West Monkton
West Monkton photos (5 available)
West Monkton maps (2 available)
Map of Somerset
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
West Monkton books (15 available)
West Monkton memories
Read and share memories of West Monkton and Somerset inspired by Frith photos
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Somerset memories
maternal family history and onwards dictated by my mum age 84
My name is Hilda Mary Fenn nee Hurman. I was born at Yarford in 1924. My father was William Thomas Hurman, my mother Caroline Elizabeth nee Tucker. They are buried in the village churchyard. My two sisters and I were all married in the village church in 1952 and had receptions in the village hall. As children we attended the village school - Mr Hawkins was the headmaster - we attended youth club, brownies, guides, choir, Kingston players drama group. My best friend was Margaret Mead of The Bungalow, Fulford, she lives there still. We spent our days roaming the fields, collecting milk, harvesting, riding on the hay carts. When it was the Silver Jubilee of George V and Queen Mary, ...read more here
A memory of Kingston St Mary contributed by Rosie Robinson
narrow escape (probably between 1958 and 1961)
a few years after this photo was taken WH Smiths which was located to the bottom left of this photo completely collapsed following a prolonged spell of wet weather. This happened very early one saturday morning in the run up to christmas, prior to staff arriving for work. I don't think anyone was injured - a few hours later and the store would have been crowded with christmas shoppers!
A memory of Taunton contributed by cherry james
Pear Tree Cottage Greenway
We used to visit my grandparents on Sundays. Quite often during the Spring we would drive through the flooded levels and see boats on the water. I remember wanting desperately to go for a ride in one! It didn't happen. My Grandfather was Charles Perry who was a stonemason and Grandma's name was Laura. They had 4 children, Rose, George (known as Gordon) my Dad, Kathleen and Wilfred. It would be great if anyone remembers the family or perhaps the house?
A memory of North Curry contributed by anne perry
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. ...read more here
A memory of Bridgwater contributed by stuart smith
Extracts From West Monkton & Somerset books
A fine example of a village stocks is to be seen at West Monkton, sheltered beneath the yews of the churchyard.
Notice the whipping post on the right. The shelter above is of a later date, for miscreants were seldom protected
from the vagaries of the English weather.
An extract from from"Taunton Photographic Memories".
Taunton is a town surrounded by water, with the Tone passing through its heart and the marshes not far away. It is
still possible to walk along the banks of the local waterways, just as these Edwardian children did nearly a century
ago. A canal to Tiverton once started from near French Weir.
An extract from from"Taunton Photographic Memories".
A splendid view over the heart of Taunton town. In late Victorian times many of the old buildings of Taunton were
demolished and new streets were created. Notice the early marked parking spaces in the street below.
An extract from from"Taunton Photographic Memories".
A fine example of a village stocks is to be seen at West Monkton, sheltered beneath the yews of the churchyard.
Notice the whipping post on the right. The shelter above is of a later date, for miscreants were seldom protected
from the vagaries of the English weather.
An extract from from"Taunton Photographic Memories".
Once much feared as a punishment, village stocks are now just a picturesque part of our history. They were mostly
used for minor offences such as drunkenness and petty theft. An Act of 1376 decreed that stocks should be set
up in every village as a way of controlling unruly labourers.
An extract from from"Taunton Photographic Memories".