Somerton

The station

Our cottage in West Street used to almost back on to the railway line. We lived next door to Mr and Mrs Dummet (Aunty Mable and Uncle Ern) next door again was the telephone exchange (I think a boy called Michael Elliot lived there) then there was Station Lane then the Alms Houses. I remember when we moved up to the Old Brewery House I couldn't sleep because I really missed hearing the trains go by. We were all sad when they closed the station.
Contributed by Denise Lazenby

Brown's Fields

We knew this spot as Brown's Fields.  Farmer Brown had the dairy in Broad Street and used to drive his cows down the lane by the Lynch. In summer time we used to go down to the river to play and have picnics. In the winter time it was a great place to use your sledge.  We often used to sit inside big sacks and slide down the hill (hopefully missing the cow pats). In the summer we used to pick little wild strawberries off the viaduct. I'm sure we weren't supposed to go there but we never came to any harm.


Contributed by Denise Lazenby

I used to live here

I grew up living in a cottage on West Street (just out of shot on the left) Next door to Mr and Mrs Vincent. Mr Vincent had the garage over the road... I remember that he had a penny farthing bike in the window.

The Cooper's had a fish shop in the Triangle there was a marble slab in the middle of the shop and they also sold fruit and vegetables. I think Mr Cooper (Ron) also had a van and delivered fish to the surrounding villages.

One the left you can see Leonard Hughes Shop - my friend Phillip Mitchell lived there. They were next door to Mr and Mrs ...read more here
Contributed by Denise Lazenby

Langport Road and the School

Mr Bryant had a hardware shop (on the right) I seem to remember Mrs Bryant had a Corgi dog (I was always quite scared of it) Up the road a bit on the right I’m sure Mr Garland had a little shop – he was a boot maker.

On the corner you can see the Infant’s School. Mrs Williams ran the school and she had a lovely Labrador dog called Sally. The school became a bit crowded so the little ones were sent around to the Drill Hall Behind Berry. Mrs Lareham was our teacher. We had to walk round the corner to the school two by two holding hands. It ...read more here
Contributed by Denise Lazenby

Post Office and Boy's School

The Red Lion Building used to be a Post Office run by Mr and Mrs Salter. Next door to was the Boy's School. The boys and girls went to separate schools in those days – the girls were taught by Miss Bibby at Monteclefe and the boys by Miss Lacy at the Boy’s School. I think I’d been at Monteclefe for a year when they moved us all up to the Boys School. We were crammed in together while they modernised Monteclefe. When we eventually moved back Monteclefe became co-ed and we were taught by Mr Davis and Miss Swain – Miss Lacy was our head mistress. Miss Lacy was very creative and I loved our art ...read more here
Contributed by Denise Lazenby

Gran and Grandpa Lazenby's Shop

Gran and Grandpa Lazenby had a grocery shop here. I believe they also had a café next door but I can’t remember that. I do remember looking through the window in the back of the shop and seeing my Mum slicing bacon on a big red machine.

Mum tells me her worst job was to turn the handle of the coffee roasting machine – she hated the smell of roasting coffee and to this day only ever drinks tea.

My other memory is having my lunch in the garden at the back… I used to sit in Grandpa’s lovely garden on a little flower pot and use a bigger one as a ...read more here
Contributed by Denise Lazenby

The Market Square

The Library was in the building on the left – I was a real book worm so I loved being able borrow new books every week. We used to go to Sunday school at the church. Reverend Hayter was our vicar (daughters Pauline and Janet) and Mrs Leach used to teach us. She had children about my age Jonathon and Rachel. Behind the Church next to the vicarage was a hall where we went to Brownies… I was a Gnome Sixer! Our Brown Owl was called Mrs Stocker and she had a daughter called Jill.

Next door to the Church (the house with the bay window) was Mrs Witty’s wool shop. I particularly remember she ...read more here
Contributed by Denise Lazenby