In Search of the Ship

We have recently received an enquiry looking for photographs of the Ship Café, Earle Street, Yeovil.

We know this was located in Earle Street in 1953, as we have a planning application to install two new conveniences when Mr Harris was listed as the lessee.

Interestingly, we believe this part of Earle Street was re-developed to become part of Central Road, which now runs from ‘Vincents’ roundabout down to the Bus Station.

The section of Earle Street remains which runs through to meet Reckleford.

Looking at the map on the planning application, this would need to be held upside down in order to be accurate with reality and would seem to indicate that the Ship Café was on the left looking up the road and almost part of what is believed to be the former Whitby Gloving Factory site.

We would be grateful to receive any information or ideally a photograph of the Ship Café to show our enquirer.

01935 462855 or  heritage.services@southsomerset.gov.uk

 

1953 Plan showing the Ship Café, Earle Street, Yeovil

 

 

 

Chard & Ilminster Insight

We enjoyed the company of Chard & Ilminster U3A Past Times Group on Thursday 18th April 2019.

We made a selection of objects and photographs which we thought would be of interest, including a copy of the Chard & Ilminster News from 26th July 1947 and a photograph of East Street, Ilminster on 12th May 1986 courtesy of the Peall & Co Estate Agents Collection.

We also looked at several other images of Chard and Ilminster, including lowering a spire from a Wessex helicopter onto what appears to be Forde Abbey.

(Courtesy of Peall & Co Estate Agents Photographic Collection – CHAC)

 

A Familiar Face

A couple from Oxford visited the Community Heritage Access Centre in November 2018 seeking information on their family history. They had already visited the Somerset & Dorset Family History Centre, in Peter Street, Yeovil and their volunteers kindly sent the couple on to us at Artillery Road.

During our discussion, a group of mystery family photographs, believed to be from Yeovil, were shown to us.

We would be grateful if anyone recognises the people, the occasions and can supply any background detail. Hopefully, they are familiar faces to someone.

Please contact us via the BLOG page or heritage.services@southsomerset.gov.uk

Can anyone identify the special badge or pendant?

 

 

A Notable Entry – A Year in the Life.

We gratefully acknowledge the donation from our CHAC Volunteer, Lorna Prudden of the Facsimile Edition of Edward Phelips Diaries 1784 and 1789.

The diaries were written by Edward Phelips M.P. (1725-1797) of Montacute House.

The Facsimile Editions enhance our resources for local study and research and will be available to view at the Community Heritage Access Centre.

Notable entries include “A Christmas Ball in Yeovil” and “8 inches of lying snow” ; “Sent Amos to Sherborne Castle” and “Mr Helyar came in totally unexpected.”

The original diaries are available to view by appointment at the South West Heritage Trust, Norton Fitzwarren, (01823) 278805.

Joseph Lewis, (Heritage Co-Ordinator) with Lorna Prudden (CHAC Volunteer) with the Facsimile Editions of the Edward Phelips Diaries 1784 and 1789 donated by Lorna to the Community Heritage Access Centre.

 

New Year Photo Afternoon

chac photo january 2019

Seasonal Wishes

Our Christmas image from our 2019 Yeovil Calendar shows Father Christmas at the Plummer Roddis Department Store in the mid 1950s.

Copies of the 2019 Yeovil Calendar are available at £6.00 each – which helps with our work at the Community Heritage Access Centre, caring for 30,000 objects and 6,000 photographs.

Further details are available from 01935 462855 – or visit Cartgate Tourist Information Centre; Yeovil Tourist Information Centre, Petters Way; South Somerset District Council Brympton Way Reception or the Emporium, Princes Street, Yeovil.

Somerset & Dorset Family History Society, Peter Street, Yeovil is another location.

 

 

March in July!

Thank you to everyone that is supporting the Community Heritage Access Centre through the 2019 Yeovil Calendar. Our July 2019 Image will be familiar to many with the view of Princes Street in 1954, celebrating 100 years of Yeovil as a Municipal Borough.

01935 462855 for more information on the Calendar – or see Yeovil Tourist Information Centre; The Emporium, Princes Street and Somerset and Dorset Family History Centre, Peter Street, Yeovil.

Timely Reminder

The 2019 Celebrating Yeovil Calendar is now available at £6.00 each – with a new theme of uniting each photograph with an associated object from the CHAC Collection.

For more details – call (01935) 462886 or email

heritage.services@southsomerset.gov.uk

 

Frome On Track

On Thursday 23rd August 2018, we hosted 40 members of the Frome Society for Local Study, helped by our volunteer team.

One of our Frome connections was highlighted in one of our earliest photographs, with the following information on the back.

L & S.W Railway Locomotive ‘Frome’ c1860

“One of the first passenger engines employed at the Yeovil Town Station. Original photograph taken c1860-1.

On the foot plate are the driver, John Knight, who later became the licensee of the Half Moon Hotel.

Matthew Woods (centre figure) the loco foreman and William Greenaway, Fireman. William Dyer (not in the Picture) was the cleaner. He eventually became a driver and died in Yeovil in 1922.

This photograph is a rarity as the Driver had used the company’s coal, oil and engine on a Sunday in order for the photograph to be taken. When found out, he was taken up to Nine Elm’s Shed and severely reprimanded. He was then told to hand over all photographs and copies to be destroyed. This one, however, escaped, as did the original negative!”

Light at the end of the tunnel

Following our posting of our mystery photograph – we received requests to post the other two and these are below. From our Photo Afternoon, these were strongly stated to be the culvert near the present police station, at the other end of Horsey Lane – although now covered over. Thoughts gratefully appreciated.