My Childhood Home And Its Spelling

A Memory of Bratton Seymour.

I do remember that the signpost on the main road pointing towards Bratton had it as 'Bratton Seamore".

My first home was Bratton Hill Cottage, since demolished and the land developed.

My Father worked for my Grandfather on Bratton Manor Farm, riding his bike up Bratton Hill. One of my earliest memories is seeing him off each morning (farmers don't have weekends) and being taught to shout "Cheerio my old cock sparra" by my mother. I have so many memories - far too many to write down here.

Manor Farm then had outbuildings on the other side of the road from the farm house, with farm tracks leading to "Top Yard" and "Bottom Yard". Bottom Yard was a traditional stone built yard with a feed mill and a piggery. Top Yard was mostly a big Nissen hut and a milking bail as I remember. Next to Bottom Yard was the ruin of an older farmhouse that had been abandoned and that had fallen apart when its thatched roof had finally decayed and fallen in. It was understood that the ruin had been the residence of the Hodges family and that the farmer had lost all interest when both his sons were killed in WW1. Certainly the ruin was still held odd bits of furniture, games and ornaments.

When I was a little older I caught the bus to school at North Cadbury primary school which, I believe, is still in existence.

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