Yeovil memories
Here are memories of Yeovil and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Yeovil or a Yeovil photo.
Seeking my Family
My name is Vivienne. I was born in Yeovil in December 1953. My father was Graham Stanley George Adams born March 1926. He had four brothers: Stewart Roland Adams (Married Phyllis), Maurice Escort Adams (Married Jean Hallett, children Susan and Dawn), Norman Adams (Married Sheila, child Kim) and Cyril Adams (Married Betty, children Judith and another daughter name unknown).
My father died in 1963. Stewart had died previously and Norman died a couple of years after my father. All five brothers had polycystic kidney disease and were not expected to live long lives. They were tradesmen in Yeovil and some of the brothers were in the Navy for some years. Their father was Roland Adams and their mother was Sylvia Eileen Wiltshire known as "Marsie". She married again after Roland's death to a man named Christopher.
My mother June, father and I lived in a commission flat in St Anne's Garden's, Yoevil until 1957 when we migrated... Read more
FATHER CHRISTMAS
Dear Francis, As Christmas is looming, memories roll back to when Father Christmas arrived at Town Station on the train. One boy and one girl would be picked out of the crowd to recieve a present, and the present was a story book. How very lucky I was. Jenny Savage (Dungey)
Army Days
I started my conscription service training In Yeovil, if I remember correctly the
camp I trained at was called Houndstone Camp. I have very fond memories
of the camp, and the friends I made in the RASC company we were in. I also
have enjoyable memories of Yeovil village, we had some great times there. Being a northen lad living in a smoky industrial town, moving down to Yeovil was like moving into another world. I went back 50yrs later with my
wife, what a change. But I still have my memories.
Regards, George Jones.
The Old Cottage at Nine Springs
I can remember playing at Nine Springs every Sunday with my two brothers. We would always stop at the old cottage there where you could buy a glass of home made lemonade for an old halfpenny, and sometimes two biscuits as well if you had a penny. The old couple were very friendly and we would sit on their small veranda, and pet their old black dog, and listen to the noise of the springs as we chatted and had our rest break. I went inside the cottage many times to use their small bathroom, and it was very old with little steep stairs, and I used to find it a bit dark and scary inside. Sadly this was demolished many years later, and I would often see the old couple and their dog wandering the streets of Yeovil town. I once went up to them and thanked them for the lovely memories they gave me, and their hospitality. Nine Springs was our 'back garden' and we used to have... Read more
Yeovil, Princess Street c1950
I well remember Yeovil as a boy in the 1940s and this lovely view of Princess Street brings back many memories. The road was actually the A30 road from London to Exeter running through the town and would often be clogged with traffic in the summer. The street had lovely shops including Genges on the left which became Redwoods toy shop. This was always more of a classier street than the nearby Middle Street. Soyers fishmongers shop was further up on the right hand side selling lovely fresh fish. Derek Phillips
Pedestrian Shopping
I was born on Yeovil in 1945, and my memories are of growing up in a pleasant market town. The George was a wonderful timber framed building that I remember being demolished because, apparently, it hindered traffic flow. Shortly after it was knocked down the whole area was pedestrianised ! Such a short-sighted attitude from the Planners is staggering!
My Grandmother
My grandmother had to work in the flaxworks during the First World War and caught her arm in a machine and severed it! I was told she was taken to Yeovil and spent many weeks in this hospital. In 1964 I spent two weeks in here but for a much nicer reason, my first son was born.
Shop Names.
No 23 Middle Street, Yeovil was a chemist's, name Francis.
Wyndham Hill And Penn Mill
My house backed onto Wyndham Hill and I spent my childhood playing over there.
My cousin and I loved to watch the steam trains passing by and sometimes (if our parents weren't nearby) would run onto the bridge at Penn Mill station and hang over to get lost in the smoke! (The things kids do!!)
There was also another smaller field beside Wyndham which had three horses, Penny (a chestnut), Dusty (a dark grey) and Joey (a brown). The lady who owned them gave riding lessons which I went to every Saturday (after coming back from the Saturday morning pictures at the Odeon). My horse was Joey, a lovely little horse, and I always remember cantering at the bottom of Wyndham (the station end) when for some reason Joey decided to 'put the brakes on' so to speak and I went flying over his head. I kept hold of the reins though and wasn't hurt but when I stood up the smell was dreadful. Dear little Joey had unseated me... Read more
Memories of Somerset
Barwick House School
Barwick House as shown in the photographs on this site is sadly no more although the building is still standing and is now being used as luxury apartments, this is as a result of the school (which previously occupied it) going bankrupt in 1987, the school was run by a Major Gray and his wife. I was a pupil there from September 9th 1977 to May 25th 1979 and I was glad to learn of its closure as a school although it wasn't until April 2010 that I actually learned of this development. I say that I was glad because my memories of my stay at the school are not happy ones, my memories of my time at Barwick House are of abuse and suffering and I am delighted that the school is no more and that the abusing monster who ran it is almost certainly now dead.
Barwick House
My memories of my 7years at Barwick House from 1973 - 1980 from the age of 9 years aren't perfect but where else would I have had the chance to ride horses, go sailing, join the Sea Cadets and become the man I am today....I hear a lot about people being abused at the school; yes, it was rough but then none of us were in there for good behaviour, we were in there because no other school would have us. I loved it and yes I was a trouble maker but I'd like to think in a nice way...Who remembers building the swimming pool? And the stables and what about the stable girl and Annette? I have some really good memories of them if anyone is interested. Ian Gayle, 'HMS Amethyst'
Family Home
I wish there was more history related to the house. I'm very interested to know how it was used before it became a place of bad memories. I am sorry to hear it became a reform school where children were abused but I am doing my family research and this used to be called Barwick Manor in the 16th century. My 13th great grandfather, Sir John Symes, was born in this house.
Brympton D'evercy - as I Knew it Claire School
I spent as a boy four years from 1970 to 1974 at this magnificent house, as it was a boys' boarding school. It was a fantastic place to be as a 10 year old, to study and grow up.
I yearn to return and see its splendid huge wooden staircase we use to slide down, its hamstone turret stairscases, and the japanese garden that we spent many hours tending due to detention!!!!
I hope the house is still in good hands it is a national treasure in my eyes and I feel privliged to have lived there for four years of Brympton's long history.
Western Morning News 28.12.09 Brympton
1959 - 1962 I was also in 'inmate' of Clare School at Brympton, this spectacular alleged Inigo Jones fronted building and certainly then did not value its stature until later in life. It is featured in the BBC programme 'The Turn of the Screw' on 31st Dec 2009 and page 2 of the Western Morning News. The Hockey pitch (front lawn) looks in remarkably good nick so The Glossops, the now owners, have done a good job. The paper says they are encouraging folk to visit and use the house as a wedding venue. I will turn up one day! Alec
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