Landmarks and places of interest

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Landmarks and PLaces of Interest In the ParIsh of hIgh ham (including High Ham, Low Ham, Henley, Paradise, Picts Hill, Turn Hill and Beer)

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High Ham 1. High Ham Village Green. The first Post Office (1890s) was housed in a shed on the south side of the green outside ‘Wheelwrights’, one of two wheelwright workshops in the late 1890s-early 1900s (see 28).

2. St. Andrew’s Church. Tradition has it that the church was built in one year (1476) on the site of an earlier Norman one. The tower is earlier and the chancel probably later. The church has a fine interior with many noteworthy features, including 15th century rood screen carved by monks from Glastonbury Abbey, and decorated 17th century blue lias ledger burial slabs. The gargoyles are original and include a musician and ape.

There are six bells (the oldest 1641) and there is an active bellringing team.

3. The Old Schoolhouse. Built by the Rector, Adrien Schael, in 1598. In the early 1900s it housed the village Reading Room. It was occupied by village policemen from 1915-32 and became a private house in 1937.The village pump was on the verge and used until piped water arrived in 1953.

4.The Rectory (1862). The architect of this Gothic Revival building was John Norton, who also designed Tyntesfield. When it was the Rectory (until 1952) village fetes took place in the garden. Later, it was a boarding house for Millfield, then a language school. It is now a private residence.

5. Laburnum House. This became the Post Office after Mrs Mears moved it from Hillborne (see 18). It was known as Hunt’s after Miss Beatrice Mears married Mr. Hunt in 1920 . In its heyday it was a busy Post Office, general store and drapers (photo page 5). It closed in the 1970s.

6. Ham Court (1904-6). Built by Mrs Carne-Hill in the Arts and Crafts style. Mrs Carne-Hill started the High Ham Women’s Institute in 1920, campaigned for improvements in rural life and hosted annual Shakespearian plays between the two World Wars.

7. Manor Farm. Dates back to medieval times, but largely rebuilt in the 1800s, incorporating original porch and door. Up to the 1950s there were 66 working farms in the Parish, mostly small, mixed, largely selfsufficient. The Vigar family rear sheep at Manor Farm today, one of the few remaining working farms in the Parish.

8. The Old Pound. Once a pen for stray animals, it is now a place to sit and enjoy the view.

9. Site of an orchard until the 1960s when the present houses were built.

10. The Memorial Hall (1925). Converted from a barn of Hall Farm (no longer in existence) by architect Philip Tilden. It was built to the memory of men from the Parish who died in World War I (118 men went to war, 19 did not return). It can be hired for events and functions.

11. The Old Bakery. Mr Lockyer started his bakery here c1918, then moved in the 1930s (see 21).

12. A row of cottages here was demolished to make way for St. Andrew’s Close (1960s). The village nurse, Nurse Gooding, lived in one of them, selling petrol there in the 1950s.

13. The King’s Head. There was also a smithy here in the early 1900s when the landlady was Elizabeth Inder. The pub was known locally as Maisie’s when it was run by Maisie & Walt Brown (1956-2012). It is open part-time and has its own skittles teams. (Photo below: Harry Inder, Kings Head, c1920) 14. Fountain. This end of High Ham is so-called because of its numerous springs.

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15. The new houses stand on the site once occupied by Dyers Garage.

16. Walnut Cottage. In World War II London watercolourist Ronald Gray stayed here with the Davis family. Among his visitors were Augustus John and Sir Alexander Fleming (see 29).

17. Hogweed Cottage (next door to Charleswood). Recently rebuilt, previously called Hillside. (Photo page 1: Rosina Hill at the door, 1940).

18. Hillborne House (opposite School). An extension (now demolished) housed Post Office and shop run by Mrs Mears and her daughter, Beatrice (c1900- 1918). After they moved to Laburnum House next door (see 5), it remained a shop and Mr and Mrs Spearing sold groceries and household paint here until the late 1980s. Many locals remember buying their sweets from the ‘penny box’ there as children. (Photo above: Beatrice Mears and postmen, c1900) 19. High Ham Church of England Primary School. The village school was built on this site in the early 1860s. The Victorian building was demolished and rebuilt 1987/8. (Photo page 1: 1930s postcard of School).

20. Poole Farm. So-called because of a pool in the verge, now filled in. Locals remember skating on it as children. In the 19th century it was the Butchers Arms. There was an abattoir and butchers here before the 2nd World War. 21. Compton House & Lodge. Site of Lockyers Bakery, which also sold petrol and animal feed (1930s-60s).

22. Wynnstay Agricentre. Agricultural merchants, selling to farmers and the general public.

23. The Playing Field. Public access. There were allotments here in World War II and the adjoining field was the site of the Welcome Home Carnival in 1945. It was purchased by the Parish and officially opened as a public playing field in 2002. There is play equipment for youngsters, a BMX track and zip wire.

24. The Siloam Chapel (1841). Became part of United Methodist Church in 1907 and closed c1972.

25. Stembridge Windmill (1882). The last remaining thatched windmill in England. Milling ceased soon after 1910. It was bequeathed to the National Trust by the last private owner, Professor Bellot.

26. East Field Nature Reserve, Natural England. Grassland with orchids and butterflies. Public access via gate off Windmill Road and other footpaths.

27. Hilltops, Caravan Club site.

28. Bonds Farm. There was a wheelwrights here in the early 1900s. (Photo below: the last wheelwright, Frank Lavis, and two apprentices with wagon made for export to New Zealand, 1912) 29. Cemetery. Consecrated in 1924. (Photo page 8: Watercolour painting (1948) by Ronald Gray, showing view from cemetery down Windmill Road. Cottage on left no longer there, cottage on far right is Old Cobblers, where Ted Priddle, local cobbler lived in 1930s) 30. Nenmead Farm. Albert Crossman (d.1977) was one of many people who made cider. He was also bellringer, grave digger and emptied people’s privies. Most farms made their own cider (known as ‘scrumpy’), often used as part-wages for farm workers. (Photo page 1: cider barn at Nenmead, 2nd left Albert ‘Hacky’ Crossman, also see 56) 31. Langport Rifle Range (MoD). In active use today. Tradition has it that the Range dates back to the 1600s and that Royalist troops camped here in Breech Wood prior to the Battle of Langport (1645). It was used during the two World Wars. During and after WWII there was a timber processing plant in the woodland.

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Low Ham (previously known as Netherham) 32. This land is known locally as ‘Golf Links’ because it was the site of the Mid-Somerset Golf Club 9-hole course from 18941930s. The annual Low Ham Steam Rally is held here.

33. World War II Nissen huts. The regiment manning the searchlight was stationed here (see 38).

34. Gares Cottage. During World War II Mrs Ford sold cigarettes here. Her children recall how sometimes the soldiers manning the searchlight would train the light into their bedroom so they could read their comics at night! (see 33 & 38) 35. Old Manor Farm. This was originally the medieval farm house of Low Ham Manor (the house was sold in 1998 and the farm renamed Netherham, see 37. (Photo page 4: Making a corn mow, 1920s) 36. Low Ham Church-in-the Field. Built by Sir Edward Hext (1550-1624) as private chapel for the Manor, begun c1623, consecrated 1669. Inside the church are fine 17th century carved recumbent effigies of Sir Edward and his wife (see 37). Annual Sports Days were held in the Church Field during the 1950s and 60s (photo page 7).

37. Netherham Farm (see 35). The original Manor House of Sir Edward Hext was probably built on land to the north of the church, in what is now the farmyard. It was demolished (1680s) by Sir John Stawell (Sir Edward’s grandson), who then began building ‘the grandest house in Somerset’. It was still unfinished in 1692 when he died, heavily in debt, and it fell to ruin. All that remain are terraces of the proposed gardens and an adjacent wall. Its grand gateway was moved to Hazelgrove House in the 19th century and stands off the A303 at Sparkford Roundabout (see 36). ). In 1937 Herbert Cook unearthed a Roman tile while burying a dead sheep on the farm.. An archaeological dig (1945-7) revealed a Roman villa with underfloor heating and remarkable mosaic floor depicting the story of Dido and Aeneas. It was lifted in 1953 and is on display at the Museum of Somerset, Taunton (photo above). In 1953 Herbert Cook installed a television in the barn so the village could watch the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. 38. Ivy Corner and orchard. A searchlight was positioned here during World War II, manned by troops who were billeted in the Nissen huts at the top of Cook’s Hill (see 33).

39. Pound Cottage. Site of the old village pound (where stray animals were penned in). Next door, where Springfield is, there was the horses’ drinking trough and sheep dip.

40. Dairy House Farm (c1600). Dairy farm until late 1990s. In 1952 the electricity supply for the village was switched on at the electricity pole here by the Chairman of the Parish council, Mr Lionel Cook. (Photo below).

41. Low Ham Chapel. Originally a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, it became ‘Independent’ and was rebuilt in 1884. Recently the congregation has upgraded the building, adding upstairs and side rooms and car park.

42. Shorelands. During World War II a string of six bombs fell in Low Ham, one landing by Shorelands, demolishing a wall. Mr Church lost fingers in the blast, but baby Ted was unharmed.

43. Fir Tree Farm, Low Ham (mid-1600s). Situated in Long Street, once the main road from Langport to Glastonbury, it was originally a coaching inn called the Fleur de Lys. You can still see the mounting block used by passengers of stage coaches, and later used for loading and unloading milk churns when the property became a farm. It is now a plant nursery, Somerset Plants.

44. New Manor Farm (1877). Sir Charles Wathen purchased Low Ham Manor estate in 1873 without a manor house ( demolished in

the 1600s, see 35) so he probably built this as his house. It was lived in by the Keevil family until the 1950s.

(Photo page 1: Keevil brothers harvesting wheat, c1930; photo page 4: Club Day Walk outside New Manor Farm 1928) 45. The Old Chaff House. Once the chaff house (fodder store) of New Manor Farm. Outside is the old drinking trough used in the past by horses travelling the Langport to Glastonbury road.

46. Morton House. So-called because this end of Low Ham was a hamlet known as Morton Ham.

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Henley

47. Millennium Wood. Returning men from World War I could rent a County Council allotment here between the World Wars. The wood was planted in 2000 and purchased by High Ham Parish Council in 2014.

There is public access.

48. Zion Chapel (1841). The Chapel was built by ‘Independents’ and later renovated to include schoolroom (1896). It is now the place of worship of Henley Christian Fellowship and there have been more renovations in recent years.

49. Henley Corner. (Photo page 1: steam roller outside Henley Corner Farm, 1920s) 50. Fir Tree Farm, Henley. There was a little grocery shop here, early 1900s - c1930. (Photo below: Harold Webb at his family’s shop, c1907) 51. Cowling Agriculture. Tractor and machinery sales, repairs and service.

52. Henley Farm (c1600). Mary Jane Tapscott (‘Aunt Molly’) ran this farm for over 30 years, after her elderly husband, Edward Tapscott, died in 1921. She had a small dairy herd and also made cheese. Nearly every house in Henley was a family farm in living memory, each with a few cows milked by hand.

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West Henley

53. Heavens Gate Animal Sanctuary

Turn Hill & Beer

54. Popes fields. Used for motorbike scrambles by many local clubs since the early 1970’s, the fields are known as ‘Popes’ by the land owners and locals, and appear to have been the site of a quarry in the past.

55. Turn Hill, National Trust. Given by the Bellot family (who also owned Stembridge Windmill) in memory of Bryson Bellot, killed in 1918 in World War l. Lovely walk down through the woods, especially at bluebell time.

56. ‘Jim’s Cider Shack’, Woopecker Lodge (Bere Cider Company). The Lockyer family make cider on the farm using traditional cider press. Their cider, apple juice, cider vinegar and local produce are on sale here.

Paradise

57. Paradise Mill. John Spearing milled grain here until the 1930s. The Spearing family were established millers with several mills in Somerset. John’s son, Simon, ran the shop at Hillborne, High Ham, with his wife (see 18).

Hamdown and Picts Hill

58. Wyrne Wyche (1875). Gothic Revival house designed by G. Nattress for William Bond Paul, local banker and director of Stuckeys Bank, Langport. After his death it was bought by the Kelway family (see 61). It has had other owners since then.

59. Hamdown Court. Site of the Langport Union Workhouse, built 1842. It was a workhouse until c1931.

During World War II it was a military detention centre, then later an egg packing facility. The derelict building was demolished and developed in 2004 as Hamdown Court.

60. This was W. Fouracres’s cycle repair and antique shop 1914-30s, then Hedgecoe’s Antiques until 1970s.

61. Kelways Nursery. Started by James Kelway in 1851, it is one of the oldest nurseries in England. In Edwardian times Ladies and Gentlemen arrived by train in their hundreds to admire ‘Peony Valley’. During World War I the land was used for food production. The nursery today regularly wins awards at the Chelsea Flower Show for its Peonies, Iris & Tree Ferns. It is a plant and garden centre, with gift shop and café.

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The High Ham Parish Community Project team would like to thank everyone who has contributed personal photographs, shared memories and helped with research. We apologise for mistakes and omissions. Further copies of this leaflet can be obtained from: Kelways (61), Somerset Plants (43), Jim’s Cider Shack (56), St. Andrew’s Church, High Ham and Low Ham Church-in-the-Field. Copies of the book ‘A Somerset Parish 1895-1965, Memories of village life in High Ham Low Ham and Henley’ are available through the High Ham Parish Community Project website. The full archive of photographs and memories can be viewed by contacting members of the Project team through the website and there are also copies at the Somerset Heritage Centre, Taunton.

High Ham Community Project website www.communityhistory.co.uk Published by the High Ham Parish Community Project 2015

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