Projects, Talks and Visits in 2019
Apple Pressing Day, Sunday October 20th
Did you know that apple orchards were introduced to Britain by the Romans? Apparently, army veterans were given land on which to grow fruits, as an inducement to stay in Britain. Returning to the present day, 2019 has been a year of feast or famine for local apple growers, yet plenty of apples were brought to the Recreation Ground for the annual apple pressing organised by Shoscombe Local History Group and volunteers. The juice produced is a delicious drink, although many people prefer to follow the Somerset tradition and allow the juice to ferment into cider! |
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Foxcote and the Deserted Villages of Somerset, Friday 11th October
There was a capacity audience in Shoscombe Village Hall for an illustrated talk by James Bond. He shared with us his vast knowledge of three key aspects of deserted villages :-
- How to identify them from landscape features, aerial photos and written records, with many examples of each of these.
- The reasons why villages disappeared. Probably the most common reason for abandoned villages is population decline caused by a combination of climate changes in the early 14th century, which brought repeated crop failures leading to famine, and at the same time, repeated outbreaks of the Black Death. As a result between a third and a half of the entire population of England lost their lives. This led to labour shortages, particularly on marginal farmland, as farm labourers could move onto empty land and properties in more productive areas. Through the late 14th and 15th centuries many landowners, deprived of a sufficient labour force for agriculture and suffering lapsed rents, eventually resorted to evicting the remaining peasants and converting their land to enclosed pasture.
- Research sources that can help us identify deserted villages, from the Domesday Book and a huge range of civil and religious records, to changes in place names.
Our only disappointment was that James, in his quest to share a lifetime of first-hand research into the subject, left specific mention of Foxcote to the end, so could not go into great detail because of lack of time.
However, the good news! He has sent us a ten-page study of the history of Foxcote, with population figures, detailed source quotations and other material that gives some clues and sources for further research. If you would like a copy, please contact Rina Richards 01761 434357 / rinarichards@yahoo.co.uk
Finally, a further highlight of the evening was a hands-on display of mediaeval and historic artefacts belonging to Bob Freeman, who fascinated us with his detailed explanations of these articles, their origins and how they were used.
Projects, Talks and Visits in 2018
Apple Day October 2018
Many thanks to all those who helped make this a successful occasion. There were plenty of apples to chip and press and litres of juice juice to make into cider.
There was a great BBQ and a boules tournament with our neighbours from Wellow.
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September's guided walk along the Somerset Coal Canal with Roger Halse
August's Field Names Workshop
The workshop began with an informative talk about the history of field names from Chris Paul. Field names were then added to a copy of the 1846 Tithe Map to build up our knowledge of the historic land use in the parish.
Projects, Talks and Visits in 2017
Shoscombe Local History Group's AGM and Talk on the History of Clay Pipes
“A pint and a pipe” was the order of the day in many pubs during the 18th and 19th centuries, and the history of the making of these clay pipes was the theme of Marek Lewcun’s talk in the Village Hall on Monday 20th November. With Norton St Philip an early manufacturing site there were many local examples on display, and Marek was also able to date some pipes brought along to the hall by local residents. Marek finished his talk showing some photos of the Saw Close excavation which unearthed the remains of two pipe kilns on the site of the former pipe factory which lay below the former Bluecoat School’s playground.
“A pint and a pipe” was the order of the day in many pubs during the 18th and 19th centuries, and the history of the making of these clay pipes was the theme of Marek Lewcun’s talk in the Village Hall on Monday 20th November. With Norton St Philip an early manufacturing site there were many local examples on display, and Marek was also able to date some pipes brought along to the hall by local residents. Marek finished his talk showing some photos of the Saw Close excavation which unearthed the remains of two pipe kilns on the site of the former pipe factory which lay below the former Bluecoat School’s playground.
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Shoscombe Local History Group’s Visit to Saltford Brass Mill on 12th August 2017
A group of local enthusiasts spent an enjoyable morning exploring the fascinating old Brass Mill at Saltford. Informative guides helped to explain the history of the mill and its importance to the local economy, linking the products made in Saltford with the infamous Slave Trade with West Africa and North America. Using the River Avon for both power and transport, it produced ‘battered’ brass pots, then wire and finally pins. The importance of the mill could be judged from the fact that 5 water wheels operated on the site, although only one remains in working order today. Brass-making at Saltford finished in 1928; today the mill is both a Grade II listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
A group of local enthusiasts spent an enjoyable morning exploring the fascinating old Brass Mill at Saltford. Informative guides helped to explain the history of the mill and its importance to the local economy, linking the products made in Saltford with the infamous Slave Trade with West Africa and North America. Using the River Avon for both power and transport, it produced ‘battered’ brass pots, then wire and finally pins. The importance of the mill could be judged from the fact that 5 water wheels operated on the site, although only one remains in working order today. Brass-making at Saltford finished in 1928; today the mill is both a Grade II listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Visit to Combe Hay Locks
Shoscombe Local History Group visit to Combe Hay Locks, 16th July 2017
Shoscombe History Group teamed up with Shoscombe Ramblers for a guided walk along the route of the Somerset Coal Canal’s flight of locks at Combe Hay. The group was lucky to be shown the locks by Roger Halse, a member of the Somersetshire Coal Canal Society who has a detailed knowledge of the history and route of the canal, and who had secured permission from private land owners to show us most of the 16 disused locks. In addition the group saw the site of the Caisson lock and inclined plane, both of which preceded the building of the flight of locks; the engineering skill required without the use of modern machinery was truly impressive. The History Group is looking forward to welcoming a wide audience to hear more about the canal when, on October 20th, Roger returns to share more of his knowledge, maps and items of interest at Shoscombe Village Hall.
Shoscombe History Group teamed up with Shoscombe Ramblers for a guided walk along the route of the Somerset Coal Canal’s flight of locks at Combe Hay. The group was lucky to be shown the locks by Roger Halse, a member of the Somersetshire Coal Canal Society who has a detailed knowledge of the history and route of the canal, and who had secured permission from private land owners to show us most of the 16 disused locks. In addition the group saw the site of the Caisson lock and inclined plane, both of which preceded the building of the flight of locks; the engineering skill required without the use of modern machinery was truly impressive. The History Group is looking forward to welcoming a wide audience to hear more about the canal when, on October 20th, Roger returns to share more of his knowledge, maps and items of interest at Shoscombe Village Hall.
Visit to Midsomer Norton Station
Shoscombe Local History Group visit to Midsomer Norton Station, 8th July 2017
The 50th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset and Dorset Railway in 2016 rekindled the interest of the Shoscombe Local History Group in their local railway heritage. To find out more about how this local iconic railway is being preserved, members of the group visited Midsomer Norton Station South in July when not only were they given a guided tour of the site but were also privileged to see steam trains running again. The highlight for many was the visit to the signal box where informative volunteers explained how the interlocking system of levers ensured safe running of the trains into and out of the station.
The 50th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset and Dorset Railway in 2016 rekindled the interest of the Shoscombe Local History Group in their local railway heritage. To find out more about how this local iconic railway is being preserved, members of the group visited Midsomer Norton Station South in July when not only were they given a guided tour of the site but were also privileged to see steam trains running again. The highlight for many was the visit to the signal box where informative volunteers explained how the interlocking system of levers ensured safe running of the trains into and out of the station.
