Nostalgic memories of Shepton Mallet's local history

Share your own memories of Shepton Mallet and read what others have said

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.

Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.

A couple at a laptop

Add a Memory!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin

Tips & Ideas

Not sure what to write? It's easy - just think of a place that brings back a memory for you and write about:

  • How the location features in your personal history?
  • The memories this place inspires for you?
  • Stories about the community, its history and people?
  • People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
  • Has it changed over the years?
  • How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?

This week's Places

Here are some of the places people are talking about in our Share Your Memories community this week:

...and hundreds more!

Enjoy browsing more recent contributions now.

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After leaving school in the late '70's, I went to Strode College in Street. During that time, I was offered a weekend job on Swain's Farm, on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet. I had been at school with his daughter, Lesley, who intended to become a vet. As my mum was separated, money was a problem, & when Mr Swain offered me an ATB (Agricultural Training Board) Herdsperson ...see more
As a young lad, living in Shepton Mallet, I used to eagerly await my older brother's visits at weekends. Saturdays would often involve a walk to Wells & a matinee at the Regal. If there wasn't a film on we wanted - or I was old enough to see - we'd usually go for a long walk. I was tremendously excited to hear we were going to see a real castle! At my young age I imagined something like the medieval ones ...see more
I kept looking at this photo & wondering why it seemed a familiar view...Then, with the aid of maps & old pictures realised it was taken from the field (Barren Down?) behind my old school, Ivey House. On the right of the picture is the old Hospital, & you can make out the church of St Peters & St Paul in the middle distance. The wall you can see is of the back gardens of the houses in Princes ...see more
The photo of the Market Cross takes me back to two memories, of 1970 & 1975. On & off, I lived on the Hillmead estate from the '60's to late '70's. June 1970 - the town is full of young people, with long hair. Noisy motorcycles - mostly British - go round the Cross. The Post Office, at the left of the picture, is covered with sellotaped notes - it has become a contact point for people ...see more
The shop on the right is Hobleys' Ironmongers. As a youngster I would buy my fishing tackle, airgun pellets, & sheath-knives there. I would gave in awe at the new Diana & BSA airguns that they stocked - way beyond my pocket & paper round money, I had second - probably tenth! - hand items, purchased from 'Secondhand Joes shop' as it was known. Seems strange nowadays that I could walk in ...see more
As a youngster in the late '60's I was very keen on aquatic life, & there was plenty in the lake. Minnows, sticklebacks, Great Crested & other newts/amphibians, dragonfly & diving beetle larvae. It's an interest that has stayed with me - I have a large wildlife pond in the garden. The island in the photo is smaller than I recall - maybe it was made bigger later, as more modern pictures ...see more
The book is an award gift to a swimming winner in the year 1901 (picture 5, 6), so the book must be published and printed before 1901. The book has 341 pages (picture 9). The book's cover has the totem of the Shepton Mallet Grammar School and the school motto with using Latin 'Disce Aut Discede' (means learn or depart). If you want to see the book's pictures, you can contact me or search the eBay item number 273144740721
I attended Whitstone during the changeover from Secondary Modern to Comprehensive. It was quite a shock to me. I'd always been to small, private schools, & it seemed huge. I was also amazed & shocked by the bad language - 4 letter words were not what I was used to, & they were in constant use by the pupils. I was very well spoken, which got me tagged & bullied as 'posh', & as I had ...see more
After a family breakup, my mother & I moved to Shepton Mallet in the late '60's, on the Hillmead Estate. I went to Ivey House Preparatory School, as it was called. It was a funny little place in Princes Road. Mrs Jacobs was the Head. Most of the teachers were OK, although looking back on it I wonder how many were qualified. I remember Mrs Snelgrove, who used to cycle in everyday, Mrs Massey, who lived at ...see more
At a guess! My visits to Shepton mallet were infrequent as I lived near Bristol as a child. But loved coming to see my Grandmother at no 1 Barren Down (mrs E A Crook)A school was at the back of her house, I wondered if it was the original grammar school? I was free to go beyond to the railway, and wave to the steam engine driver! My Mother was Ethel Rose Crook, I believe she married from barren ...see more