Books by David C Bown

Click on the blue Links below to go down the page to read about the book you want to look at.

1: Bridgwater & Around Through Time.

2: Burnham on Sea & Highbridge Through Time.

3: The Bridgwater Railway through Bawdrip

4: Bridgwater in the 1890’s, through the lens of the Rev Charles Bazell

5: Postcards from the Past: Bridgwater.

6: Somerset Village Churches: Sedgemoor.

7: Finding the Bridgwater Railway.

Last updated : 11/03/18

All these books available on Ebay (Pay using Paypal).

Search using the book title you require.

Alternatively buy locally if indicated in ‘Availability’ under each book heading below.

Bridgwater & Around Through Time.

This book shows many views from the early part of the 1900’s revealing some of the history of Bridgwater. Many of the pictures show features that have long since disappeared.

It is split into the following sections: Bridge & River, Blake Gardens, Eastover, Fore Street, Cornhill, High Street, Docks & Canal, St Marys Street, Taunton Road, Other areas, and many local villages including Aller, Ashcott, Bawdrip, Burrowbridge, Cannington, Chedzoy, Cossington, Dunball, Highbridge, Knowle, Langport, Middlezoy, Othery, Puriton and Westonzoyland. Below are some sample pages from the book…………….

Facebook page at : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bridgwater-and-around-through-time/320308398173301

Availability:

From the Author by post via Ebay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bridgwater-Around-Through-Time-/132053386279?hash=item1ebefec427:g:vEoAAOSwcUBYRBv8 ),

Or from the Blake Museum book shop Tuesday to Saturdays, or http://www.blakemuseumfriends.org.uk/shop.htm,

Email me at dbown100@hotmail.com for more details or if the book is out of stock.

Front Cover Picture below right : The Bridge and Quay 1909

The low tide reveals that a boat is positioned on the gridiron ready for repair work by Carvers boatyard. A mass of mud and reeds covers that area of the bank today. The last building on West quay directly above the bridge was Binford House. The library building stands there today. Ships and small boats lay on the river along West Quay, but there are none there today.

Penel Orlieu at left. The Canal and Docks at right.

The Great Western Station at left. The old GWR Woodsheds that were along where the Clink is now, at right.

Crandon Bridge with the old Silver Fish Café at left. Knowle Hall gates at the Crandon Bridge/Silver Fish junction on the A39.

Burnham on Sea & Highbridge Through Time.

Burnham on Sea and Highbridge history in the early part of the 1900’s is revealed by this book which is split into the following sections: Sea Front North, Sea Front South, Streets and Buildings, Gardens, Berrow Road, Highbridge, The Railway at Highbridge.

Facebook page at : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Burnham-on-Sea-and-Highbridge-through-time/1492699494341643

Availability:

From the Author by post via Ebay (search for Burnham on Sea & Highbridge Through Time),

or from the Blake Museum book shop Tuesday to Saturday, or http://www.blakemuseumfriends.org.uk/shop.htm ,

and from Hurleys Burnham On Sea

and the Information Centre on the seafront at Burnham On Sea.

Email me at dbown100@hotmail.com for more details or if the book is out of stock.

Below are some sample pages from the book…………….

Front Cover Picture below right: Looking south towards the jetty. 1904

A white funnelled paddle steamer is moored at the jetty on a quiet day at Burnham. The high tide has covered the sands, and a lone person stands near the water on the wooden steps that led down the sloping sea wall. Today the 1988 sea wall dominates the view, which apart from the sea wall has changed very little.

The Station and the Seafront at the North end of the Promenade.

And a few views from around Highbridge, Church Street and the famous Clock.

The Bridgwater Railway through Bawdrip V4

Revised and enlarged during the winter of 2017/18, the latest Version of this book, V4, now contains over 100 pages in a hardback cover. A number of new chapters have been added to the book to extend the coverage, not just to Bawdrip Halt, but all the way along the line right out to Edington Junction.

So what’s new in Version 4:

1: New Layout for the book. There are slightly smaller font sizes, wider pages, bigger and more photos.

2: New chapter ‘Edington Junction to Bridgwater North Station’. This contains a very detailed list off ALL features along the line together with distances and map references, and other interesting notes.

3: The Rush to Canada. There are four pages of information about the 1912/13 migration to Canada via the S&D railway to the boats at Southampton. This is in the chapter Operation & Use of the Line’.

4: The chapter ‘Engines and Carriages’ has been extensively researched, enlarged and split into two new chapters.

5: There is now a new chapter on Drivers and Firemen who worked the Bridgwater Line.

6: Appendix 1 contains fully dimensioned sketches of the remaining bridges on the line, made by John Smith.

The Bridgwater Railway opened for business on 21st July 1890 and ran from Bridgwater Station (re named Bridgwater North in Sept 1949) over the Bristol Road and the GWR railway via bridges, across Horsey Lane, under the A39 road bridge near Bradney turning, through Bawdrip, and Cossington, to Edington Junction near Burtle, a total distance of 7miles, 3 furlongs, where it connected to the Glastonbury to Burnham railway. There was one station on the line at Cossington. In 1892 there were 9 ‘up’ and 9 ‘down’ trains each day, and this was reduced to 7 ‘up’ and 8 ‘down’ by 1903. In 1923 Bawdrip Halt, was built, a concrete platform long enough for 4 carriages, and a year later a shelter with seats was added. The first Bill submitted by the town of Bridgwater to Parliament in April 1866 was rejected. Some years and several Bills later, a Bill of August 1882 was successful, and eventually through the years 1888 to 1890 the line was built by the Bridgwater Railway Company. The operating company was to be the LSWR Company, but the railway was initially leased and run for 3 years by the S&DJR, the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway. The new line offered a route through Edington and Glastonbury to Evercreech Junction where the S&DJR then went north to Bath or south almost to Bournemouth. From Bath the Midland Railway went to Birmingham and the North. From Bournemouth the London & South West Railway went to Southampton then London Waterloo. The Bournemouth to Burnham connection was also seen as a Channel to Channel service for the S&DJR. After 64 years of service the Bridgwater Railway Line was finally closed in October 1954. Dismantling of the line took several more years as far as can be determined at the moment.

Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/The-Bridgwater-Railway-through-Bawdrip-319676441489684/

Availability:

1: From the Author via Ebay by post (Search for ‘The Bridgwater Railway Through Bawdrip V4’),

2: From the Blake Museum book shop Tuesday to Saturday, or http://www.blakemuseumfriends.org.uk/shop.htm ,

3: From the S&DRT bookshop at Washford station, or via their online shop.

4: From the WSRA shop at Bishops Lydeard station,

5: From the S&DHRT shop at Midsomer Norton station.

Email me at dbown100@hotmail.com for more details or if the book is out of stock.

Bridgwater in the 1890’s

Now available direct from the author via Ebay.

It is not often that ‘new’ photos or prints appear that have never been published before or seen by the general public at large.

So here we have a unique collection to show you. This is an A4 sized book of around 64 pages, and about 50 full size photo pages. The photos appear to date from around 1893/4, some ten years before the appearance of the first motor car in Bridgwater.

For many of the photos it was difficult to identify the location, but eventually most of these were identified. However a number of ‘Mystery’ photos were displayed on Bridgwater Past & Present Facebook page and also a series of weekly articles in the Bridgwater Mercury during Feb, in the hope that readers would be able to help identify the location of the 5 or 6 mystery photos. A copy of the book was on offer to the first person who correctly identified any of these photos.

Well that’s done and dusted and only one photo was identified, a photo of Albert Court within Albert Buildings on North Street. Mike Searle of the Blake Museum made the identification. So there are free copies of the book going begging to anyone who can identify the remaining ‘Mystery’ photos.

Facebook page at : https://www.facebook.com/Bridgwater-in-the-1890s-1718022601777371/

Availability:

Signed copies direct from the Author by post via Ebay (Search for ‘Bridgwater in the 1890’s),

From the Blake Museum book shop Tuesday to Saturday or http://www.blakemuseumfriends.org.uk/shop.htm

Email me at dbown100@hotmail.com for more details or if the book is out of stock.

Framed Prints.

Many of the photos are of such good quality that they have proved to be ideally suited to enlargement and framing.

These very attractive and exclusive framed prints are now available to go on the walls of your house or your commercial premises. If you have older premises in Bridgwater it may appear in one of the photos or there may be a view nearby that may appeal.

Currently they are being made available in A2 size only, which is approx 420mm x 594mm, or 16.5” x 23.4”.

Examples of these framed prints are now available for viewing and purchase in the Victorian Kitchen at the Blake Museum, Bridgwater.

Postcards from the Past: Bridgwater.

Now available direct from the author via Ebay.

A brand new book just released in Dec 2016. As well as old views around Bridgwater, you get the chance to read what Bridgwater people were writing about in the early part of the 1900’s.

In fact the oldest postcard in the book dates from October 1899, and sports a One Penny Lilac Queen Victoria stamp. Pretty rare!

Some of the stories told are quite comical, some quite abrupt, some long, some short. The handwriting can be quite difficult to understand and so on each page you will find a little help to get you going. My personal favorite is on Page 17 where the writer says ‘Dear Ma, Bridgwater is a pretty place, but am just starting east towards Portsmouth. Had a pint of cider with my supper last night so am feeling very fit this morning’. Fascinating stuff!

Facebook page at : https://www.facebook.com/Postcards-from-the-Past-Bridgwater-1218297204882794/

Availability:

Signed copies direct from the Author by post via Ebay (Search for ‘Postcards from the Past: Bridgwater’).

Blake Museum Bookshop Tuesday to Saturday.

Email me at dbown100@hotmail.com for more details or if the book is out of stock.

Somerset Village Churches: Sedgemoor.

Now available direct from the author via Ebay.

You don’t need to be religious to appreciate the Churches of Somerset.

Many churches have interesting features such as Norman fonts and arches, ancient pieces of window glass, intricately carved wooden rood screens and pulpits. Occasionally there might be something a bit older like Saxon relics or building remains, as in Rowberrow church where there is a fragment of an Anglo-Saxon Cross.

This 60 page book covers only the village churches in Sedgemoor.

It could be an ideal companion for a day out visiting churches, as a reference book containing detailed photos and information, or just an interesting read.

Availability: Now you can purchase on Ebay. Search for ‘Somerset Village Churches: Sedgemoor’. Blake Museum Tuesday to Saturday.

Bawdrip & Middlezoy Churches shown on this book cover.

Somerset Village Churches: West Somerset.

Crowcombe & Treborough Churches shown on this book cover.

Finding the Bridgwater Railway.

Now available direct from the author, via Ebay.

Please note this book is subject to continuing research and as it is printed in small quantities, on demand, the latest information and photos can be included. Published books, printed in large quantities are unable to do this and their information is often years out of date, and any errors are carried forward for the life of the print run.

This companion book to ‘The Bridgwater Railway Through Bawdrip’ aims to show you what can still be seen and where it is.

The line was in operation from 1890 to 1954. Surprisingly there are many relics from when the line was in operation, if you know where to look.

Maps and photographs help you pinpoint the places to go and visit for yourself. Now with OS map locations for every place mentioned.

The line and probably most of the buildings were completed during a 2 year period between April 1888 and July 1890. There is an excellent description of the line in the Bridgwater Mercury in July 1890, just prior to the opening of the new railway.

After 64 years of service the Bridgwater Railway Line was finally closed in October 1954.

Now in 2017, 63 years later, what remains of the railway?

Is there anything we can see today?

The answer is ‘Quite a lot’!

Availability:

1: Signed copies direct from the Author by post via Ebay (Search for ‘Finding The Bridgwater Railway’).

2: Blake Museum Bookshop (Tuesday to Saturday. 11-4)

3: From the S&DRT bookshop at Washford station, or via their online shop.

Facebook page at : https://www.facebook.com/Finding-the-Bridgwater-Railway-638392113033222/

Above photos:

Top: Railway over the road at Bawdrip. Bridge 306. : Bawdrip Halt 200yds to the right.

Btm: A39 Road over the railway near Woolavington corner. Bridge 305. Cossington Station 1/3 mile beyond this bridge.

Above photos:

Top: Railway over Dole Lane track, north of Chilton Polden. Bridge 299. Edington Junction to the right.

Btm: Stone End Crossing, about ½ mile further north of bridge 299. Edington Junction to the right.

Bridges, buildings, steps, walls, cuttings, and embankments are all things that can still be seen.