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Farrington Gurney memories

Here are memories of Farrington Gurney and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Farrington Gurney or a Farrington Gurney photo.

Grandparents And Father

Grandparents lived in Farrington Gurney and my father was born there in 1922.
Grandfather was Rees West-Gaul, father Geoffrey West-Gaul, does anyone know the family?

Great-Grandfather

Gilbert Evans was from Farrington Gurney.

Memories of Avon

Dowling East Family

I have been researching my family tree and it takes me to many villages around the area, Hallatrow, Kilnerston, Clutton, Paulton, Caulter. If anyone has any links I would appreciate the information. I have traced back to early 1800s but it may be that someone local with an interest in family histories has more information. Thanks Gill Edmunds

WELSH'S GROCERY SHOP

When I was a little girl, my mother, Violet Helmore, would take me into Welsh's regularly to do her shopping. Biscuits could be bought loose then as could sugar tea etc. I always thought that I was a good little girl, but apparently not, as my mother would warn me before entering the shop "Be a good girl, because Mr Ratcliffe (the manager) has a room at the back of the shop, where he keeps naughty little girls in boxes". I had this overwelming fear of Mr Ratcliff, poor innocent man that he was, amd can you imagine what would happen if one was overheard to say such things these days. But we are talking of the early 1950s, and oh the memories of the lovely shops. Mr & Mrs Matthews with her strait-laced hair, but oh the divine sweets they sold. A cornucopia of all things delightful. Then Jenkins fish & chip shop with young Nigel who was in my class at school. The Palladium was THE place to go, both for... Read more

Hinton Blewett 1945-1946

I first saw Hinton Blewett on a late September day when arriving at my prep school, Colchester House. This was housed in Hinton Blewett Manor, which was its wartime home. Its true home was in Clifton, Bristol but that had been requisitioned during the war so the school was in borrowed accommodation. The headmaster was Mr K A Moresby, a bachelor, but very fond of boys! He liked to have them stripped naked in his study at the beginning and end of term for weighing and measuring. Nevertheless it was a very happy school and I learnt a lot in the year I was there. I remember cycle rides into the nearby country, seeing lots of horse-drawn farm equipment and seeing haymaking the hard way. Pick-up balers did not then exist. I remember the narrow lanes and views of Blagdon Lake.
Regretfully it all came to an end in July 1946 as Mr Moresby couldn't afford to pay for the building in Clifton to be made good and decided to... Read more

Fun!!

I worked in Chewton Mendip in 1968, at Bathway Farm which was a racing stables. It was an amazing job and a wonderful place to work. Every Sunday lunchtime down to the Waldegrave Arms!! 3 of us shared a cottage on Nedge called Swallowsloft, that little house was amazing! Chewton is a beautiful place and I'll never forget my time there.

A Country Drive Around Somerset

Having retired and moved to the West Country my wife Elizabeth and I set out to explore the area. Our new home is in Tiverton, Devon, but gradually we explored further and further afield and we remember a lovely drive to Wells and going along Somerset lanes through beautiful villages like East Harptree, Rookham, Chewton Mendip and down towards Taunton on our way home.

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