Click on the blue
Links below to go down the page to 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.
8: Somerset Village Churches: West Somerset. Due Spring 2018
Last updated : 05/05/17
All these books available on Ebay (Pay
using Paypal).
Search using the book title you require.
Or alternatively buy locally if indicated in ‘Availability’ under each
book heading below.
Bridgwater & Around Through Time.
Now available
direct from the author or via Ebay.
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: Signed
copies direct from the Author by post via Ebay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bridgwater-Around-Through-Time-/132053386279?hash=item1ebefec427:g:vEoAAOSwcUBYRBv8
), from the Blake Museum book shop on Saturdays throughout Jan, Feb, or http://www.blakemuseumfriends.org.uk/shop.htm,
and from WH Smith in BW.
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.
Now available
direct from the author or via Ebay.
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: Signed
copies direct from the Author by post via Ebay
(search for Burnham on Sea & Highbridge Through Time), from the Blake
Museum book shop on Saturdays in Dec, Jan, Feb, or http://www.blakemuseumfriends.org.uk/shop.htm
, and from Hurleys & Info Centre at BOS.
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
Now available
direct from the author or via Ebay.
At 86 pages, many with photos, this new book
'The Bridgwater Railway Through Bawdrip' takes a fresh
look at the railway's history with 'new' information and photos not previously
published in other books. Here is a fascinating book about the planning, purchase of the
land, building and operation of the line.
This is the first book on the railway since
‘The Bridgwater Railway’ by JD Harrison was first printed in 1981.
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: Signed
copies direct from the Author by post via Ebay by
post (Search for ‘The Bridgwater Railway Through Bawdrip’), from the Blake
Museum book shop on Saturdays throughout Dec, Jan, Feb, or http://www.blakemuseumfriends.org.uk/shop.htm
, Gwilliams at Edington, the S&D Railway Trust at Washford station, the WSRA shop at Bishops Lydeard station, and the S&D Railway Heritage Co. Ltd.
at Midsomer Norton.
Email me at dbown100@hotmail.com for more details or if the book is out of
stock.
Now available
direct from the author or 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), and from the Blake Museum book shop on
Saturdays throughout Dec/Jan, Feb 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 or 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’).
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 or 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’.
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 or via Ebay.
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.
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 edition of 9th 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’!
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.
There are quite a number of places where you can actually walk on the
original track bed, and walk under or over the original bridges. In other
places buildings remain to this day. Although now in private hands most of them
are visible from public land.
‘Finding the Bridgwater Railway’ aims to pinpoint all the structures that
still survive from this fascinating branch railway, using maps and photos and
instructions to guide you there.
Some of the places described have no surviving remains, but are important
places to see nonetheless. A place like the river crossing at Chilton Drove,
near the end of the line, is a wonderful place to walk along the river on a
sunny day, despite the fact that there are only a few areas of rising ground
either side of the river to remind us of the bridge that once stood there.
Sometimes it is necessary to negotiate rough overgrown ground to see the
structures properly, so you are advised to go appropriately dressed for the
task ahead of you. If you go in the summer the problems may be undergrowth,
brambles, insects, etc. In the winter months, when some of these structures are
easier to see, you will probably have to content with flooded tracks, wet
slippery banks and the like. Both visiting times have their pros and cons.