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Ansford
Ansford maps
Historic maps of Ansford and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Ansford maps
Ansford photos
We have no photos of Ansford, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Castle Cary| Ditcheat| Bruton| East Pennard| Sparkford| Keinton Mandeville| Pilton| Queen Camel| Wincanton| Charlton Horethorne
Ansford area books
Displaying 1 of 11 books about Ansford and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Ansford
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Somerset memories
REAL & HOLTON - SPARKES OF CARY IN CASTLE CARY
My great uncle Mr Arthur Real who was born at Axmouth Devon in 1886 and grew up there, started a business in Castle Cary Somerset with Mr Walter Holton from Trowbridge Wiltshire in the 1930s. They named their bakery business Real & Holton. Mr Holton was a master baker and confectioner and worked in the bakehouse in Fore Street from 4am in the morning until he finished his day. The first batch of bread would be ready by 8am. Mr Holton would then cycle to his home in Torbay Road to have his breakfast while the staff would take the hot bread from the bakehouse into the shop, ready, when the shop opened at 9am. My great uncle ran the business side and lived above the shop and cafe with his wife Clara. Above the shop and cafe there was a large grand front room with two windows, one a bay. These two windows overlooked Fore Street. The view was beyond the Market House up the road, and down to... Read more
Living With Grandpa
I spent a year living in the Abbey House from Sept 1967 to July 1968 with my dad, mum, and younger sister. My grandfather, Hugh Leir, owned the house and lived in the older/original part of it for that year too. I was 11 years old at the time and it was a magic year. My sister and I had a wonderful time exploring the old house and grounds, especially when Grandpa wasn't around, and we were Robin Hood and Maid Marian for a good part of that year we lived there too. The attic was a wonderful place to explore. I remember the chicken bones that held the stone tiles in place. I have fond memories of Walter Higgins who was the gardener/grounds keeper there at the time and neighbours, the Barbers, who had giant hunting horses in the stables next door.
Brian Salter
Mar 2011
Harvester Inn
My grandfather ran the Harvester Inn from 1940 (I think it was called the New Inn then) to the mid sixties
His name was Maurice Herman and he ran it with his wife Elsie.
I would go there in the summer holidays from about the age of four - 1958, as we lived in Oxfordshire, it seemed a long way to go in those days.
I remember the inside (upstairs, I was not allowed in the bar) with steps leading to different levels.
I think my grandfather also ran an agricultural machinery hire business at the rear and side of the pub. My brother and I used to play on the combine harvesters and tractors.
When he retired, he built the New house next door to the pub. I think it was called Harvester House.
His wife died in 1971 and he followed her in a tragic way in 1976.
Early Days
I was born at Mobby House, Wyke Champflower, in 1939, my father was a farm hand. We moved to Hill House Farm, when I was 6years old, so that my mother could work in the dairy, where the cheese making was done. We moved from the farm when I was 12years old to Hill House Cottage, as the farmhouse was needed for the farming family. My years at Wyke Champflower are very memorable, I count myself very lucky to have grown up in such a lovely village (hamlet). It has changed due to progress over the years, as have most places of my childhood, most of the generation before me has passed on, including my own parents, but some of their families are still there. I have memories of the Christmas parties at the farmer's house for all the employees and their families, also the parties and whist drives at the Manor House where the villagers gathered (real community spirit).
Mobby House
I have lived at Mobby House, Wyke Champflower for 25 years and was interested to read that Audrey O'Halloran was born there. The name of the house has always been a talking point, perhaps Audrey could shed some light on the matter! Look forward to hearing more memories from Wyke Champflower and perhaps Mobby House!
War Years
I was born in a village near Bruton in 1939. My early memories of walking to school with my gas mask in a bag over the shoulder (never had to use it). There was an army camp down the road from our cottage, so there was lots of activity around. I used to watch the searchlight, thought at that time it was very exciting. We used to wait for the convoys of American soldiers to pass the bottom of our lane, they use to throw strips of chewing gum to us, which was a treat as we hadn't seen it before. I attended Bruton County School from 1944-1954. I go back to Somerset as often as I can and visit family and friends, but never seem to meet any of the past pupils of my old school. I am many miles away from Bruton now, but have memories that I will cherish forever.
Audrey O'Halloran - nee Hutchings.
The Big Question
Upon leaving the primary school in North Cadbury, we were asked the big question. Well, the big question for an 11 year old.
"What do you want to be doing when you are older?"
My answer to this, was that I would like to be writing books and making films, and I would make a film in the village.
It is now 26 years later, and I am preparing to return to the village to make a film.
This means a lot, as it was here that I learnt to write, and where I first wrote my short stories.
