Bruton
Bruton 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!
Bruton books (14 available)
- 3 photos on Bruton appear in 2 Frith books - View photos of Bruton
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Bruton and Somerset
Bruton memories
Read and share memories of Bruton and Somerset inspired by Frith photos
War Years
I was born in a village near Bruton in 1939. My early memories of walking to school with my gas mask in a bag over the shoulder (never had to use it). There was an army camp down the road from our cottage, so there was lots of activity around. I used to watch the searchlight, thought at that time it was very exciting. We used to wait for the convoys of American soldiers to pass the bottom of our lane, they use to throw strips of chewing gum to us, which was a treat as we hadn't seen it before. I attended Bruton County School from 1944-1954. I go back to Somerset as often as I can and visit family ...read more here
Contributed by Audrey O'Halloran
Somerset memories
War Years
I was born in a village near Bruton in 1939. My early memories of walking to school with my gas mask in a bag over the shoulder (never had to use it). There was an army camp down the road from our cottage, so there was lots of activity around. I used to watch the searchlight, thought at that time it was very exciting. We used to wait for the convoys of American soldiers to pass the bottom of our lane, they use to throw strips of chewing gum to us, which was a treat as we hadn't seen it before. I attended Bruton County School from 1944-1954. I go back to Somerset as often as I can and visit family ...read more here
A memory of Bruton contributed by Audrey O'Halloran
Conversion to Faith
I have great memories of the Church of St Luke and St Teresa. After instruction I was received into the church by Fr. Paul O' Sullivan, I had my confirmation there the following year. My husband and I were married at St Luke and St Teresa over 50 years ago, sad to say he passed away in 2005. Our eldest daughter was baptised in this church 1961, she was born at Templecombe that year. We came to live in Co. Clare, Ireland in 1971 but often visit Wincanton. On one such visit we were sad to find that the Carmelite Order had left the area. My first time to go into St Luke's was in 1955, when a friend, since deceased, ...read more here
A memory of Wincanton contributed by Audrey O'Halloran
The big question
Upon leaving the primary school in North Cadbury, we were asked the big question. Well, the big question for an 11 year old.
"What do you want to be doing when you are older?"
My answer to this, was that I would like to be writing books and making films, and I would make a film in the village.
It is now 26 years later, and I am preparing to return to the village to make a film.
This means a lot, as it was here that I learnt to write, and where I first wrote my short stories.
A memory of contributed by Joe Jenkins
Extracts From Bruton & Somerset books
Five miles west is Bruton, a town built mainly of Lias limestone, bisected by the River Brue. This was a notoriously
dangerous river; many houses well uphill from it have flood markers, particularly from the 1917 flood. There is one
on the Old Bull Inn in this view, at least 20 feet above normal river level. It is unusual that the shops along this
winding road have been turned into houses, as has the Old Bull Inn.
An extract from from"Somerset Photographic Memories".
The last tour heads west from the Wiltshire border to Devonshire; we are
never far from Dorset to the south. We start close to Stourhead, at King
Alfred’s Tower. This has nothing to do with the Anglo-Saxon king, of course:
it was built by Henry Hoare of Stourhead in the 1760s as an eye-catcher, a
function its 150 feet serve well, as it can be seen from miles away.
An extract from from"Somerset Photographic Memories".
Bruton’s High Street prospered from medieval times with the woollen industry, which grew along the Brue - gardens behind the houses ran down to the river. Silk mills later developed at the bottom of the street. In this street are Sexey’s almshouses, dating from 1638.
An extract from from"Somerset Living Memories".
The church lies behind a huddle of dilapidated cottages
lining the Nunney Brook; here, wool was washed during
the busy years of the cloth trade. Today the cottages are
all restored. They have small gardens overlooking the
brook, which is home to many ducks.
An extract from from"Frome Photographic Memories".
This gabled thatched
cottage is very typical
of the area. Thatch
was used before tile
and slate. This cottage
might be a local store,
as the bottom sign is
advertising Typhoo Tea.
The street remains much
the same today.
An extract from from"Frome Photographic Memories".