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Fordgate
Fordgate maps
Historic maps of Fordgate and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Fordgate maps
Fordgate photos
We have no photos of Fordgate, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Westonzoyland| Burrowbridge| East Lyng| Bridgwater| Chedzoy| Middlezoy| Othery| Wembdon| West Monkton| North Curry| Cossington| Puriton| Woolavington| Chilton Polden| Bathpool| Cannington| Ruishton| Curry Rivel| Fivehead| Shapwick| Drayton| Taunton
Fordgate area books
Displaying 1 of 11 books about Fordgate and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Fordgate
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Somerset memories
Walnut Cottage
My Grandparents ran the post-office at Moorland when I was young, we used to visit every Sunday. I loved the atmosphere and the peacefulness of the village. My grandad was Charles Kitch, also named 'Fido', but I can't find out why. Does anyone out there know? Walnut Cottage is very much the same as I remember, and the orchard where pigs and chickens were kept had an abundance of apple trees, especially Morgan sweets. Most of my family seemed to originate from that area, those were the days. I also remember how high the canal used to be, scary as a child. I used to pick blackberries with my cousin who lived with my gran. I'm doing my family tree, I have come across a Kitch Drove and wondered how that came about, also Kitch bridge. If anyone can help I would be delighted, and most grateful. Linda Kitch
The Bakery Stores, Post Office
I was born in 1943, I don't remember much until school years at Burrowbridge Primary, head teacher was Mr Brazier. My father used to be 'Jack of all trades', he used to recharge the old accumulaters, run the bakery, he used to make pop, Mother ran the shop and Gran used to run the post office and telephone exchange. Me and my brothers used to bake bread, make cakes and do deliveries, and my sister helped Mum.
Good Memories
The year was probably 1956 to 1960. I used to go to my uncle's farm with my cousin, Colin Brunt, he had 2 race horses, Lyng Gold and Misty Evening, I used to go up and ride out with him.
Shopping Memories.
My father was a greengrocer and his shop appears in this photograph on the left side going into the Rex Cinema arcade, a butchers shop was on the right side. During the war years and into the very early 1950s, he was the largest greengrocer in Bridgwater, having the Eastover shop and one in Taunton Road, my parents looking after one each. They also had a third shop which my sister ran for several years. That section of Eastover, including the Rex arcade, Mr Jeal the ironmonger and several other shops were demolished in the early 1960s to make way for the rather bland row of shops that now occupy the spot.
Holidays
We spent many a happy holiday in the Bridgwater area, sometimes staying on a farm just outside Bridgwater and in later years in a flat in the holiday village in nearby Burnham on Sea. Many wonderful memories of my dead parents and dogs!
Ford Dealership
It's not really a memory I have of this picture, but my 1956 Ford Popular was supplied by the Ford Dealership, A & S White of 37 St. Mary Street, seen on the right in this picture. Now apparently a Weatherspoons Pub.
Broadway Lido.....My Home
Yes.....the Broadway Lidi was my home. I am Stuart Smith, my father Gordon Smith was the first manager (well, they called it superintendent then) at the Lido. We moved there when I was about 3 years old, and lived in a detached house adjacent to the Lido. I recall doing the "Inaugural Plunge" in front of Princess Alexandra......who presented me with a new pair of trunks, for performing the feat.
The Vauxhall car, which you see in the photo (below Lido sign), belonged to Wilf Pine, my father's deputy. Our house was just out of shot, to the right. We often had rugby balls landing in our garden, from Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Club, who played in the adjoining field. My mother, Joan Smith, would often refuse to give the balls back to even the burliest rugby players!!
Originally there was a Main Pool & Teaching Pool, an Intermediate Pool was added later. In the winter months the pools were drained almost empty, but ice formed readily at... Read more
