Swimbridge, c.1950
Photo ref: S241006
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Photo ref: S241006
Photo of Swimbridge, c.1950

More about this scene

The church of St James with its broach spire is an interesting one. The hunting parson John (Jack) Russell was once incumbent here; he bred the dog that now carries his name. The smoky chimneys to the right belonged to a tannery which no longer functions. The buildings have been converted to residential use.

A Selection of Memories from Swimbridge

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Swimbridge

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

I am with my Dad, peter Brandon, who was also evacuated to the area during the war with his 2 brothers and sister and parents. They were in a terrace of cottages, Dinnaton Cottages south od Swimbridge. he went to Swimbridge school, probably aged 7 in 1940? His broithers were Syd and Jack, and his sister was Wyn. His dad worked in the tannery.
We were evacuated to North Molton during the Second World War, I remember going to the school and being billeted in various homes, one on the hill near a baker's shop - what lovely smells. I also remember the Lysander plane that crashed into the church, and the bullets exploding. I remember going picking blueberries on Exmoor for people from London and getting paid, and wild strawberries near a railway station, skinny ...see more
My dad was from the area and my brother was brought up in the village by my gran. I remember playing in the shallows of the river by the bridge on a hot sunny summers day. I have lost touch with my brother and would love to find him.