SUMMER 2014

SUMMER
www.streetsociety.org
Chairman’s Letter
2014
Dear Members
I have enjoyed my year as Chairman with this year being another varied and busy one for The Street
Society.
The committee has met regularly and the programme of events we have held have been very well
received by our members. Thanks to Barbara Cowell for planning our speakers.
We have welcomed Angela Southern and Teresa Levell- Clark on to the committee and thanks to them
and everyone else who has helped to steer the society this year.
Now down to the crux of the matter.
On the back page there is a short questionnaire for your comments and also a nomination form.
Completing these and returning them before the 23rd September, gives us a chance to look through them
at our committee meeting on the morning of the AGM. This would be most helpful, but if not possible
please bring them to the AGM.
The committee are happy to continue standing, but we need reinforcements too.
We recognise that it is the same people doing the same jobs and we find it hard to get help with our
activities, be it planning them or carrying them out.
A lot of work has gone into raising our profile locally and so many of you have enjoyed what has been
planned so let’s hope things can go forward with some enthusiastic new volunteers.
You all support the society by paying your subscriptions and we realise many of you only want to come to
the meetings. There is a place for this but are there members who could get more involved?
What sort of help does the society need?
We need some more people volunteering to join the committee which meets at the Grange at 10-12 on
the fourth Tuesday of the month. We hope that from this committee we may even find a new Chairman!!
It would be good for the society to have a change! The secretary and treasurer are happy to continue in
post unless we have other candidates, but after a lot of years doing the job I anticipate standing down as
Chairman at the AGM in the hope that it will encourage someone else to step up.
We need people who can offer to come when we have an event and join the rota to operate a stall
We need people who would like to write articles on local places / history for the newsletter
We need a volunteer to take on the administration to run one summer outing – planning it, booking it and
overseeing selling the tickets, accompanying the trip etc.
We need people who could be sent plans to look at when they come into the Parish Council and flag up
any issues that the society as a whole can address, a Planning sub group.
We need someone willing to help Pauline Jones, when needed, to provide our pre-meeting drinks
We need ideas put forward that can improve the society; both its effectiveness and its sociability
There are lots of ways you can help.
Let’s hope that at the AGM the feeling of the meeting is that there is a genuine willingness for more
involvement to ensure we can continue to run the society as a viable group of people who do care about
having a voice in Street as well as the opportunity to meet up socially with other Streetonians.
But please still come to the AGM as we won’t be press ganging, and the society has paid out for a
particularly entertaining speaker! Hope to see you there!
Nina Swift
01458 443881
[email protected]
PS – do you have any ideas for our Christmas 2014 event? And let’s hope we keep going, so ideas for 2015
would also be appreciated!
In recognition that it is 100 years
since the outbreak of World War 1
these articles have a WW1 theme
with a Street connection.
World War 1 Signatures
At our March committee meeting it was brought
to my attention that above the shop door of GS
Autos are pencilled the names of the boys of
Otton’s butchers thought to have gone to war in
1914,15 and 16. I went to look and had an
interesting talk to Mr Haymen, the proprietor. He
is very keen to see them preserved. .
The signatures are getting difficult to read due to
the pollution from traffic, it is amazing that they
are still there. I made contact with Denis Parsons
at Taunton Museum and got him to have a look
when he was passing. He has given me the name
of a conservator who would know the best way
to preserve them.
Neil Clarke has photographed them and done the
best he can to try to make them more legible.
At our last meeting we agreed that the way
forward would be to identify the individuals if
possible. Some came from the villages but if any
signature can be tied down to being by a Street
lad then it may be possible to research their
story; find out what happened to them. So we set
Paddy Thompson, who knows how to research
family histories, onto it!
This has been quite a task for her. For instance,
she has found that the lower name is Edward
James Denner of Cranhill Road who was only
born in 1901. He was the son of Albert Edward,
the town postman, who was a naval pensioner. It
does look as though Edward has written 'Son'
underneath. She thinks his father was a bit old to
rejoin (He was 45 in 1911)
The upper signature is R Att ...(?) Brooks Lane
1915. And she can't find anyone of approximately
that surname in the 1911 census, though of
course they could have moved in later. Attard is a
Maltese name. Could be Attwood etc but still no
sign. So at the moment the jury is still out as to
whether it is worth proceeding with the project.
At our meeting we had agreed that we would pay
the travel expenses of the conservator to give us
a professional idea of what could be done to
preserve the signatures and the costs involved.
Then we could apply for a grant towards this
project; to preserve the signatures, to share their
story and to even provide an on-line display. At
the moment we are undecided
By Nina Swift
One of Neil’s photographs showing the
pencilling; it shows the signature of Edward
James Denner Cranhill Road, 1914
‘An Escape from Germany’ - A Street
Lady’s Adventures
Alice Clark wrote a piece for the August 21st 1914
edition of the Central Somerset Gazette
describing the extraordinarily difficult time she
had getting back from Germany in the first week
of the war. She had been in northern Germany in
the last week of July 1914.
The friendly locals were of the opinion that
England and Germany would do everything to
preserve peace but when war appeared
inevitable on August 2nd Alice travelled to
Hamburg to get a ticket home. The consulate was
closed as it was Sunday and feeling it would be
unwise to travel by train to Holland without
documents, she spent the night in Hamburg.
On the Monday morning Alice joined the crush at
the consulate and paid the necessary 2s. 3d for
travel papers. She learnt that “SS Bury” was
sailing for Grimsby at noon and, having lost her
luggage, was able to hurry on board without
delay.
Her fellow travellers numbered 160 and included
Americans, some young men who had been
arrested as spies in Coblenz and narrowly
escaped with their lives, some English girl
students and even some English people who had
only left England on the 30th for a holiday in
Germany!
As they sailed down the River Elbe past the
entrance to the Kiel Canal they saw two dozen
torpedo boats steaming out, looking ‘like demons
issuing from the mouth of hell’. Then their
passage was blocked because an English oil
steamer had run on a mine and been blown up.
War must suddenly have seemed very close.
The next day as their ship lay at anchor they
watched motor boats tearing from one German
battleship to another and the constant
movement of torpedo boats and submarines.
Page 6 The following morning they received the
news that England had declared war. As
everything was in chaos the passengers decided
to stay together and when the Americans were
advised they should go to Denmark that night the
rest, including Alice, went with them.
They boarded a train to take them north, but
were forced to get off at one point, under arrest.
After some hours they were released, continued
to the Kiel Canal and had to go on foot across the
canal bridge to re-join the train. This time a
soldier was stationed in each carriage and the
windows were kept shut lest they throw bombs!
At Rendsburg all men of military age in the group
were detained and it was feared they had been
taken prisoner. When they reached Voyens they
had a ten hour wait for the 12.30 train over the
border. The village was packed with military men
of all kinds and young men trying to get home
from all over the continent. There was nowhere
to rest.As they finally got into the train, another
arrived with the missing men of their party, so
they were all able to travel into Denmark
together.
The weary travellers heard that a steamer would
take them to England that morning, but on
boarding were told the crew were on strike! Once
more they had to disembark. This time they were
kindly received by the Consul and local people
and were able to send telegrams to their anxious
relatives.
Finally, on the Sunday afternoon, the masters
and men came to an agreement and the
Norwegian steamer Bernershof set sail with the
refugees and a cargo of foodstuff to England.
They crossed the Channel without incident and
arrived safely in Harwich.
By Paddy Thompson
There is a plaque on the front wall of Greenbank Pool
commemorating that it was a gift to the people of Street
from Alice Clark in 1937
A small boy protests
Recently I was given an April 1999 copy of a
glossy Somerset magazine. I was about to recycle it when I randomly opened it to a page
which contained an article by Somerset County
Historian, Dr Robert Dunning, headed “Recruiting
Paros” and a photograph of Walton Church
where I was christened.
eight children of my grandparents, Alice and
Thomas Webb.
My father served in the RAF for five years in the
Second World War. He continued to sing – in
what he thought was the style of Bing Crosby –
and I have fond memories of his renditions of
“We’ll gather lilacs”.
By Ann Webb
I read on:
Apparently at the time of the First World War,
before compulsory service was introduced, it was
common practice for vicars to use their sermons
in churches and scripture lessons in village
schools to encourage volunteers from among
their flock. The Reverend J E Loughran, vicar of
Walton from 1889 until 1931 was among their
number.
Walton was not a fruitful recruiting ground.
Exemption was gained by what the vicar called
“every foxy trick so well-known to Somerset
folk”. Sons of farmers, sons of widowed mothers
and conscientious objectors came off best.
Clergy were asked to name those they thought
able to serve and marching bands, normally of
drums, outside public houses, and processions of
cheering soldiers in army lorries and ambulances
produced few results.
Compulsory service for single men aged 18 – 41
was introduced by the Military Service Act of
March 1916 and married men were included by a
further act of May 1916.
In Walton Church the vicar insisted on the singing
of the National Anthem at the end of evensong
every Sunday. One choirboy refused to sing it
and was thrown out of the choir. This boy,
eleven years old at the time, was my father
Clifford Webb, and he refused to sign because his
oldest brother, Dennis, a volunteer in the
Somerset Light Infantry, had died aged twenty in
Rouen Hospital on 5th October 1916 of wounds
received at Loos. He was the first parishioner of
Walton to lose his life. He was the oldest of the
Snippets on The Great War held in The
Archive Office at The Grange
The Society has a lot of support from Charlotte
Berry and her staff at The Alfred Gillet Trust.
When I knew we would be putting together a
newsletter focussing on WW1 I contacted Julie
Mather at The Grange for anything of relevance
to Street or Street people with a WW1
connection. She has sent me a range of
information which can be researched there.
Much of this will be going into the exhibition to
be held in the library at the end of August
Esther Bright Clothier (1873 – 1935) was part of
the Women’s Service Committee (WSC)
supporting male Friends in resisting conscription.


See p364 of ‘British Quakerism, 1860 –
1920: The transformation of a Religious
Community’ by Thomas C. Kennedy
Collection of letters from Conscientious
Objectors predominantly imprisoned in
Taunton Barracks (and subsequently
posted to different barracks around UK)
Roderick Kendall Clark (1884 – 1937) was a
Conscientious Objector who was part of the Non
Conscription Fellowship who objected to any
form of assistance to war. Roderick was
imprisoned during WW1 because of his beliefs.

Several folders of papers (scanned to disc,
originals kept by EK Clark) containing
correspondence, newspaper clippings and
personal notes relating to CO tribunals
during WW1.
Hugh Bryan Clark (1887 – 1977) was a Quaker
who joined the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU) in
November 1914; serving in France - including
Dunkirk. In August 1915 joined the Royal Army
Service Corps (RASC) and remained in service
until February 1919. He was awarded the Military
Cross and an OBE for his services

Photograph
Ambulance
in
uniform
by
French
Roger Clark was Chairman of the Street Belgian
Refugee Committee which was set up to support
refugees coming to Britain. This committee
completed extensive fundraising in the local area
to assist with financially supporting the refugees
on arrival.
If of working age, the refugees were given jobs in
the Clarks factory and housed locally enabling
them to become self-sufficient quickly. Once the
war was over many refugees returned home,
though a few remained in Street and continued
to work in the factory. (See Roger De Baecke
below).
Roger Clark was awarded a medal by the Belgian
Government in recognition of his work as
Chairman and Treasurer of the committee.
Roger de Baecke came to Street as a Belgian
refugee once the war was over he remained in
Street and continued to work in the factory.
Hilda Clark and Alice Clark like their brother
Roger Clark (see above), who were sisters, spent
a great deal of their time during the war carrying
out relief work centred around assisting
European refugees.

See ‘Quaker Women’ by Sandra Stanley
Holton.
Harry Stanton was a local conscientious objector
of Quaker faith, though he disliked his faith being
mentioned during his tribunals Stanton spent
most of the war in various military prisons and
barracks because of his beliefs against taking
another man’s life no matter what the
circumstances. Stanton was one of fifty
conscientious objectors sent to France and
threatened with death by firing squad for
disobeying military orders.

see p82-83 of ‘We Will Not Fight...’ by Will
Ellsworth-Jones

See Chapter 3 of ‘We Will Not go to War’
by Felicity Goodall. This book also has a
great deal of first-hand accounts as
recalled by COs themselves.
Wilfrid Hinde worked in the factory from
November 1909. His conscientious objections to
the war saw him imprisoned in military barracks
and military prisons from October 1916 until April
1919.
No further records concerning his time during the
war has been found to date.
Once the war was over Wilfrid returned to the
factory and was appointed Director in March
1928.

There is also a Signature Book compiled
as a gift for the Golden wedding
anniversary of William Stephens Clark in
1916; signed by all members of staff this
book includes names of Belgian refugees
working in the factory and lists any staff
who away on military service.
Further Research Possibilities:
Central Somerset Gazette from the period
regarding local tribunals.
Further Reading:
Goodall, F. We Will Not Go to War: Conscientious
Objection during the World Wars. The History
Press, 2010
Ellsworth-Jones, W. We Will Not Fight… The
untold story of World War One’s conscientious
objectors. Aurum Press, 2008
Holton, S. Quaker Women. Routledge, 2007
Kennedy, T. British Quakerism, 1860 – 1920: The
transformation of a Religious Community.
You can contact The Alfred Gilet Trust by
contacting Charlotte Berry, The Archivist, Box 1,
40 High Street, Somerset, BA16 0EQ
Tel: 01458 84255 Email:[email protected]
By Nina Swift
Monday evening at Menin Gate, Ypres with the
sounding of the Last Post was very emotional.
Wednesday morning, not a cloud in the sky and
we were at Vimy Ridge, the awe inspiring
memorial to the Canadian war dead.
With many cemeteries visited along the way, by
Saturday morning we were standing at Thiepval,
the imposing memorial to the war dead of The
Somme.
Our final three graves in Rouen were visited on
Monday and concluded an inspirational trip, we
were sad to leave.
All of this research now forms part of an
exhibition called ‘Street Remembers’
to
commemorate 100 years since the start of The
Great War. It has been organised by The Street
Society and the Parish Council
By David and Catherine Atkins
The World War One Centenary Exhibition in Street
Library is open during normal library opening hours
and will be in place until the end of August 2014.
There is an exhibition case showing items of
memorabilia supplied by local residents plus a board
with photographs of memorabilia. There are albums
of pencil drawings and captions produced by soldiers
in the trenches which have been kindly lent by local
residents
Street Remembers
9 Days, 31 Cemeteries, 51 names. This was the
aim of our spring motor home tour; to visit all the
World War One dead of Street buried or
commemorated in Belgium and France.
Early in 2013 we correlated all the names on
Street’s various war memorials and this led to
research into their backgrounds. Armed with this
information we set off.
Easter morning found us at Toc H in Poperinge,
Belgium, a house providing rest and recreation
behind the lines for all soldiers in Flanders Fields.
Monday morning we visited Tyne Cot Memorial,
remembering 33,000 men with no known grave.
A board provides background information and home
address information of every Street soldier
commemorated on local war memorials, with a map.
In addition there are boards about conscientious
objection giving information about local people
involved in the movement.
There is also a section on the role of the women in
Street during the war
A timeline of the war including many photos is also
exhibited.
Taken from a post on The Street Society Facebook
page (thanks David!)
What’s been happening at our meetings?
The evening programme of speakers has again
proved very popular this year. In case you missed
a meeting here is what you missed!
The photograph shows Judith Green showing
some of our members her range of lavender
products
THE STREET SOCIETY – MEETING ON TUESDAY
28th JANUARY 2014
The Street Society was charmed and inspired on Tuesday 28
January by a visit from Judith Green of the Somerset
Lavender Farm near Bath. Judith introduced her talk by
showing a spectacular picture of the Lavender Farm by
renowned photographer Anthony Spencer.
This is a working farm where late and early varieties of
lavender including sapphire blue, white and pink flourish in
25 acres of fields. Not only can lavender be grown and
harvested for long-established uses such as pot pourri,
lavender bags or toiletry products, it can even be eaten.
Interest has also grown in its use as an essential oil and for
its sensory properties, as in the healing garden at the
Somerset Lavender Farm where it is cultivated for its
relaxation properties alongside other aromatic and healing
plants such as Lemon Balm, Arnica and Echinacea.
Explaining that traditionally lavender is grown in Norfolk
and Surrey, Judith, in her own inimitable style, took her
audience through the Somerset Lavender Farm’s
evolutionary journey from a 100 acre dairy farm into mixed
farming.
Then, spurning the customary farming
diversification into B & B accommodation eventually chose
lavender, of which there are 10 varieties. It is a good use
for the land, is a crop which synchronizes with the farming
calendar and is a great English garden plant with many
different uses.
Having sold the cows, a countrywide search produced the
equipment to distil essential oil although it needs to mature
for 6-9 months for this process. Then a visit from a New
Zealand farmer brought good advice on production and a
lady who turned up “out of the blue” also shared her
expertise. The Somerset Lavender Farm finally opened in
2006 and after a slow start with much support from friends
and family, with dedication and hard work, the venture has
become the picturesque and delightful visitor attraction of
today.
After this enjoyable and inspiring evening the members of
the Street Society look forward to their summer visit to the
Somerset Lavender Farm on 17 July.
(It’s been said that the recipe for making lavender bread is
very tasty!)
THE STREET SOCIETY – MEETING ON TUESDAY 25
FEBRUARY 2014
T h e C o s yf e e t Bu si n e s s - Andrew Peirce
gave a talk on this local business .
At the invitation of the management of Cosyfeet
there was a most interesting trip around their
facilities at the Tanyard in Street on Tuesday 1st
April.
THE STREET SOCIETY –
TUESDAY 25 MARCH 2014
MEETING
ON
A large and appreciative audience was present at the Street
Society’s meeting on Tuesday 25 March to hear the
Reverend Robin Ray talk about The Admirals Hood of
Butleigh. Robin Ray, former Rector of Exmoor, married
into the Hood family and embraced their history with an
engaging enthusiasm and affection which had given him an
impressive depth of knowledge
To illustrate his talk he had brought along four portraits of
the Hood Admirals which he unveiled at various points
during his talk. He told us of 3 three Admirals and a
Captain, at a time of almost continual warfare. The Seven
Years War, arguably the first global conflict from 1756 to
1763, followed almost immediately by the American War of
Independence and French revolutionary wars. The enemy
invariably being the French.
Robin recounted how in 1740 two of the Rev Samuel
Hood’s sons, Samuel and Alexander were inspired to
embark on a naval career when Captain Smith, later
Admiral Smith, was stranded at Butleigh and enjoyed the
hospitality of the rectory. Captain Smith offered to sponsor
one of the Rector’s sons into the Navy Samuel, the eldest
aged 15, jumped at the chance soon followed by younger
brother Alexander. Captain Smith then had both boys as
his servants on board HMS Romney which sailed to the
Leeward Islands. The career of Samuel, who lived to the
great age of 91, spanned 56 years whilst Alexander ‘s Naval
service was 59 years. The third brother, Arthur followed
his father as the vicar of Butleigh.
Lord Samuel Hood at one time served under Admiral
Rodney, whom he records in his letters as a very difficult
man. Samuel quickly gained an impressive reputation,
particular when he was instrumental in capturing a couple
of French privateers. An adventurous and varied career in
North America, the West Indies, the Mediterranean and as
Commander of Portsmouth Dockyard was rewarded with a
baronetcy in 1779.
Other honours followed the
campaigns in which proved himself to be a brilliant
tactician. After the American Civil War during “the peace”
Samuel was an MP, then became a Vice Admiral followed
by the appointment as Commander in Chief in the
Mediterranean. He was involved in the occupation of
forces in Toulon where he narrowly avoided having his ship
boarded by French forces and escaped under fire. He was
69 years old at that time. He was then summoned home to
become Viscount Hood and governor of Greenwich
Hospital, where on the death of Lord Nelson, he received
the body and prepared for its Lying-in-State.
Younger brother Alexander who became Lord Bridport
distinguished himself during the Seven Years War and the
American Revolutionary Wars, His appointments include
Captain of the Royal Yacht and MP for Bridgwater, which
became the first town in England to petition government
for the Abolition of the slave trade, the petition being
presented by Alexander Hood, Lord Bridport. Alexander
was Vice Admiral from 1795 to 1800 and Commander in
Chief of the Channel Fleet, ending his career as a Viscount.
Samuel and Alexander, in their turn sponsored two cousins
who joined the Navy, also named Samuel 1762 – 1814 and
Alexander 1758 – 1796 from Bridport in Dorset. Alexander
joined Resolution under the legendary Captain James Cook
on his second circumnavigation of the world. Alexander
was the first on board to spot the Marquesas Islands in
1774. Cook wrote, “the first isle was a new discovery,
which I named Hood’s Island after the young gentleman
who first saw it”. Alexander also distinguished himself
during the American War of Independence in the West
Indies as commander of the Barfleur and later captured the
French vessel Ceres. becoming close friends with its
commander. He married Elizabeth Periam on 11 July 1792
and enjoyed some quiet time Iin Somerset. Ill heath
prevented him from going to sea again until 1796 when he
commanded HMS MARS in battle against the French ship
Hercule in which he lost his life. He is said to have died
just as the sword of the French captain was being put in his
hand. The Chaplain had the sad task of returning him to
his wife for burial in accordance with his wishes, in Butleigh
churchyard. Although his son, also Alexander did not join
the Navy, instead becoming an MP, his grandson went to
sea at the age of 12, serving with distinction in America,
Europe and Asia, eventually being raised to the peerage as
Admiral Lord Hood of Avalon in Somerset.
The Hood Monument is dedicated to Vice-Admiral Sir
Samuel Hood, 1st Baronet KB RN (1762 – 24 December
1814) who was a cousin once removed of Admiral Samuel
Hood, 1st Viscount Hood and his younger brother
Alexander Hood . Sir Samuel Hood, according to Robin Ray
was a tremendous man who died too young, but had he
lived he would have exceeded Lord Hood in Naval history.
He entered the Navy aged 14 and served under the
command of his cousin Lord Hood in the West Indies at the
Battle of the Saintes. For his service in the Russo-Swedish
war he received from King Gustaph iv Adolf of Sweden,
the Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword.
In more modern days, Lord Hood’s descendant Rear
Admiral Sir Horace Hood served as Winston Churchill's
Naval Secretary in 1913. Hood was killed during the battle
of Jutland, having performed with distinction at the start of
the battle, when the Invincible was sunk by German
battlecruisers in 1916.
Robin Wray reminded us of major points in the history in
the Hood family’s antiquity when their devotion to duty
had a major impact on the nation’s naval history. He
brought to life the human, family stories rather than
recalling historical events and dates. All present shared the
heartache of the long separations as the young men
embarked on their illustrious naval careers at an early age.
Above all, the Hoods served the nation with a strong sense
of duty which still continues to this day with Lady Elizabeth
Gass, Lord Lieutenant of Somerset who serves the country
and community in a variety of public offices.
The Admiral Hood of The Hood Monument
Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, 1st Baronet KB RN
THE STREET SOCIETY – MEETING ON TUESDAY 22 April
2014
The Street Society welcomed Christopher Bond from
East Burford House, Pilton, who spoke, assisted by
spectacular slides, about his family’s glorious 3 acre
garden in the Mendips. Under the National Gardens
Scheme it will be open to the public on Sunday and
Monday 13 and 14 July from 11 am to 5 pm.
The family has lived in the area for nearly 90 years.
When they came to their present house outside Pilton
it was, from a gardening viewpoint rather limited. But
they had an ambitious vision of its future and over 25
years have created an interesting series of gardens.
They had a ¾ acre walled garden to make into a
formal garden and also had the idea of making the
field next to it into a wild garden. They also wanted to
incorporated water - for its life, movement and
potential for wildlife. Now there are 5 ponds.
The next interesting feature was the gardens’ location
at the bottom of a valley with a hill beyond rising
gently where trees have been planted in the hope of
providing a parkland for the next generation.
Also on the wish list was a garden encircling the
house. The garden was designed to be compatible
with the house, starting with a large terrace. The
whole of the walled garden is quite formal, with two
ponds and water lilies, The walls provided the
opportunity for climbing plants and to grow fruits
such as plums and flowers such as japonica. The
empty field has been transformed into in a natural,
wild garden with some fundamental controls where
such harbingers of spring as cowslips flourish. Near
the garden there is a small wood which provides a
setting for a large holed megalith which was a
retirement gift. Outside of the walled garden nature
takes its course, with some controls because with 3
acres to care for, it can be a losing battle. Sometimes
particular conditions have to be created, for instance,
the soil being alkaline, rhododendrons need to be
grown in a pit lined with acid soil.
Inspiration for this horticultural creativity comes from
the many environments and cultures encountered on
travels to the more exotic climes of the Middle East,
Asia, South America and even Western Australia.
However, the White Garden was a tribute to the
beauty of the legendary Sissinghurst although hostas
now flourish where gaps appeared. Although plants
from exotic locations have been included in the
garden, some traditional Somerset elements not been
neglected – there is a large herbaceous border.
The basis of garden design is to create surprise and
mystery to produce the illusion of space, an instance
of which is the Islamic paradise garden which leads
through the potting shed to the wild garden. Then
there are the secret places which the visitor needs to
search for, such as the Hornbeam arbour which has
dense foliage providing seclusion.
The watchwords for the lifetime of work at the
fantastic garden at East Burford House could be said
to be commitment, stoicism and diversity. Diversity
to maintain interest throughout the year and stoicism
to cope with the heartache of disasters caused by
garden pests, toppling trees, leaking ponds and the
vagaries of the British weather!
Part of the gardener’s art is also to rebuild, replace
and reinvent according to the seasons and the natural
life of features such as the Chinese bridge and the
dramatic design statement created by using red
scaffolding poles to support the wisteria after its
stone pergola was flattened by strong winds.
Many lessons have been learnt along the rocky road
such as how to avoid the back-breaking toil of
creating a strawberry bed. In this case, reclaimed
bricks originating from Brunel’s former Drawing Office
at Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station provided the
materials for raised beds and also rooted the effort in
the area’s 19th century heritage. Visitors to East
Burford House on 13th and 14th July will surely be
inspired and amazed by the garden’s uniqueness, and
the extra attractions offered in the shape of its
sculptures, plus its ceramics, glass, garden plants for
sale - and of course tea and cake provided by
Macmillan Cancer !.
Your Contributions
Items for the newsletter are always welcome, as
are suggestions for articles.
These articles are by Angela Southern and appeared in
the CSG getting us some excellent publicity!
East Burford House at Pilton
Please email them to:
[email protected] or post them
to:
Street Society Newsletter Editor,
4 Wessex Close
Street
BA16 0ES
Contact Details for the present committee
Chairman Nina Swift 01458 443881
Secretary Hilary Napper 01458 445648
Treasurer Colleen Hinde 01458 440184
Membership Catherine Atkins 01458 443055
Vice-Chairman and Events Barbara Cowell 01458 443397
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.streetsociety.org
The committee meets monthly at The Grange from 10 – 12
on the same Tuesday as our evening meetings, you are
welcome to come and join us!
Questionnaire – completing this will help the society committee
1. What do you think are the most important issues for The Street Society ?
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. How would you like the society to change?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What would you like to see unchanged?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
4.
Is there any way you can offer help to the society?
Please return this with or without your name ( we would prefer you to put your name if you are offering help!!! )
To Nina Swift, 4 Wessex Close, Street BA16 0ES or email your reply to [email protected] by 20th September 2014
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------ - - - cut here
Nomination form – please either post to above address or bring to the AGM on 23
rd
September 2014
(you can self- nominate – seconders can be canvassed at the AGM. You do not need to nominate all candidates for
all the posts )
I wish to nominate the following people:
_______________________________________________________________________
as Chairman
_________________________________________________________________________ as vice Chairman
_________________________________________________________________________ as Secretary
_________________________________________________________________________ as Treasurer
And the following people for the committee
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
The Street Society provides a wide and varied programme of speakers and events. If you
have any suggestions for the future please put the details here:
Name of Speaker / Place to visit:
Details of the content / subject / activity / etc:
Details for the speaker / visit so we can make contact:
Your name and contact details in case we need more information:
Thank you for your idea
Please bring this to the AGM (or subsequent meeting) or send to Barbara Cowell at19
Brookfield Way, STREET, BA16 0UE or e-mail her at [email protected]