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Bourton
Bourton maps
Historic maps of Bourton and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Bourton maps
Bourton area books
Displaying 1 of 11 books about Bourton and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Bourton
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Avon memories
Grandparents Shop
My Grandparents, Joseph and Lilian Stokes, had this property built about 1953, they opened a general stores, the only one for miles around, and also ran the local post office in the shop, a few years later. Many many happy childhood memories at Big Tree Stores, my brother and I could help ourselves to anything, big tins of Roses and Lucky Numbers sat on the counter to be weighed out, and at Christmas the upstairs sitting room became a gift area with lots of present ideas on show. The shop was open 6.5 days a week, the garage didn't house Grandpas' car, but the food storeroom at the back, and his Barbers' salon at the front, he had previously had a hairdressing business in Bristol. My Grandmother stayed on at the shop for a couple of years after my Grandfathers' death in 1964, but then sold the business.
Best Village in Somerset
The times spent at East Brent Church of England School in the village were very good. All our family went there except our eldest brother Roy, who went to the infants school which is now the village hall. We learnt more from the village school than any other school we went to, happy days.
The 1960's
I lived my early years here, until the 1970's, having been born in Wells and brought home to Cheddar as a baby. I have many family ancestral links to Cheddar via my father's parents. In the late 1800's-early 1900's my great-grandfather John Day ran the Gardener's Arms in Silver Street, with his wife Emma. My parents lived in Birch Hill (also known as Bush Hill and Burdge Hill on older maps and records) from the 1950's until their deaths in the 1980's.
I attended the junior school in The Hayes from 1960 till 1966; the headmaster at the time was Mr Birch. On leaving there, I followed in my grandma's footsteps to Sexey's Grammar School, Blackford, till 1973.
The 1960's was a period when children could happily roam around the area for hours, on their own, with few problems or worries. I spent much time walking the small paths through Daghole, past the White Hart Inn and onwards towards the Cliff Hotel gardens and waterfall (now renamed). Fishing with... Read more
Family- Pearce's
Hi My great-grandfather and my grandad lived nr here on Manor Farm and the Old Priory, in 1700 to 1901.
Mr And Mrs Harris And Brent Knoll Farm
I have such happy memories of Brent Knoll Farm which we "accidentally" stayed at. We live in Lancashire and, think it was c1989. We had been to Weston super Mare for our holidays, staying in a lovely flat. The flat was very small but had a wonderful sea view. With 5 young kids, we hadn't found it easy finding somewhere to stay. It was a lovely area to be in, just slightly out of the centre of Weston, but within walking distance, so the following year we decided to go again. Then I was made redundant so only booked the flat for one week. Then I received a small amount of redunancy so I rang the lady to say we could manage two weeks after all, only to learn "our room" had been booked up, so we decided we would go to Weston for the week, but take extra money with us, and try and look for a place to stay the second week of our hols. With 5 young... Read more
Grandad's Chickens
My Grandparents lived in Crickham, they were George and Lily Evans and they lived in one of the little houses next to a white church. I remember if you went down a long hill there was a Post Office and the other road led to a pub where my Aunt Sally and Uncle Alex had their wedding reception after they married at the church. I now live in the USA but have fond memories as a child riding the bus from Weston-super-Mare through Eastertown and then on to Crickham. We would take one of Grandad's chickens home for Sunday dinner, I could never watch him kill it but my brother did!
Childhood Holiday And Later Holiday in my Teens
My first visit was with my parents. From memory, they had booked to stay somewhere, but for some reason we were directed to stay with a Mr & Mrs Salter who owned a farmhouse near the church. We were made very welcome.
Around 1949, I decided to cycle to Somerset from Dagenham Essex at the age of 16 against my parents wishes, I was only earning £2.10.0 (£2.50 today) each week. I had to borrow a decent cycle from a good friend, and set off on a Saturday morning not knowing where I was going to stay or even knowing if I would make it all the way.
Heavy rain made me do B&B in Marlborouigh for 10/- (50p). Sunday was brilliant sunshine, and I made it to the village of Mark at around 6pm in the evening.
I happened to stop outside this house with railings around the front that I recalled, and a voice from a window above asked if they could help me. I looked up,... Read more
