing this, all sorts of things come small monkey in the garden with me on a long flooding back. There used to be village rope. The monkey came from Africa - Mr Ted concerts, played with village people, and they Wickham brought him home. I loved it, it was were held in the church school. I remember Dad such a pet. In later years it was sent to a zoo, was the butler in one of the plays, and some but did not live very long. visitors arrived in the play, they were asked to stay for a meal, and he had to say "Have a tatter The Sealeys sold their shop to Mr & Mrs to stay your stomach" - that stayed among the Hudson. They were from London - what a people for ages. wonderful thing it was, someone from there! They had three girls, Rosa, Grace, and Connie. I used to fetch milk for different people from the farm. Some used to give me a penny, some two Now I am 15 years old. The war is over and I go pennies a week, and I used to fetch water from into service at the Vicarage, to do the cooking at the standpipe for a Mrs Petherem for a farthing £1 per month. We were paid on the first of each a week, each day after school. I used to get Mrs month. My print frock cost 8/6d lined, 7/6d not Venn's shopping, she didn't have much money, lined. Mother got me a blue dress, and two so she would give me a slice of cake, and it was white aprons, 1/6d each from Mr Brice at the cake Mother had given her! Cheddar. The other girl came from East Huntspill, her name was Alice Cook. I was sorry There used to be a Captain Tetly living at Brent. for her, she always seemed to be on the run, I He had a troop of Boy Scouts. They had a had plenty to do, but she had more, her legs band, and used to march to Church, first Sunday used to swell up. We had to be up by 6 a.m. in May. Once a year they spent a week on and had to boil the kettle on a stick fire in an Brent Knoll Mother made them fruit cakes, and open grate. Dad used to take them. During the week I would be taken, carried most of the way as my legs Sometimes the kettle would tip up, so I would were weak. have to start again. This would be at about 6 o'clock, and the morning tea had to be up by On the Weston Road, at Dodds Lane, lived 6.30 a.m. Then there would be hot water to Mr & Mrs Rice and their daughter, and on the carry to the rooms, and if there were visitors, the other side of the lane was a bungalow. It was a same procedure. We had the rooms to tidy small farm, with cow sheds and other buildings. downstairs, I did the study, passage & hall each I can't remember who lived there, but I do morning, grate to clear up, and fire to light. I remember lovely flowers. It fell to pieces, but I had a large kitchen range to clean, and noticed the other day that some of the walls are breakfast was at 8 a.m. sharp. So the days went still standing. A bit further along was Mr on, meals - all the cakes were homemade - and Charles Popham's farm, Manor Farm. It was a there were odd bits of cooking for Mrs Wickham lovely old house, Mr Popham farmed in a big to take to the people in the village who were ill. way, and was called the Lord of the Manor. I think it was more or less a nickname. Each Sunday we went to Church, to one of the services. We had one Sunday off from 2 o'clock Years ago I read in a book that there was a until 9 p.m., and the next Sunday 2 o'clock until family of Reids who were Lords of the Manor in 5 p.m. There was a Mrs Thrift who lived in their time, and in the Church there is a plaque Chapel Cottage in Bristol Road. Every Sunday saying something about them, they are buried in she would go to church dressed in black. a vault in the churchyard. Everyone when they reached a certain age wore black. She used to make bonnets, black, and they were lovely, trimmed with lace, and There was a bungalow just inside the Vicarage sometimes with flowers, and cloaks trimmed gate where the gatekeeper lived. A Mrs Small with small black beads. lived there, and once gave me some bread and jam.

Mr Robert Board lived at North Yeo, he was the Near where we used to live in Brent Street, peoples' Churchwarden and his brother William almost opposite the little shop was an Adult was the Vicar's Warden. Mr & Mrs Board and School. It was used for tea parties etc. and Miss Ethel Comer retired to Bumham. On his Bible readings, and there was a service every retirement he gave East Brent a row of yew Sunday afternoon. The Miss Gillings used to trees, to be planted along a very old wall at the come from Edingworth sometimes, and there bottom of the Churchyard to hide it. It was a seemed to be a lot going on. Mrs George lovely old wall, too nice to be hidden, so all the Cooke lived next door to Mother, and she used trees died one at a time. to take me in the week, and sometimes we went to the Chapel. Dad was a Churchman, and he There was an old thatched farm where Kenneth never found out I went to Chapel - the two Popham now lives. It caught fire, and was religions never mixed in those days. There were burned out. It was rebuilt, and Metford Popham stables at the Chapel, and a furnace house, lived there until he moved to Manor Farm, on where Mrs Dunwethy boiled the water for tea the retirement of Mr Charles Popham. There parties. She cleaned the Chapel, and lit a fire in was a Miss Parker who lived with Mr & Mrs C. the big round stove in the middle of the Chapel Popham, and she married Mr Edward Wall. to heat it in the winter. She also did a post They had The Nook built, and lived there for a round to the outlying farms and cottages, and good many years. It was a lovely house, and walked to Lake House Farm, and South View nice gardens. Mr Waiter Callard lived in Church Farm. Mr & Mrs Redding lived at Lake House, Street. He used to play the organ in Church. It and Mr Dibble farmed South View, and Mr & Mrs was an old-fashioned one, someone had to push Huett lived further on again. Mr Huett was a a wooden handle up and down to get the air in mason, and worked "when the spirit moved." He the bellows. Dad did it for a good many years, also kept a few cattle. There are still some of and then when he was made sexton he had to the family about now. toll what was called the "little bell". So I took on the organ blowing. Mother worked at Chapel Farm when all the young people were there, and sometimes I went Friday nights was choir practice, and sometimes with Mother. Mrs Gamlin used to give me some three times on sundays, for 2/6d a quarter bread and cream - oh, it was lovely. They had a (Three months!). Dad and Mother were paid parrot, which scared the life out of me. every three months. Mr Frost was Warden then, and sometimes Mother and I would walk to Jack and Tom Lang sang in the Chapel Choir, North Yeo for the money. they had lovely voices. They used to wear knicker bockers, they came to their knees with a They all used to drive to Church in gigs on band around, black stockings and boots. I had a sundays, the two Mr Boards and Mr & Mrs Frost. pink dress with a big frill round the yoke, and There used to be stables in Church Street for brown button boots to my knees - that was my the horses, and a shed to put the traps and gigs best Sunday turnout. How funny we must have in. Mr Collard went to Caerphilly in his younger looked. days, and learned to make Caerphilly cheese, then came back and taught them to make it in Then one day there came a shock, a big lorry East Brent. came with two horses and several men, and took our beloved Adult School away to Mrs Corner lived in a cottage overlooking the Edithmead. It was used as a church, because it Churchyard, and she had a pony and cart, and was too far for the people to walk to Brent Knoll, used to call on all the gentry on the Berrow as it was in Brent Knoll parish. Rooksbridge people walked to East Brent, but a little cottage Road with chicken, ducks, butter, eggs and veg. in Gill's Lane was made into a Chapel, called the She used to leave East Brent about 8 a.m. and Chapel of the Good Shepherd. They had a collect from the farms on her way, and bring Sunday School there, and other services. back any shopping for a few pence. A Mr Matt Coles came around the villages from Berrow We all had to walk to Brent Knoll station if we with his donkey cart, selling Burnham shrimps, wanted to go to Weston. When Mr Watkins 2d a pint, and other local fish. He always came to Brent Knoll he would take you in his seemed to be bad tempered - they worked hard trap both ways for 1/6d, also a Mr Rideout did in those days and I expect they were tired. the same thing. He also had a very smart There was no machinery then, yet everybody turnout for weddings, a lovely gig, all shiny and seemed to be happy. People are in such a rush bright, shiny harness, and a big bow of white these days. How things have Changed.

ribbon on the whipstock. The whip was never Before the farm workers went milking in the used. I remember Miss Starks that did the afternoon, they had to have a cup of tea and a sewing getting married to a Mr Harrison, and slice of cake. They would bring the horse and they had the trap. Mr Harrison was killed in the cart round to the back door and load up the War. milking pails and chums, stools and spans. The spans were long ropes of woven horsehair about At the farm where Mr K Popham lives were a lot two and a half to three feet, with a loop at one of walnut trees, and the nuts were sold for 4d for end, and a small piece of wood at the other to 100. Mother used to have them in August and fasten through it. That was put round the cow's pickle them for the ringers' supper which was legs just below the knees to stop them from held in the Church School. They had cider from kicking and running away, also the tails were the farms, and ended up being very merry. As tied in with it. Sometimes they would fidget time went on, choir and ringers went by train to about, and knock over the milker. I have had Bristol pantomime. They used to buy roasted many a laugh to see the rnilkies' legs in the air. chestnuts, and jacket potatoes from the barrow boys, who cooked them in big iron buckets on a The postman had a hut in the paddock near the barrow outside the theatre. Dad always brought farm. When he had finished his round, he could some home. Mother worked for many years for rest there, and in the winter he lit a fire in a Mrs Woodward at Church Farm. round stove and dried his clothes if he were wet, Mr Woodward was a farmer, Mrs Woodward and then the hut would be warm for the collected eggs, butter afternoon postman. and poultry from the Owners of the land, where farms on Tuesdays. these huts were placed The eggs were washed were paid a rent. and packed on Telegraph poles earned a Wednesdays, and the shilling a year, then it went poultry got ready for up to 1/6d. Mrs Moore Thursdays market. worked for Mrs Popham - When it was all ready, the washing would be done counted and packed it once a month. There were lines full. It was not just was taken to Brent Knoll station, first train to the washing, there would Bristol, then Mrs be the furnace to keep Woodward would go on going, the wash-house to a later train, just after 8 a.m. The porters saw to scrub down, and other floors to do with the it at Brent Knoll, and the barrow boys at Bristol washing water, for 2/- a day. Your lunch would would have it ready for her when she arrived. be given you, and sometimes a cup of tea mid- morning, but you had to hurry up and get Mother and the Woodwards' daughter Nelly finished by 4 p.m. would clear up the big dairy, everything was scrubbed, the water was heated in a big furnace In Jarvis Lane, by Mr Harry Ham's farm, there with a coal fire, and all the rubbish was burnt. was a way to the Knoll, and some way up the Then there would be lunch to cook on a coal field was a well, with a piece of rock sticking out. stove. Lunch would be for about six in family. It was always dripping, and was called dripping Hilda and I had to sit at a small table in the well. Dad said that when he was a boy, water window. We were at school most of the time, was fetched from there. The last I saw of it; it but if we went to lunch we had to do all the was overgrown. washing up. Sometimes if they were busy, they would be left till after school - it all seemed A Mr & Mrs Emery lived where Harry Ham lives. never-ending. He worked for Holts the brewers in Burnham. He was a cooper, and made and mended the Mrs Woodward did her shopping in Bristol, at the wooden barrels. They also kept a few cows, and City Supply. She brought home lovely things- Mrs Emery made butter in a big wooden butter among them was ground coffee, it saved churn. It had to be turned until all the whey grinding your own, and glace cherries, they were came out. She used to beat it with big wooden weighed up in blue paper packets, all sticky. pats, and make it up into rounds, and print it with Hilda and I had to put all the things away. We a mould with a cow and some wheat on it. She were always given some cherries, and we took a also wore pattens, they were worn on your boots few more, I dare say Mrs Woodward knew! about 2" high, (or higher), to keep your feet off

the wet floors. They were made of iron by the green by the butcher's shop. The water came blacksmith. from the springs at the foot of the Knoll, near the school and church. Mr Denison had a few Mr Ben Starks made his living mole-catching - a pumps put in different parts of the village - when full time job. He skinned them, and then the the water was laid on by the water-works, that cured skins were made into moleskin waistcoats was a posh do. When we lived in Brent Street, for the richer people. Sometimes a farmer Mother used the water from the Vicarage. The would have one. The little creatures were very standpipe at the top of the church had a metal destructive, they made molehills all over the cup on a chain, so the school children could fields, and would kill the grass, and any crops in have a drink. I should never think it got washed their way. Mr Starks was crippled with up, many a cup I have had, and none of us was rheumatism, and went into the workhouse at any the worse. Children used to walk in all Axbridge to be looked after, but used to come weathers from Rooksbridge and Edingworth to out for a few weeks holiday, and go round the school, bringing their dinners, and bottles of cold farms peeling shallots and onions, cutting up red tea. Sometimes the bottles would be placed cabbage for pickling in the winter. I fancy he round the stove, and the heat would crack them, always stayed at Church Farm with the so someone went without. I often think about Woodwards. He slept in the barn, and they those little children, they must have been wet gave him his food. Sometimes he would spend through, and had to stay in it. I was lucky, as I a few hours at my home, talking to Dad. I was did not have far to go. Those that sat near the always scared of him, but when he lived alone I stove were lucky, but the ones at the back must got his milk for him every day. One day I did have been frozen. some shopping for him, and as a treat he asked me to stay to supper. I was too scared to say Mr & Mrs Tom Hill lived at South Hill, where Mr "no", but when he said we had roast hedgehog I George Hill lives now. They had a milk factory, felt so ill, and stayed that way for days! When I and made cheese and butter. Mrs Hill made it in told Dad, he said "Why worry, you are still alive" a shed which was covered in thick ivy, it had a - and that was true. stone floor, and a marble slab. The stone floor was swilled down with water and it was lovely In Church Street, opposite Miss Hodders on the and cool in summer. Mrs Hill made whey butter, grass verge was a well, with stone steps leading for 9d a lb. They also kept pigs, which were fed down, and a few railings near the top. Mr on the whey mixed with meal. When the wind Hodder dipped the water for his gardens. We was in the south you could smell them all over were always told there was an underground the village! That was a sure sign of rain, but passage to Glastonbury when the monks were nobody ever grumbled. there, but has filled up over the years with water. Mr Gamlen also made cheese and butter. Mr & Mrs Hutson and the two Miss Hutsons were Farmers used to take their milk to these small a very jolly family, Mr & Mrs Ham had all boys, factories, also to the Cheddar Valley factory at and there were the Miss Bodys from Brent Knoll. Rooksbridge, which was on a much larger scale. Mr Body was an Auctioneer and full of wit. Also The factory belonged to Cox & Cox of Cardiff, in Church Street were Mr & Mrs Ham, the and the milk was taken to Brent Knoll station butchers, Mrs Redding, Maud Ham. She had twice a day on horse-drawn wagons, and also three brothers, Archie and Sidney were killed in from a milk factory at Tarnock, then owned by the First World War. Sidney was about the first Mr Henry CounselI. It was a common sight to to have a motorbike in East Brent. I remember see people having a ride on the milk lorries from running to the gate to see him pass by on his Rooksbridge to East Brent, or to the station to way home. I think he worked at Weston. There get a train to Weston, and come back the same were very few motorbikes then, but he had an way at night. accident at Brent House. There was a very bad bend in the road there, and Sidney ran into a It was a great time of year when the cider was man leading a bull. I think another vehicle was being made at Church Farm. All the apples involved, and there was a court case, and Dad were gathered in big heaps in the orchards, had to go. women did this job for 3d a bushel. Then they were collected in wagons and putts, and taken to Near the Brent Knoll Inn where the roads cross, the loft over the mill. They went through the mill one to Highbridge and one to Rooksbridge, there and into a vat and press. The pulp was spread was a triangular piece of grass with a water between cider clothes, made from horsehair, pump in the middle; there was another on the and then the big press was screwed tight, and

left to drain. The worn out cloths were Mondays was cattle market, and the cattle were unravelled to mend others. driven for miles, they went along early morning, any time from 2 o'clock. Sometimes the drovers The big steam engine would come round to would knock you up, for a bucket to milk them thresh the com. The coal man brought tons of in. Cows and men must have been tired out. coal from Highbridge, and the farmers would lend their men to help out. Large lunches would We all used to pick blackberries, and they were be cooked at the farms, and carried to the men bought by Mr Fred Ham. Sometimes they were (I can smell it now). Of course if it rained, the 2d a Ib, or a half-penny, depending on the job had to be put off. It caused great excitement market. They were used for dyeing, and in the for the children, and also the grown-ups. jam factory. Mr & Mrs Jack Adams kept three cows, which were pastured all over the village. A real character in the village was Jack Burge, They went milking in a pony cart, Mrs Adams he was short and fat, and worked "when the attired for milking in a large black hat with long spirit moved". He knew where to find the best hat pins and a white apron, Mr Adams in an old watercress, mushrooms and wild violets, which slouch hat and a white coat. I am afraid they he made up into bunches and gave away. were ridiculed by the rest of us.

Mrs Day lived where Miss Hudson lives (Poplar Mr Fisher was the cobbler. His prices were 9d Cottage). She was a dressmaker, and used to or 1/9d, and if he didn't like you, he made a real make dresses for the Miss Gillings, and mess of your boots. sometimes if there was a piece left over, Mrs Day would make me a dress. Dressmakers When the First World War was over, Dad took never gave back any material left over. Mr his comet to the top of the church tower, and Petherham lived next door. He had two played Reveille, at 6 a.m.. At 11 a.m. we met ornaments of old ladies wearing glasses, who at the Bristol Road, near Chapel Farm, and nodded their heads. Nearby lived the Elms marched through the village to Church. At the family, and Mrs Fry, who kept a few cows, and unveiling of the War Memorial Mr Woodward took the milk around in two big buckets, and sold placed a note in a screw-topped jar, and sealed it by the pint. it inside the Memorial.

Mr Hodder used to keep a big garden in Church Street, and took all the produce to Weston, chicken, eggs etc. The garden belonged at one time to the Vicarage. I used to go and help pick the fruit in summer. Charlie and Nelson would help. They would bring home waste food from the Hotels, and it was put in big tubs, soaked, and fed to the pigs and hens. Mrs Hodder served customers at the house.

Mr Francis was the village carpenter and undertaker. He made wagons, wheelbarrows, and they were painted with pretty patterns - real works of art. Mr & Mrs George Francis had a

bicycle made for two, and twice a year they would set off for Loxton to see their relations. Mrs Lang would shout for Mother to come and see them.

Mr Brooks was baker at Rooksbridge, he would come at about four in the afternoon with nice hot bread. There was Mr Leach from Tarnock, and Mr Alien from Lympsham who came any time up to midnight. He made cider biscuits, they were round, something like a scone, only lighter, with caraway seeds in.

Sunday was special - work done early in the morning and we were all ready to go to Church at 11 o'clock to join in the worship. We would sing in Sunday School in the afternoon, and in the evening Father and Mother would take us for a lovely walk - up the Knoll - "first to reach the flagpole," then walk around the top to see the wonderful views all round. Sometimes we walked up Hill Lane, into the Gully - a running stream - where the banks were a mass of primroses, bluebells and violets, or around to Hill Head or to another walk at the back of the farm to Lympsham or Edingworth. It is a great joy to see the signs now, and the styles and CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF OLD pathways well kept once more. EAST BRENT 1906 - 1993 We had a good orchard with lovely eating and by Ruth Rider (nee Hutson) cooking apples, also Aden apples and we made cider, as Chrissie has described, on the Chrissie kindly refers to the Hutsons as a jolly farm. family - we were a very happy family. I was the youngest of six sisters. My parents came to live We kept one farm horse to do the work, and a at Chestnut Farm in 1902. When my horse or pony to drive in the trap. It was a Grandmother died, my Grandfather Hutson (a hazardous drive on the stony lanes and dear old man, with a long white beard) lived on sometimes the good horse would fall and break there with us until his death. his knees. There was nothing to keep the driver in, and one could easily fall out on the My father kept cows and a few pigs, and two of top of the horse. The main roads were quite us girls helped on the farm. We hand milked narrow, even the turnpike, now the A38. The the cows, getting to know each one. My sister Weston end was called Dodd's Lane, a bit received a medal for being the best milker in the remains of this, leading to Manor Close and district. When the cows were kept in during the around past the entrance to Manor Lane. If the winter, we had to feed them and pump the water horse was nervous, it was hazardous meeting into the trough for them to drink. the steamroller, or if driving to Weston along by the railway line, or Batch, and a train were My mother kept poultry, hens, ducks and geese passing, the horse would take fright and gallop in the yard at the back. We had a lovely garden along to keep pace with the train. We had a in the front for us to play around and a large few tip ups, but seldom anyone came to much vegetable garden. harm.

At haymaking time, everyone was kept busy, Some of the farmers liked their drop of cider, early morning till dusk. It was a great treat to be but the faithful horse would bring them safely allowed to ride on the load of hay, a big wagon, home. In winter we had a couple of donkeys to with staves at each end, but a bumpy ride keep, from Weston sands, to ride or drive. But through the ruts in the gateways. It never they were so stubborn and would not trot along seemed to rain in those far-off summer days, - we had lots of fun though. and the fields were so lovely with cowslips, buttercups and moon daisies and the dainty Later, we all had second hand bikes (my first cuckoo flower, with the birds and cuckoos bike cost 13 shillings!) What a job it was after singing their songs. dark, for the little oil lamps would blowout at a puff of wind. The Policeman got tired of We children played in the fields, jumping the warning us of an offence - he was a very stern ditches or in the winter sliding on the ice on the man was Constable Bull, and we were a bit rhines and ponds - sometimes someone had a scared of him. I thought he would send me to ducking! prison for not having a light one evening. We all went to the Church School. Chrissie was one of my friends there. We were lucky to have such good teachers and we were

punished if we did not behave. Mr Rowlie was roundabouts, the big marquee, the flag flying Head Teacher when I first started and his wife on the Knoll. Then the great day, the taught the infants. He was very strict - the boys procession to the Church Service, and got the cane - one boy, Jack Gamlen said "I got afterwards the ladies carrying the hot plum the cane whether I was guilty or not." He grew puddings for the lunch, the young men with the up to be one of the characters of the village enormous loaf and huge Cheddar cheese. and none the worse for his experiences. He Chrissie's mother, Mrs. Edwards, made the worked and lived at Chapel Farm for many plum puddings at the Vicarage kitchen. She years. Recently, looking at the number of would mix all the ingredients in a big round names of pupils who won scholarships at St. cheese tub, stirring with her hands up to her Mary's School, we were fortunate to have such elbows in it, smiling as ever! Then they would good teachers, the last of which I must mention, be placed in big basins, tied down with cotton was Mrs. Yeomans. She was appointed cloths, and put to boil in the huge furnace in Headmistress at the age of 21 years. She the kitchen. She must have worked all night, remained until retirement, working faithfully for but would appear smiling at the window to hand pupils and school, for S1. Mary's Church and the the steaming puddings to the ladies to process village. into the tent for the lunch. Down the years this has been a great day in the village - and still is During the First World War, the playground was - long may it continue. Prebendary and dug up and we had to grow vegetables, and one Mrs. Wickham came to East Brent in 1911 and day in autumn we had the whole day off from they also worked for Church and village life school to pick blackberries for jam. The girls and were much loved. They organised were taken to Lympsham one day a week for concerts in the schoolroom for all with talents, cookery lessons. Mr. Fred Ham drove a horse the Choir, Glee Singers, with Mrs. Wars in a wagonette, and we all sat on wooden playing the flute, Mrs Ham the mandolin. benches placed across the vehicle. This was a Various people sang and some very amusing very exciting day, rain or shine and we did learn sketches were performed. The front seats to make soup and jam roly-poly pudding! were chairs at 2/6d each, the back were all Mr. Ham also drove us to Burnham on our desks at 9d each. We also had whist drives annual Sunday School Outing, with donkey rides and dances - life was never dull. and a grand tea. The Rev. Wickham had been wicket keeper for My eldest sister taught at the school. She later Somerset and played with the great W.G. trained and went to teach at S1. Patrick's Grace. He also had a wonderful collection of Mission School, Gwelo (now Zimbabwe). She butterflies and moths which he was delighted to had 200 girls and boys from the countryside show and which were given to the British around. They were so eager to learn. She Museum at his death. loved the people, and they loved her, but after five years she unfortunately contracted Drama rather improved when the W.1. was pneumonia and died there. The native people formed. My Mother was a founder member of built the school and a lovely little church which that, also the Mothers' Union. She was a would be full for the services. Sacristan at S1. Mary's for many years, later my sister, and finally myself. A work we much My Grandfather would tell us of seeing the first appreciated having the honour to perform. train pass through Brent Knoll Station. "It was like a monster appearing" he said. Much of the beautiful altar frontals and My Father and Mother were married at St. vestments had been hand embroidered during Mary's Church by Archdeacon Denison in 1898. Archdeacon Denison's day, by the ladies of the They told us of all he did for the village, village. Alas now, some new ones are badly particularly the wonderful waterworks he had needed to replace the old. (Mrs. Treise and had constructed to bring fresh water to the other local people have done some beautiful village. In those days it was a beautiful walk banners in needlework recently). with flowering trees and lots of wild flowers. A pity it has not been preserved. Our home was always a welcome place. My . Mother and Father were ready to help anyone The Harvest Home was started by Archdeacon in trouble and both took part in all goings-on in Denison and a great day it has been in East village life. My Father was appointed Assistant Brent. Such excitement to see the Fair People Overseer of the Parish in 1895, also Clerk to arrive in their shining caravans, the swings and the Parish Council which he retained for 47

years. He collected tithes for the Vicar on Tythe Chapel of the Good Shepherd at Rooksbridge. Day which was held at the Vicarage on March' It was an upstairs room and much loved by the 25th and September 29th. When farmers and people of Rooksbridqe or Edingworth. There others came to pay their tithes, bread and was also a very nice Baptist Chapel near, cheese, ale and cider were provided. He also which was very well attended in those days; collected the rates for East Brent and now alas also closed. Lympsham and in later years for the Axbridge

District Council. He was always ready to help In 1922, my Father drove the pony trap to and many people came and asked his advice on Brent Knoll Station to collect the flowers for my form filling or making their wills. I remember sisters wedding. Alighting from the train were him saying "They will leave it until they think Mr. & Mrs. George Hudson, who wanted to they are going to die!" view East Brent shop and Post Office, so Father offered to bring them along in the pony During the war years, my three sisters were trap. That was the beginning of a long and among the band of bell ringers, which they pleasant friendship and association between much enjoyed. They worked as VAD.'s, [Voluntary Aid Detachment], in the hospital at the Hudson's' and the Hutsons'. Burnham among the wounded. My sister Edith and a friend, The store was a great benefit to the Mrs. Searle (also the village and it was exciting to have a headmaster's wife at East Brent family from London to run it! and much loved), started the Mr Hudson took over as Clerk to the Red Cross Working Party. A Parish Council from my Father and good number of ladies later Mrs. Chivers from her Father assembled each week at the and Grace Hudson when she retired big room at the Knoll Inn, from office. Mr. & Mrs. Hudson were armed with materials, knitting staunch worshippers at the needles and sewing machines. Wesleyan Chapel and took a great Large parcels were made up interest in all village activities. Miss and dispatched, for which they Grace Hudson has continued to do received a certificate from the so, and has been a great worker for Red Cross and St. John's, the Parish for the Village Hall and signed by Princess Alice, the Methodist Church, and is a friend Queen Victoria's daughter. to many.

My Father used to tell us "If you cannot say We had interesting neighbours, the anything good of anyone, do not say anything Rev. Derrick built the strange looking red brick bad," and as Mr. Hill remarked, "A handshake, house with the tall chimneys. He was a native and my word is my bond." I suppose life was of Lympsham and owned our farm. slower and quieter then. Unfortunately he died before the house was completed. It was composed of pinewood

Chrissie mentions the dressmaker in the village. inside and had a wrought-iron spiral staircase I must include Miss Annie Frances, who lived and intriguing little bedrooms in the roof. next to the Post Office. She was a dear little lady, a wonderful needlewoman. She made He also built a studio for his daughter who beautiful dresses for us. She was so patient and studied Art and had published several worked by the light of a tiny oil lamp, but the illustrated books. The first was the Ark Book, result was always perfect. I think her eyesight full of animals and amusing to children. She suffered in later years. But ladies did most was quite a character, and could be seen riding beautiful tapestry and embroidery by small oil around on her bicycle, with sketchpad. Her lamps or candles. brother, a BA from Oxford, had a hut in one of our fields, where he studied. The hut is now at

As children, we were never dull, as we were Rossholme School - The Derrick Hut. always busy making our own games, marbles I Unfortunately Leslie Derrick was killed in 1917. remember in particular and how we envied a His name is on the War Memorial. He so friend who had some lovely, glassy marbles. loved the village and countryside and opposed We would have hoops which we could bowl new developments. They were all great along the lanes to Edingworth and Rooksbridge. walkers and talkers. Mrs and the two Miss I went with my cousins to Sunday School at the Derricks' always came to stay with us in August from Cheltenham where they lived. Mrs.

Derrick was the first lady to ride a bicycle in EAST BRENT METHODIST Cheltenham and rather scorned! She brought her bike on the train and looked quite a CHURCH character riding it, in a little black bonnet, a long black skirt, and a tight fitting short coat. by Grace Hudson, June 1992

Our next neighbours at St. Martins (as they Interesting papers have recently come to light called it) were Mr. & Mrs. Glencross, who kept showing that alterations were made to the show jumpers and Mrs. Glencross drove a little Church in 1898. The entrance porch was gig with two ponies, and won many prizes as originally at the side of the building. This was best lady driver. They also had a dear little made into the vestry and the entrance with monkey which we loved. porch made to the front of the church. Photographs show before and after. (p45). Next came Mr. & Mrs. Harrison who owned the The cost was £150.00. first motor to be driven in East Brent. It went by steam and took two hours to get up enough steam before they could drive out. But they looked very splendid and everyone turned out to see them.

Another old lady lived at Church House, a Miss Fisher, a descendant of Admiral Fisher. She was an eccentric and seldom went out. My Father bought Church House when she died and we found piles of newspapers, The London Times, London Illustrated News, The Observer and Tatler. Such a pity we destroyed them. They would make interesting reading today.

Another little lady who was much liked and thought highly of by many in the village, lived near the baker's shop along the old Bristol Road. Her name was Nurse Baldwin and she would tell us how many babies she had helped to bring into the world. She helped to bring me into the world. She persuaded my Mother to call me Ruth.

There was an amusing tale of Mr. Jimmy Fisher, the Cobbler, who also lived along the Bristol Road. One day a car collided and ran into his front door. No one was hurt, but Mr. Fisher grumbled, "Drat them, they have knocked my tacks all over the floor."

I will end my story with the words on the lovely War Memorial.

"All you who live on in English pastures green, Remember us and think what might have been."

In the 1930's it was the dream of the then Church Steward, Mr. G.E. Hudson that a hall, ' which was badly needed, should be built. But land at the side of the Church was not available so it was decided to divide the Church with a wooden movable partition which would fold back, enabling the back part of the Church to be used for weeknight activities.

In 1963 the Church was able to purchase the piece of land at the side of the of the Church and by 1964 the hall was built and dedicated.

Recently the Methodist Church at Lympsham was sold and a very lovely stained glass window was transferred to our Church, replacing our original window which was in need of great repair. It is hoped to floodlight this window in some way. RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS

The dividing screen, now no longer necessary, by Connie Hudson has been removed and the original red baize inner doors have been replaced with very nice I think my strongest recollection of childhood in glass doors. To me the Church looks as it did the village was the wealth of trees, hedges and many years ago, refurbished, a pretty Church wild flowers along the lanes and in the fields. and kept in pristine condition, a credit to those There were no "no-go" areas, as local people who built it 120 years ago. acknowledged the rights of the farmers who owned the land, and appreciated the need to walk along the pathways and close gates firmly. The dogs, too, accompanying us, were never on a lead, but were free to scamper where they would, with none of today's restrictions.

A favourite walk was up Hill Lane where we would go with our dog Paddy. In the past Paddy had had an altercation with "Coram's dog" who lived further along the road, and Paddy was firmly of the opinion that he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day, and nothing would induce him to go beyond the turning, He would plant his feet firmly on the ground and bark nonstop. For the sake of passers-by and ourselves we had to give way, so up Hill Lane we went.

At the top of the lane the pasture fields led down on one side to a gully, and as machines were unable to manoeuver the Sloping bank, flowers and grasses were able to grow in abundance. Flowers which are rarely seen now - scabious" coltsfoot, lady's smock, celandine and bird's-foot trefoil - interspersed with quaking grass and other meadow grasses.

In Spring, cowslips, primroses, bluebells and campion covered the ground and it was an exciting day when an oxslip was discovered. (This presumably was a cross between a

cowslip and primrose.) The best cowslips were and all, covered In duck weed and very much to be found in the hedges and we would pick the worse for wear. them with their long stems, to send to our relations living in London. We would pack them But I was by no means the only one to suffer carefully and put them in the post on our from total immersion. Occasionally, an over- return. zealous partaker of the delights of the Knoll Inn By next morning they would have arrived, and boasting an unsteady gait; with no lights to bringing a touch of the country to city dwellers. guide his path, would find himself in one of these ditches, emerging a sadder and wiser At the bottom of the gully, where trees grew man. either side of the stream, garlic flowers blossomed and spread in profusion, scenting the I remember too, one Christmas, the postman, air should you brush past them. Thankfully we having been given a Christmas Box in the form are beginning to emerge from the 'Dark Ages' of of very potent Somerset cider at various ports chemical additives to the soil, which has of call, arrived at the Post Office very wet and devastated the wildlife of our countryside for so very forlorn, having been unable to distinguish long. It is a sad reflection of these days, that between the road and the ditch. His post-bag, children can no longer enjoy the pleasure of full of Christmas mail, had to be "dried out" too, picking wild flowers, and revel in the fragrance before he could continue. of freshly gathered plants. They are, I am sure, all the poorer for this lack of contact with As well as the scents and smells of the growing things - the "don't touch" attitude, - and countryside, the sounds too, evoke memories - maybe are less sensitive to the natural world. the Church bells ringing each Sunday for worship, the muffled peal as the old year died, Another bonus from the fields around came in the tolling bell for the passing of a villager and the Autumn, when blackberries and sloes were the joyous Christmas bells. ripe. Certain places were known to the regular pickers who would pick almost non-stop to sell Being a farming district, animals too, added locally. They were usually paid 1d a pound, but their calls to the everyday life of the village, if in rather short supply, 2d might be the going and birds and insects rioted in the free air rate. These blackberries were sold to factories around them. There were birds in plenty in for making into jam or dyes, and a considerable those days, some which are seldom seen amount of pocket money could be earned by today. enthusiasts undaunted by the hazards of torn hands and clothes. We would hear the larks singing above the meadows and would watch them as they The top of the lane was rather like a spiders web disappeared into the distance. Bats would with walks radiating in all directions. If you come out at dusk from the Church belfry, and continued straight ahead, you would reach Brent at night the owls would be hunting. Knoll village and could make a circular tour home again. It was quite easy to climb to the Once, after we had gone to bed, our father top of Brent Knoll from here by crossing the woke us up and told us to put on our coats and fields. Scrabbling over styles or through shoes. He had been taking our dog for a brief hedges, by climbing another style, it was a quick walk and wanted us to share his delight at what way down to the Church with Crooks' Peak and he had seen. It was a brilliant moonlit night, the Mendips forming a backdrop in the distance. and at the end of Church Street, was an owl sitting high up in the branches of a large tree. The National Trust now owns part of Brent We watched him for a long time, and he Knoll, which happily means many people are watched us. He looked so proud and still able to enjoy the peace of an unspoilt part somewhat disdainful of mere mortals - rightly of the countryside. so, I fancy!

The ditches and rhines which surrounded the Church Street was probably the most beautiful village were an essential part of the drainage part of the village, with St. Mary's Church at system, and very useful in times of drought. I the end, and the Knoll in the background. remember as a child, when learning to cycle, being unable to get off once I was on and in For a short spell there was no official postman desperation careered into the ditch opposite our to deliver the local letters, and our father home. A kind neighbour pulled me out, bike volunteered to do the job on a temporary basis.

(The extra pay no doubt was very welcome!) It The smell of the fields of newly cut grass was meant a very early start each morning whatever quite intoxicating and later the hay cocks made the weather, but he loved it, and in the Autumn wonderful playing areas. when the trees were in their full colour, he enjoyed especially walking along the drive Once we were invited to a friends' farm at leading to the Vicarage (now Rossholme Tamock and were allowed to ride on the sides School), where the trees made an avenue of of the wagon as it went to the hay fields. light and shade. "Heaven cannot possibly be Halfway through the afternoon we had more beautiful than this," he would say. lemonade to drink and freshly baked white bread covered with lashings of cream! Later Sundays weren't exactly days of rest. We the wagons, piled high with hay, were taken by attended Chapel at 11 a.m., Sunday School the horses back to the farm. after dinner, and evening service to round off the day. When one sees the wide variety and choice of sport and games enjoyed by children now that We almost invariably had to invite the local we are nearly at the end of the century, it is preacher home for dinner, and possibly tea, if interesting to compare the way children spent he were taking the evening service. Mother their time in the early days of the century. The never seemed to grumble at the extra work games they played had their seasons, and involved, and as she was an excellent cook, he children seemed to know instinctively when would have been well fortified for the evening one game should give way to another. service. At times, by the length of his sermons, we felt he had been over-fortified! Ball games could be played alone or in groups, involving a great number of techniques where There were special characters too, in the bouncing, catching, throwing in the air, or village. One in particular was Vic Creese who against the wall could be interspersed with had lived there all his life, a rather tragic figure, variations of footwork and handclapping. This living alone with no one to care for him, but added to interest and dexterity and competition filling a most useful role among the population. added to further incentive. There was no official rubbish collection in those days, but he would collect it and take it away in Skipping ropes were a must, and could be his handcart and pile it up in his own garden. He would turn his hand to such menial tasks, made very cheaply from a sturdy rope. Bought being paid a mere pittance, but was content to ones were available and sported wooden lead a humble but independent life. When he painted handles. Here again a skipping rope died, there was no one to take his place, and the was a useful asset should you be on your own, village was the poorer for his passing. spending time to improve your own skill, but with others, more possibilities were open. Two Hunts were part of the rural life and the meet "purlers" would keep the rope turning (a long would congregate at the Knoll Inn. The ethics of one this time), while individuals could skip until hunting had not been given any real thought, exhausted, or had tripped on the rope. A small and although as a family we had a great regard group could skip together, diving in and out at for animals and their welfare, we too would join will. It needed considerable skill to run under a the spectators and watch the hunt set off. turning rope, for if you missed, a sharp cut with the rope would be the unintentional One day I saw a hare which had been hunted punishment. There were great possibilities for and chased into the field opposite our house. invention and chanted rhymes were added to The fear and terror in its eyes was something I give greater rhythmic impetus - have never forgotten. I never knew if it escaped. No doubt, if it had avoided the (1) "All in together this fine weather hounds, it would have died from exhaustion and 1, 2, 3, out goes she." fear. (2) Salt, mustard, vinegar, pepper. Haymaking time was an anxiety for the farmers (strongly accented) who were so dependent on the vagaries of the weather, but to children it was a source of great Spinning tops were usually bought very excitement. cheaply, made from wood with a metal tip for spinning. The circular grooves were decorated with crayons for easier recognition and added colour as they spun. A piece of string was

attached to a wooden stick, and this was wound leaving a space at the top of each nail. With a tightly around the top itself, then released with a steel knitting needle, oddments of wool were strong thrust, which hopefully would set it looped over the nails, (called French Knitting), spinning. When it showed signs of flagging, the until a long plaited cord was achieved. On a whip would be used to keep it going. A flat cold winters' day, these long ropes were ideal surface obviously was desirable, and as the as reins to drive your partner at breakneck road was virtually traffic free, these made for a speed along the road to school. practice run. Another popular game was hop scotch. Along the bottom of the school wall, on the outside of the building, was a stone ledge and At the village school, singing games were part the older children would see how far they could of the playground life. Music was in short progress, catching on to bits of stone which supply, apart from some families who made jutted out. Should you fall off, you had to go their own. Men and boys whistled while they back to the beginning and start all over again. worked and children, in their traditional games, It needed considerable dexterity to cling on and made up in part for their lack of music. balance as you progressed. It was hard on the fingers and even more disastrous on one's Being a rural community, many of the themes shoes, but most enjoyable and rewarding. were of farms and farm life and boy/girl relationships were usually included. Here is one Once a year there was a Punch and Judy Show of them: performed during the lunch break. I can't remember any scenes from the show - the 1. The farmer's in his den thought of taking egg sandwiches and having The farmer's in his den lunch at school was the highlight of that day. E l N G O The farmer's in his den. A game we invented at home was a see-saw. In the middle we put a large square biscuit tin 2. The farmer takes a wife and across it a long, sturdy piece of wood. It The farmer takes a wife made an excellent see-saw, and when the E I N G O biscuit tin became somewhat battered, it was The farmer takes a wife. replaced by another. I don't remember falling off or having any accident, but no doubt the grass underneath afforded a soft landing 3. The wife takes a child The wife takes a child ground. El NGO At one time we acquired a bead making The wife takes a child machine. It was a very simple piece of equipment. Strips of coloured paper were torn 4. The child takes a dog to a given length and threaded through a slot, The child takes a dog while the handle turned making a long fat E l N G O bead. The end was then pasted down, and the The child takes a dog. bead removed for the next one - time consuming but satisfying. The intention This could go on ad infinitum - ultimately was to make a bead curtain, but enthusiasm wore thin before such a mammoth Other popular ones were "In and out the task was completed. windows," "I sent a letter to my love and on the way I dropped it," "Here we go round the Another prized possession was a magic lantern mulberry bush," "Poor Mary is a-weeping," - a rather unsophisticated piece of apparatus "Oranges and lemons" - and many others. which needed a small candle to give light to the projected picture. The slides which were These games were played in circles, or in two provided, were quite abysmal in content, but teams facing each other giving question and we loved their lurid content, and would give answer as the game progressed. Although . lantern shows to various victims, using the mainly popular with girls, boys would same slides over and over again, throwing the occasionally join us if nothing better pictures onto a white sheet slung across the materialised. window.

Harnesses were made from an empty cotton reel with four nails hammered into one end

In the winter, card games came into their own. liquorice tube. So difficult was it that it lasted An ordinary pack of playing cards was used in quite a long time. many ways demanding a fair amount of skill and' a retentive memory, while the more traditional Gob stoppers also lasted a long time. These games of Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, and were a rare treat, as our father refused to sell Happy Families were often in demand, and them, believing them to be dangerous. They dominoes were a good stand by. changed colour as you sucked them, and it was imperative to take it out at intervals to see how We could never have enough books to read. much was left, and its new colour. Talking was There were many on our bookshelves but they impossible - hence its name. were somewhat dated and made heavy weather, although a set of Cassell's Encyclopaedia were Aniseed balls were another favourites. They always a source of information. were light in weight so one had quite a bagful for the money, but the flavour was so strong,

There were a few which we read with great one tended to be somewhat satisfied before the enjoyment, Little Women, Good Wives, Jane end of the bag. Eyre, The Girl of the Limberlost and others. I must confess, after all these years, that These were read over and over again, and we proximity to the sweet counter tended to give never tired of them. Once our father brought my weekly stipend elastic qualities! home from a sale, a set of Waiter Scott's novels and this was wonderful, giving hours of Times have changed dramatically during our pleasure. We were lucky enough to be allowed lifetime - for the better? We can only hope so. Arthur Mee's Childrens' Newspaper each week

and later, the Schoolgirl's own, which made the

day on which they were delivered a real red-

letter day. An annual at Christmas was the

highlight of our gifts.

Dolls and maybe an ancient pram always had

their followers. At an early age my elder sister had broken her china doll, and when she saw the grim contents of its head with the eyes attached to bits of wire, was so horrified that she never wanted to play with dolls again - so 'teddies' took their place.

I suspect that "Force" Wheatflakes was one of the first firms to profit by offering toys to the consumer. Their packet showed a grotesque elongated figure called "Sunny Jim" but he looked very benign obviously having partaken of Wheatflakes on a regular basis for his breakfast. At one stage they were offering a 3D version of this character to their customers in exchange for Editor's note. coupons and a certain amount of money. I really longed for him, but money was in short When the firm of A C Finken & Co., who have marketed "Force" Wholewheat Flakes since supply and we would never think of asking for 1910, heard the story of the child who, some any. One penny a week was our allotted 70 years ago, longed for a "Sunny Jim" rag doll, amount and it would have taken years at that they promptly made sure her dream came true rate to save enough. So I never had my "Sunny - if a little late. "Sunny Jim" was received with Jim". Later I was full of envy when I saw much hilarity and has become quite a another child in the village proudly hugging one. conversation piece.

A penny a week, which was for a long time the "Force" was introduced into this country from America in 1902, and "Sunny Jim" became usual amount of spending money, did actually a trade mark a year later. The rag doll was buy quite a number of things - especially introduced in the early 1920's and continues to sweets. A few favourites stand out in my mind .. be available. "Force" is still made to the We loved the 'sherbet dabs' - a stick of liquorice original recipe and may be obtained in some stuck into a cardboard tube filled with a fizzy major supermarkets and many local Health substance. You sucked the sherbet through the Food Stores.

chance that the festivals will be revived in most of the villages, in all their glory.

The survival of this festival is no mystery or chance. The Harvest Home is essentially religious in its origin. It can be traced back to primitive times, even to pagan mythology.

The modern local form of celebration owes its existence to Archdeacon Denison of East Brent, who introduced a village feast with the "RAISE THE SONG OF primary object that the whole parish might first of all join in devout thanksgiving for the HARVEST HOME" garnered crops and then spend the rest of the day in "innocent rejoicing." He organised on a Weston Mercury & Somersetshire Herald communal basis what farmers had hitherto September 2nd, 1950 done individually. At one time the harvest by Ronald Bailey suppers were regularly held in barns or farmhouse kitchens, and some of the farm Few of the old-time rural festivities and hands would not have thought they had had a junketings survived the frigid, straight-laced good time unless they succeeded in drinking spirit of the Victorian age. Cromwell's long- themselves unconscious! faced puritans destroyed most of the gay . customs of "Merrie England" and our own side- It was to stop some of these excesses and to whiskered grandfathers and whale-boned strike a more pious note that East Brent's grandmothers swept away the remaining . Harvest Home was founded, and it has to be handful of festivals that had escaped the kill- said to the credit of these festivals that joys' severity of the Commonwealth. although fun and feasting are prominent characteristics, the spirit of thanksgiving to the The village revels, the mummers, the farm-to Creator for the safely in-gathered harvest has farm tour of the Yuletide waits, the audit never been relegated to back place. Thus the suppers, the gaiety of the Plough Monday, . celebrations have always won the support of Shrove Tuesday and May Day, the Whitsuntlde the "clergy and ministers of all denominations" ales and a host of other merrymaking one of the inevitable toasts at the pre-war occasions have gone for ever. Our Victorian luncheons in the large marquees. grandparents, living in constant dread of hell-fire and the wrath to come, were horrified at any MARQUEE MOTTOES undue display of boisterous spirits. Rectors, ministers, lay-preachers, landowners and The first time I ever went to the East Brent employers seemed to conspire to save the festival I found the canvas walls of the monster common folk from the temptation of taking "one marquee adorned with dozens of hand-sewn over the eight." Their motive was mottoes and sentiments. Religious and commendable, but the countryside is the poorer patriotic phrases such as "Love God, Honour for the loss of many customs and festivals which the Queen," abounded. There were also would not have been abused had they survived numerous aphorisms about the married and into this more enlightened age. single states, and homely bits of advice like "Enough is as good as a feast," and ARCHDEACON DENISON'S AIM "Moderation in all things"

The custom of Harvest Home, which before the Many of these old mottoes and injunctions had war was almost confined to our own corner of been made for the very first Harvest Home in Somerset, was one of the few traditional 1857, and presumably they owed their origin to observances to escape the Victorian purge. the sampler-making craze which was then In Hitler's mad ambitions brought our Harvest . vogue. Many of the signs were definitely Home to an abrupt end, but here and there the "dated," and were displayed in later years only events are being revived, and if we can ever as curiosities. Quite a number, I recollect, had again hope to see the day when hundreds of "V.R." or "God Bless the Queen" on them. pounds of beef and ham and cheese can be . There was also one about Albert the Good. I'm obtained off the ration, there is a reasonable afraid the mottoes got fewer and fewer as the years went by. Indeed, souvenir hunters were

unscrupulous enough to take away some of the highly pleased; two grand balls; 1,000 oldest and quaintest, and, I suppose, by now, . people in tent Tuesday night; 500 the moths have had most of the others. Wednesday night; had food over on Tuesday enough for poor parishioners' One curiously woven banner, which always second meal Wednesday. Very fine music, attracted much interest, had this verse on it: dressing in best taste, manners and general demeanour perfect; no doubt an admirable institution; should be witnessed to be Beef and pudding, cheese and cider comprehended. " Are wont to make the waistcoat wider But let pudding & cider & cheese & beef Be the rich mans alms: the poor's relief. "THE EAGLE IN HIS EYRIE" With cheese and cider, beef and pudding, Let no ill thought be found intruding, All who have dipped into the religious history of But for pudding, cider, beef and cheese, the Victorian age are aware that Archdeacon Give thanks to Him Who giveth these. Denison was known far beyond the confines of his own parish and diocese. He played a A WEEKS FESTIVITIES vigorous part in the nation-wide battle that raged round the Higher Criticism, ritualism and State versus Church Schools. Another interesting exhibit read: The old Somerset divine's High Church views May God pour His benison and practices got him into endless scrapes On Archdeacon Denison; locally and nationally, and even resulted in a law suit before the Privy Council. It was hardly While another ran something like this: - to be expected otherwise than that those controversial matters should occasionally Fill the bumper fair interfere with the Harvest Home. Every drop we sprinkle O'er the brow of care The Archdeacon, during his fifty years' Smoothes away a wrinkle. association with the parish, was greatly beloved by his parishioners, and they stuck to In the [Eighteen] Eighties and Nineties, East Brent had its own drum and fife band which not him through thick and thin, though it is safe to only headed the plum pudding, cheese and say that very few of them were able to follow bread processions round the trestle tables, but him through the intellectual and spiritual also took part in church services throughout the intricacies into which he loved to plunge. year. In his own parish, however, a simple, kindly At one time the East Brent celebrations were soul. His sermons were suited to his rustic spread over a whole week, and not confined, as congregation, and he was never heard to in later years, to a solitary day. Here, for happier purpose than when preaching to instance, is what the Archdeacon said about it in children. a letter to a niece in 1883: To the outer world the Archdeacon was "the "Harvest Home great success. Rained all fighting prelate," a formidable controversialist, Sunday night and Monday to about but at East Brent he was always "Our Vicar." midnight. Nevertheless, the people One of the reports of the Brent Harvest Home indefatigable as soon as huge tents had which appeared in a London newspaper in been got up. Vicarage and village decorated: those days was headed, "The Eagle in his great work of high art; all completed by Eyrie," and a clever contrast was drawn midday Tuesday. From early morning between the "zealous old ecclesiastical warrior Tuesday up to today, Saturday, weather battling bravely for 'the faith once delivered to perfect, sun, air; no rain or wind; large the Saints' (as he understood it) and the genial, company. Took £43 at gate; subscriptions fatherly parish priest who was as much beloved £68; £113 in all; will pay all expenses and by his flock as he was hated by his enemies." leave some balance. GIBBETS AT ROOKSBRIDGE "Wonderful punch, steam rnerry-qo-round, fortune telling, various other amusements; The Archdeacon's popularity in his own Parish teetotal drinks only; football, etc.; everybody was not shared by some religious zealots in

nearby villages. Indeed, the litigation which arose out of his views on the "Doctrine of the Real Presence" was instituted in the name of the Rev. Joseph Ditcher, the Vicar at Brent Knoll. The Archdeacon triumphed after a long struggle, and there were great rejoicing and a procession when he returned to East Brent after a further appeal had been made to the Privy Council and the decision of the Court of Arches was confirmed. THE FIRST HARVEST HOME AT Despite the fact that his neighbour-cleric had instituted the prosecution, there was no malice, EAST BRENT it seems, for one who was familiar with the Weston Mercury and Somersetshire Herald whole affair wrote: September 16th 1950

"Friendly intercourse with Mr Ditcher was by Ronald Bailey resumed the day after the decision and the Archdeacon testifies that during a In ancient Rome a harvest feast was held in subsequent illness no one was kinder than honour of Ceres, the goddess of corn and Virgil Mr. Ditcher. On the death of Mr. Ditcher, the gives us a glimpse of the procedure: Before the sickles touch the rip'ning wheat Archdeacon, by request of the widow, On Ceres call; and let the lab'ring hind. With preached the funeral sermon." oaken wreaths his hollow temples bind; On Less pleasant is the picture handed down to us Ceres let him call and Ceres praise. With of the demonstrations against the Archdeacon uncouth dances and with country lays. on the occasion of the Harvest Home in 1873. The Ancient Britons and the Saxons also had A gallows and a gibbet were erected beside the their harvest feasts and customs, and it has turnpike road at Rooksbridge, and from them always puzzled me, seeing that no village can were suspended stuffed effigies in cassocks and hold a carnival without crowning a queen, why shovel hats. Pinned to these clerical figures the organisers of the harvest home festivities were placards, bearing such inscriptions as "No have never bothered about choosing a Harvest Priest," "No Idolatry," and "No Popery." At Queen. If they did, they would be doing no Brent Knoll another gibbet was put up, with a more than reviving an old English custom. similar figure hanging from it, and a "No Popery" There might be practical difficulties about sign nailed to the cross beam. reviving that other ancient custom, the "carrying of the last load," but a "Harvest At this distance in time it is hard to understand Queen," in a white dress, a crown of flowers, the excitement the hatred and the bitterness and a sheaf of corn in her hand, parading the which entered into those doctrinal battles of village in a decorated farm-cart, would be a Victorian days. We have lived to see the day distinct departure from the somewhat when the parson and the Nonconformist minister stereotyped programmes we were accustomed sit together at the same festive board: indeed to in prewar days. the latter often reads the Lesson or occupies the pulpit at the united church service on Harvest A CHURCHWARDEN'S IDEA Home Day. Perhaps these Harvest Homes have played a bigger part in breaking down Although, as I have said, the in-gathering of the religious bigotry or narrow-mindedness and harvest has been celebrated with some form of bringing about unity among the churches than rejoicing almost from the beginning of the most people realise. human race, it is widely believed that harvest homes as we know them originated at East Brent. This is not so. The term "Harvest . Home" has been in use for centuries, whereas the East Brent festival dates no further back than 1857.

East Brent's claim to fame was that it was the celebration for the safe in-gathering of the oldest surviving festival of it's kind, and unless harvest in 1843-two years before Archdeacon the villagers do something about its revival next Denison became Vicar of East Brent. This, it year, I fancy their neighbours at Mark will be should be noted, was a Church service only, laying claim to that distinction. I do not like not a village celebration. exploding popular beliefs, but a strict respect for truthfulness compels me to say that not only It is not often realised that harvest thanksgiving was the East Brent festival far from being the services, which are now universally observed first of its kind but it was not even the creation in our churches, were unknown to our great- of Archdeacon Denison. On the contrary, the grandparents. It was not until 1861, in fact, Archdeacon himself placed all the credit on one that such festivals were brought before of his churchwardens, John Higgs, who Convocation. In the Prayer Book there is no doubtless desired to revive something of the reference to harvest thanksgiving festivals, spirit of the old harvest suppers which were still though they now share with Christmas and being held at farmhouses all over the country Easter the reputation for being the most when he was a boy. popular features in the annual round of Christian worship throughout the world.

The Archdeacon, in his autobiography, "Notes of My Life," explains the origin of the festival thus: It is interesting to note that Dean Alford, a Somerset man, who sometimes stayed in

"In 1857 my Churchwarden, Mr John Higgs - Weston-super-Mare, is stated to have written a constant communicant and near and dear that famous hymn, "Come ye thankful people, friend - came to see me to suggest having come," specially for East Brent Harvest Home. each year a 'Harvest Home' at East Brent. I AT THE FIRST entered into the FESTIVAL proposal immediately and In my visits to East heartily. It had long Brent Harvest appeared to me that Home in pre-war we wanted days I had more recognised holidays than one chat with for the working men, Miss Elizabeth women and children: Ham, the last and here was a step surviving villager in that direction. The who could claim to proposal was have attended the generally welcomed first festival in as soon as made, 1857. She was and we held our first only a child of eight Harvest Home when the festival September 3rd was introduced, 1857." and her memory of that occasion was

A CORNISH RIVAL naturally rather dim, but she never missed one in all the

Archdeacon Denison added: succeeding years, her knowledge of the event was unrivalled. She helped to make many of

"At that time there was, I believe, nothing of the banners and mottoes which used to adorn the kind in this part of England. I the walls of the great marquee. Every year, understand there have been Harvest Homes she said, they used to add to the collection until in the eastern counties, but I do not know in the [Eighteen] Eighties they were so enough about them to be able to give any numerous that it was hard to make room for account of their history." them all.

There was however, at least one other harvest There was one, Miss Ham told me, that had celebration in the west country, for in Baring- everyone guessing. The rustics - not of Gould's biography of the clever though eccentric course, the Brentonians, who were "in the Vicar of Morwenstow in Cornwall, the Rev. R. S. know" - would look at it this way and that, Hawker, we read that he introduced a Church scratch their heads and then start asking

questions. The inscription was in Greek, and trestle tables in a ten-poled marquee, with a the proud local villagers, as if they had been decorated dais for the Vicar and his chief Greek scholars all their lives, would explain that guests. This raised platform was often it meant "There's nothing like water." And then ingeniously embellished. I recall one year there would be an explanation of the fact that it when there was a delightful country scene. laid was intended as a complement to the out in front of it, with little model rustics Archdeacon who succeeded in getting the working among the sheaves of cam. Over the village an unfailing supply of pure water. Vicar's head was a banner:

"OLD ENGLAND FOR EVER" "Sit ye merry and be ye wise, and do ye not no man despise." If there is no one alive today who attended that first East Brent festival in 1857, we can still see Some idea of the good things provided may be it through the eyes of the "Mercury" reporter gathered from the following list of quantities whose description is preserved in our files. consumed; 456 Ibs of beef; 220 Ibs of ham; 140 Ibs of "For many years," he wrote, "the festivities of cheese; 200 Ibs of plum pudding; 200 Ibs of the Harvest Home have been discontinued, save in a few secluded spots, in almost cake; and 115 quarterns of bread. unknown nooks and corners of England; but we are very glad that there is a general The cheese was genuine Cheddar, and often movement among farmers in this have I seen the late Preb. A. P. Wickham, who neighbourhood to resuscitate that old was Vicar for many years, take off his coat, roll custom of their forefathers. The Earl of up his sleeves, and with a large carving knife Albemarle has set the example in Norfolk, carve large helpings off the truckle. These and Archdeacon Denison has started the were then distributed by the young men-folk to movement in Somerset." the various tables. The plum puddings were made in huge boilers, specially constructed at "On Thursday the first annual festival took the Vicarage during Archdeacon Denison's place at East Brent, commencing with divine time. The plum puddings and the bread and service. The villagers and their friends, all cheese were always brought in with dressed in their best, went to church, where processional honours. The plum pudding they devoutly prayed, and listened to a parade was a great moment for the ladies who sermon preached by Archdeacon Denison. had helped to make them. Headed by the Afterwards the rustic population sat down to brass band they marched around the tent amid a substantial dinner spread in a large tent, erected in the Vicarage meadows. Festooned the cheering guests. Finally the men-folk and decorated at every point, the interior of paraded with the monster cheese and the huge the canvass erection looked exceedingly loaves. pretty. 'Temperance in all things,' 'Old England for ever,' 'Long live the Vicar,' Later there would be children's sports, and a 'God Save the Queen,' 'Agriculture,' and public tea. Merry-go-rounds, side-shows and similar mottoes met the eye at every point." all the fun of the fair added to the gaiety and then, in the evening, there would be dancing There were several features of East Brent's until midnight. festival that were time-honoured. The day always began with a service of thanks-giving in There was something about East Brent Harvest St Mary's Church. The bells rang merrily during Home which always made you feel it was a the morning, and it was usual for the many genuine expression of thanksgiving, and an visiting clergy, the choir, the churchwardens, unsophisticated attempt at preserving the spirit Brownies and villagers to assemble at the of Merrie England. Even in the later years, Vicarage and march in procession to the church, when press photographers, news-reel men and headed by a band, which usually played wireless recording vans spread the event's "Onward Christian Soldiers." fame further afield, it managed to keep its simple artless spirit. One felt that Archdeacon Denison and his friend John Higgs were still PICTURESQUE SCENES looking down on the scene with an approving eye.

Then followed the luncheon, many hundreds of parishioners and visitors sitting down at long

'THE GOLDEN AGE' AT EAST poppyhead ends. The walls of the chancel were coloured dark red, the chancel BRENT windows being of all painted glass. In the north aisle were two splendid windows of Weston Mercury & Somersetshire Herald medieval glass. Date unknown At the west end an old organ of the by John Bailey Lincolns stood in a Jacobean carved and panelled organ loft. In the story of East Brent's famous Archdeacon George Anthony Denison we have now reached The altar was vested in red velvet with a the period in his ministry which his nephew, band of needlework with gold letters on Prebendary Henry Phipps Denison, called the pale blue ground, forming what might have golden age of the village. been called a superfrontal; a small dossal of needlework with a cross worked on the As the country's most controversial ecclesiastic middle of it filled the space between the the Archdeacon never lacked a congregation. altar and the east window, and two large People came from miles around, and some heavy pewter candlesticks stood on the even took houses in the village so that they altar." might be near the church to attend the daily Mass and Sunday services. Archdeacon Denison had already been Vicar of East Brent for 16 years before his nephew's "On great festivals the street was like a fair arrival. He was a great protagonist of the with the number of gigs and carts from a Oxford Movement, which began in 1833, and distance," his nephew wrote. "At evensong aimed at the restoration of much of the church on a great festival the church was crammed ceremonial that had fallen into disuse since the from end to end, and I have known about 40 Reformation. The followers of the movement or 50 people standing outside, unable to get were called high churchmen or ritualists, and in. I often saw people at sung Mass on a sometimes met with fanatical opposition from festival who had driven from Glastonbury those who disapproved of what they termed and Wells." Romanish tendencies.

Prebendary Denison was the son of the NEPHEW CURATE Archdeacon's brother, William, who was Governor-General of Australia in 1885, The Archdeacon's nephew, Henry, had Governor of Madras in 1861, and for some resolved to become a clergyman when he was months, acting Governor General of India. 12. He was at Winchester for a time, and after There is much about the Denison's era at East a period with a private tutor at East Brent went Brent in a book, Seventy-Two Years Church to Oxford. He was ordained deacon in 1871 at Recollections, written by Prebendary Denison, Wells Cathedral, was licensed to the curacy of who himself was at East Brent for 35 years. East Brent, and returned there to help his uncle who was ill. His childhood was spent in Tasmania and New South Wal8s. When his father became The Archdeacon's innovations at East Brent Governor of Madras in 1861 he sent four of his continued to arouse opposition from some of children, including Henry, to make their home his parishioners. He was unpopular elsewhere, with Archdeacon and Mrs Denison "who had an too, even with the Weston Mercury! Reporting exceptionally large vicarage at East Brent and that the Archdeacon had addressed the had no children of their own." Henry arrived at Archdeaconry of Taunton on the Irish Church his new home in June, 1861. and was said to be Of East Brent Church he wrote: "in great tribulations about the state of "It was a revelation to my young mind. I had affairs ecclesiastical and political", the never sear. anything at all like it. In my Mercury commented, "The interests of the youthful ignorance I thought it was the most church might be better served were he to beautiful thing I had seen." look to the interests of his own flock at East The nave was seated with 14th century oak Brent, instead of running about the country benches, with magnificently carved like a clerical incendiary, seeking to get the popular mind in a blaze."

Prebendary Denison had to take the blame for Prebendary Denison. "Under his influence some of the changes in the ritual at East Brent the flame was fanned and the little Baptist imposed by the Archdeacon, and the troubles Chapel at the end of the parish became a came to a head one Christmas morning. The good deal more important than it had been young Curate was both the priest and organist, before." and this meant that he had to be alternately in the chancel and the gallery. Through "Outside Protestant influence" another day school was set up at East Brent in To get to the gallery he had to dive through the opposition to that started by Archdeacon vestry coal-hole into the churchyard and gain Denison, and this became officially recognised entry to the organ loft through the belfry. On as the Government school, the Archdeacon's this Christmas morning, having accompanied being merely a church school. Spasmodic the singers in the offertory sentences, he attempts were made to keep the opposition attempted to leave the gallery to assist at the going in other directions. altar but found the door through which he had to pass had been locked. It was necessary to get it "and on one occasion a member of the forced open "by Gemmy, the bellows blower". opposition was, by careful organisation, Argument raged as to whether Prebendary elected parish warden", wrote Prebendary Denison had been locked in the gallery Denison. "He signalised his term of office deliberately, or whether it had been accidental. by ordering the church bells to be rung at There was no doubt in the curate's mind for at the passing of the iniquitous Public the evening service he declared, Worship Regulation Act, but he had reckoned without his host in trying issues "I have previously been insulted in the with the Archdeacon." public streets of Rooksbridge. At this morning's service I was bolted in the gallery "The belfry was locked and my uncle had at a time when I wished to take part in the the key. The churchwarden, relying on his Holy Sacrament." He accused a party of right of entry to the church on parish worshippers from Rooksbridge headed by three business, ordered the blacksmith to break or four farmers. open the door. When he and his triumphant army burst in they found the The Rooksbridge farmers waited for him after bell ropes hauled up to the upper loft, and the service, denied having locked him in the my uncle seated in front of the closed door gallery and demanded an apology, but he of the tower staircase." refused to give it. It was also argued that Mr. Higgs, the churchwarden, who left the organ loft "They soon found they had got themselves with the collection plate, just before the curate, into a very awkward mess for, to begin had difficulty in closing the door and had with, the churchwarden has not got the slammed it with the result that it had become authority as to the ringing of the bells and locked. in the second place he had committed a grave offence by breaking down the door The end of the affair was that a complaint was and thereby brought himself under the arm made to the Bishop who summarily revoked the of the law. So the result was a climb-down curate's licence. The Archdeacon lodged an and an apology." appeal in the Archbishop's Court and the licence had to be restored owing to a flaw in the Archdeacon Denison died on St. Benedict's Bishop's method of procedure. Thereupon the Day, 1896. He had been Vicar of East Brent Bishop refused to ordain the curate as a priest, for 51 years, and his nephew curate there for and he was made to remain a deacon for four 25. years. Ir. later years the Bishop became on the friendliest terms with the curate he had so His differences with some of his parishioners severely disciplined. did not deter him from doing all he could for their general welfare. He provided a water Church life at East Brent did not stay peaceful supply. He also ran a "grow your own food" for long. campaign. Allotments were rare in those days. He let out 12 acres to parishioners at nominal "A good deal of harm was done by the arrival as a resident of a wealthy farmer who rentals on condition the land was turned by the was an Irish Bible Christian," wrote spade and not the plough.

BEEF AND BEER Of her Prebendary Denison wrote: "No one will ever know how my dear uncle during his Mr E.E. Hutson, in memories of the Archdeacon long life contending for the Church was stated that "the Vicar's yearly two-day tythe helped and supported all along by her audit saw the payees regaled with huge gentle wisdom. And no one can know what joints of beef and plenty of beer". for the 17 years we lived together, she has been to me." He added: "Some of them, paying perhaps, only 1d., 3d., or 6d., managed to get a good square meal on both days, for on the first they would have attended to pay their own dues, while on the second they would gladly bring those of neighbours who for some reason were unable to be present."

The Archdeacon had led a simple life at East Brent. He always got up very early - in the summer often about 4 a.m., and would work in the garden or greenhouse until the bell sounded for 8 a.m. service. Nothing was ever allowed to interfere with daily worship in the Church, morning and evening.

The jubilee of his incumbency was commemorated in 1895 by the restoration of the churchyard cross and by a special visit from the Bishop of Bath and Wells and Mrs. Kennion. The Bishop preached to a crowded congregation, and the Archdeacon, no longer able to walk, was carried, robed in his surplice from the Vicarage to the Church.

Fierce controversialist that he was he made few enemies. He even became reconciled to the SOMERSET YEAR BOOK 1933 Rev. Joseph Ditcher, vicar of the neighbouring Brent Knoll, on whose complaint the (Extract) Archdeacon had been arraigned for heresy. It was as a friend Mr. Ditcher officiated at his The following word picture by the Archdeacon funeral. [Denison] of the closing scene of the Harvest Home in 1883, throws a light on his remarkable Archdeacon Denison was buried in East Brent character and influence, Churchyard near the path to the school so that, as he said, his children's feet may pass him by. "Then I told them they were to go. They cheered and thanked, and in ten minutes Shortly after his death his nephew was accorded the tent was cleared and all went away the Yatton prebendal stall in Wells Cathedral. He had intended becoming a chaplain of St. quietly." Michael's Home, Axbridge, but while awaiting a letter from the patron he was offered the living This smacks of an age more tolerant of of Si:. Michael, North Kensington, which he autocratic ruling by the parish Priest than the accepted. He was there 23 years. one we live in.

On his retirement he went to Wells where he This is his description of the 1883 festivities - found happiness and fulfilment in his prebendal remembering that only teetotal drinks were association with the Cathedral. The allowed and "Punch" is from the Punch and Archdeacon's widow, who had gone to live with Judy Show- her nephew at North Kensington, died there in 1908. "Great success. Wonderful Punch, Steam merry-go-round, fortune telling, various other amusements. Teetotal drinks only, everybody highly pleased. Very fine music, dressing in best taste, manners and general

demeanour perfect, no doubt an admirable BURNHAM DEANERY institution: should be witnessed to be comprehended. " MAGAZINE

The tent was decorated with embroidered Extracts from June 1929 issue hangings, many with written texts or mottoes, - here are a few - some with a touch of humour. ELECTRICITY INSTALLED IN ST. MARY'S CHURCH. On May 13th at a late hour in the 1. Pudding today, Pill tomorrow. evening, a demonstration of the newly installed 2. Despise school and remain a fool. illumination was given to the members of the 3. There's nothing like water. Church Council ... and was considered 4. May we live to do good satisfactory. And do good to die happy. 5. Haste makes waste Owing to 'daylight saving' the congregation has Waste makes beggars had little opportunity of judging the effect, but Beggars make rags. we are confident that when winter time comes 6. Beef and pudding, cheese and cider round again the change will be very greatly Are wont to make the waistcoat wider, appreciated, ... But let pudding and cider, cheese and beef The goal of the required cost will be either Be the rich man’s alms, the poor's relief, £69.16.0 or £75.18.6. With cheese and cider, beef and pudding Let no ill thought be found intruding, And for pudding, cider, beef and cheese Give thanks to Him, who gave us these. Extracts from November 1929 issue

East Brent

My Dear People, ... May I draw your attention to a little hint that was dropped, but has apparently escaped notice, in our July number, under "Electric Light," namely, "Still wanted at time of writing, £2 3s. 2d. The want is now, owing to another small extra, £2 13s 2d. Towards this a kind friend (already a generous subscriber), has promised £1 1s 0d. Will some one, some two or (shall we say?) some 32, who appreciate our new lighting enable me to report next month that this little deficit has been cleared away? We are glad to welcome back, after his visit to Australia, Mr. Frank Woodward, Senior and Mrs. Woodward. At the meeting of the Church Council on Oct. 11th, we unanimously co-opted Mr. Woodward on the Church Council and re- appointed him as our Vice-Chairman.

Our bells, since they were re-hung more than twenty years ago, have not been over-hauled and have been going badly of late. They have been examined by Messrs, Llewe!lyn. and James, who have reported that repairs that will cost £37 are urgently required. As the matter will no brook delay, the Council decided to give the order at once to put the work in hand, trusting to the good will of the Parishioners to find the money that is needed. I do not think their confidence is misplaced. We like to hear the bells sounding regularly once more. We

like to know that a young band of future ringers ARMISTICE DAY, Monday, 11th November. is in regular training. So I think you will give , Programme for Service at War Memorial:- what you can, as you have so often done before 10.30 a.m. Assemble. in similar times of need, to secure that the bells 10.45 a.m. Hymn 379. "Now thank we all are made safe and sound for many years to Our God." Prayers, The Lord's come by this comparatively small outlay. So Prayer and one other Prayer. will you please let me or either of the 11 a.m. First Maroon to announce Churchwardens know as soon as you can, how Commencement of the Two much you are prepared to give? Minutes Silence. 11.2 a.m. Second Maroon. British Legion Your Friend and Vicar, Banner raised. Bugler sounds Last Post. Hymn 165. "0 God A.P. WICKHAM our help in ages past." Reveille. National Anthem. MOTHERS' UNION. We are all very grateful to Mrs. Connor, of Petergate, Weston-super-Mare, After the Service the British Legion will lay a who gave us an eloquent address on "Religion wreath at the foot of the Memorial, after which in the Home." at our meeting at the vicarage on Relatives and Friends are invited to lay their October 10th. About 60 members attended, wreaths. including some from Lympsham, Blackford and Biddisham. Members of the Public are asked to bring their Flanders Poppies and lay them in a Moss bank WOMEN'S INSTITUTE. At a well attended which will be provided. meeting h8id SI the Council School on October 21 st, following an interesting explanation by C.E. SCHOOL. The following gratifying report Miss Woodforde, County Organiser, of its has been received from the Diocesan Inspector, Objects and working, it was unanimously Prebendary McClean, who visited the School decided to start a Women's Institute in East on October 23rd Brent. "What I like about this small School is the A committee of 14 was elected; Mrs. Wickham readiness of the Head-teacher to be to be President, Miss Wickham, Secretary and "original." She is not afraid to experiment with a Miss Culler" Treasurer. The monthly meeting view to rousing the children's intelligence and for members will be held on the first Tuesday of thought. Her success with the Upper Group is each month at the Vicarage, alternately considerable. The Special Prayer Book afternoon at 3.30 and evening at 7.30.The first teaching is admirably given and included a meeting will be on November 5th at 3.30 p.m., quite good grasp of the Holy Communion when members w!1I be enrolled and the Service. I noted some very promising children. programme for the ensuing year discussed. It is The written work was done with care. The therefore important that all those intending to Infants and Standards i. and ii. are also well become members should be present. taught, and the older ones had grasped their syllabus well." THE BRITISH UNION. A new banner, which has been :presented by subscribers to the East BAPTISMS. Oct. 2nd Cynthia Joy, daughter of Brent branch, of the Legion, will be dedicated in Richard and Margaret Blanche Fowler, born the Church at the close of Evensong on Sunday, July 4th. November .10th. Seats will be reserved for Oct. 17th. Doreen Mary, daughter of Maurice members or the Legion, who, it is hoped, will th attend in good numbers. The collection will be Henry and Edith Pape, born May 10 • given to the British Legion. A short practice of MARRIAGE. Oct. 12th Cecil Vernon James the hymns to be sung on Armistice Day, will be held after the service. Leigh and Eva Blanche Hellier.

HARVEST HOME. A meeting of the committee was held on Oct. 19th, when the very satisfactory financial statement published below was presented, showing a further addition of £8 0s 10d. to our balance on the year's working. Mr. Popham was unanimously elected as Hon. Sec. for the next year, & Thursday, Aug. 28th, 1930, was fixed for the date of our next Festival. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr F. Woodward (Junior) for allowing us the use of the field free of charge this year. .

BALANCE SHEET 1929

Receipts £ s d Expenditure £ s d

Balance in hand 69 4 0 Mr. E.G. Jesty - meat 52 13 4 Bank Interest 15 5 Messrs. Yeo Bros. Paul & Co. Tents 29 10 0 By Subscriptions 92 5 6 Mr. R.G. Parker - Crockery 21 6 7 Takings on the day 88 5 0 Mrs. Watkins 13 18 3 Messrs. C. Heal & Sons 15 0 0 Bridgwater Imperial Silver Band 12 0 0 Mrs. Watkins 5 0 0 Mr. G. Allen 10 7 9 Sale of Surplus 2 19 3 Weston Mercury - Printing 7 14 6 Sale of Tickets 2 6 0 Weston Gazette - Advertising 3 7 6 Hire of Ticket Box 7 6 Cheddar Valley Dairy Co. 8 18 6 276 2 9 Mr. GE Hudson - Groceries 3 13 9 Mr. Victor Dyer - Printing 1 13 6 1929 Receipts 206 3 3 Redcliffe Library 5 6 Expenditure 198 2 5 Police 13 9 Profit on one Year‟s working 8 0 10 Messrs. Edwards Ltd. Cooking Brandy 1 17 6 Balance,1929 69 4 0 Mr. S.G. Farmer 17 6 Bank Interest 15 6 Mrs. Moore – Laundry /Washing 2 0 0 Total Balance in hand 76 0 4 Messrs. W.D. & F. Gray - Groceries 1 11 6 Mr. W.J. Ham - Eggs 1 11 9 Mr. F. Cantle - Groceries 1 18 10 Mr. C. Stacey - Groceries 1 17 3 Mrs. E.F. Saturley 2 4 10 Mr. F.C. Jenkins 7 9 Messrs. T. Hill & Sons 12 10 Ringers 1 0 0 Tip for Tent Man 10 0 Prizes – Tug of War & Hoops 3 0 0 Mrs. Fry 7 6 Mr. W. Field-Waiting/Mr. R. Emery – Flag 17 0 Mrs. E. Edwards 2 0 0 Miss Cullen – Sports Prize 2 0 0 Mr. E. Curtis 5 0 1 10 0 Secretary‟s expenses 5 0 0 198 2 5

Acknowledgements

Thanks must go to The Weston Mercury & Somersetshire Herald, and Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News for giving their permission to reproduce newspaper articles and pictures.

To all contributors, and to the many people who have loaned photographs and/or given help and encouragement in the development of this project.

Most of all our thanks are due to Andrew and Lorna Gibson, who have spent so much time editing and producing the booklet.

Index to Photographs

37 Mrs Elizabeth Edwards Mr Ern Francis Prebendary Henry Denison

38 East 6rent Harvest Festival, 1912 Bellringers

39 "Handen' out the Pudd'ns" "Carr'n roun' the Bread-an-cheese" "Pa'scn carven the girt truckle"

40 East 6rent War Memorial East Brent Church of England School

41 Nut Tree Farm Poplar Cottage The Vicarage

42 The Post Office The Post Office in later years

43 East Brent Methodist Church

44 View of East Brent from The Knoll Brent Knoll Hill The Jubilee Stone

45 Brent Road from Brent Knoll Inn Church Street St. Mary‟s Church

Mrs Elizabeth Edwards Taking Harvest Home puddings out of the Boiler at the Vicarage

Prebendary Henry Denison

Mr Ern Francis A well known local craftsman

East Brent Harvest Festival, 1912

Bellringers at St. Mary‟s Church, East Brent

„Handen‟ out the Puddins‟

EAST BRENT „HARVEST HOME‟ 1932

“Carr‟n roun‟ the bread-an‟- Cheese”

„Pa‟son carven the girt Truckle‟

Unveiling of War Memorial In 1924

East Brent War Memorial

East Brent Church of England School

Nut Tree Farm

Poplar Cottage East Brent

The Vicarage East Brent

(now Rossholme School)

The Post Office, East Brent L – R Harry Kingsbury, Rosa Hudson, Mrs. Amy Hudson and Paddy

The Post Office in later years

East Brent Methodist Church before and after the renovations of 1989.

View of East Brent From the Knoll

Brent Knoll From Weston Road

The Jubilee Stone on Top of Brent Knoll

Brent Road From Brent Knoll Inn

Church Street East Brent

St. Mary‟s Church From Church Street