Memories of Somerton
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 Somerton, Station 1906 (ref: 55818) |
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. Posted: 08/11/2007 02:25 by Denise Lazenby |
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 Somerton, the Viaduct c1955 (ref: S147031) |
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. Last edited: 20/03/2008 09:51 by Denise Lazenby |
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 Somerton, Langport Road c1960 (ref: S147048) |
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 was a different era in those days if you were naughty Mrs Lareham hung a notice around your neck with things like “Keep away from me I bite” or “Keep away from me I tell lies” written on a board on strings. In those days we had school dinners, afterwards we had to get out the mats and have a rest. Then we were allowed out in the playground for play time. I remember there was a big wooden jungle gym in the play ground. Mrs Marshall used to live on the left hand side next to the Band Rooms. I seem to remember that blind people sat out side making things there but I may be mistaken. Posted: 08/11/2007 02:10 by Denise Lazenby |
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 Somerton, the Square c1965 (ref: S147078) |
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 had a beautiful curtain made from glass beads that separated the shop from her living room. I was SO envious of that curtain and always wished we could have one too. Next door to the Wool Shop was Mr Pattimore’s antique shop, and next to that was the Market House. The Brook’s family lived there and ran a tea shop. I was friends with Mandy and we spend many happy hours up in the attics playing dress up with her Mum’s old clothes. The War Memorial is in the middle of the square. Every year on 11 November we used to march then have a church service for Remembrance Day. I remember being very proud when I was chosen to carry the Brownies Standard (Flag). Wreaths were then laid on the steps of the memorial. Posted: 08/11/2007 01:57 by Denise Lazenby |
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 Somerton, Broad Street c1960 (ref: S147059) |
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 classes. I loved going to school but my worst memory is of school milk. We used to be given 1/3 pint every day. In winter the frozen milk was brought in and placed near the big stoves in the class rooms to thaw out. I was one of those strange children that had allergies and wasn’t supposed to have milk – I used to try and sit next to someone that loved milk so that I could swap my full bottle for their empty one but I often got caught and was made to drink it – it always made me sick! Posted: 08/11/2007 01:36 by Denise Lazenby |
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 Somerton, Broad Street c1960 (ref: S147067) |
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 table. I’m told Mum used to cycle out to all the farms to collect the grocery orders and then Grandpa Lazenby used to deliver them in his grey van. I can remember looking through the windows in the shop door and watching them leaving – I cried and cried (I must have been only two) I sat at the bottom of the big shiny stairs and was given a little dish of ice cream as a special treat. In those days ice creams came out of a big white cabinet with a black lift up lid. They were round with paper around the edge. If you were lucky you might have a few sprinkles (100’s and 1000’s) on the top. Next door Mr and Mrs Harris had their outfitters shop. I remember a nice lady called Pearl worked there. She always wore nice lipstick and looked pretty. Over the road in Cow Square there was a trough with a beautiful pink Cherry Tree. We always called it Valarie’s tree because it was planted when Valarie (my Aunty) was born. Posted: 08/11/2007 01:19 by Denise Lazenby |
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 Somerton, The Triangle c1965 (ref: S147046) |
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 (Bill and Joyce) Chapman who were farmers. Next door to the Vincent's on the left was Mr Law's shop - he was a Cobbler and also sold shoes. Mum used to buy our school daps there. Next to that was Mr and Mrs Lawrence the sweet shop, it was always our first port of call when we got our pocket money. The shop was lined with big glass bottles full of every type of sweet you could imagine. Mrs Lawrence used to weigh them on her brass scales and wrap them up in triangle shaped paper bags. There was a delicatessen a little further down run by a nice lady called Mrs Stevens. I remember there was always packets of Smith’s crisps in large screw top jars they were the ones that had a little screw of blue paper with salt to shake on your crisps. Posted: 08/11/2007 00:56 by Denise Lazenby |
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