CASTLE CARY

FOR A TOWN so small, Castle Cary has so much to see, whether your interest lies in the countless old buildings that reveal a lot about how people lived in bygone days, or in the many high-quality shops that cater for how we live today.

A glance at archive photos of Fore Street, Market Place and High Street reveals that their overall appearance has changed but little in the last hundred years or more. All are instantly recognisable, the only striking differences being the open stream running alongside the pavement on the eastern side of Fore Street – and the absence of motor vehicles! The streets still retain the charm of the traditional small-town shopping centre, and some of the businesses have been trading here for a good many years.

Over the last 50 years Castle Cary has acquired a high reputation as a shopping centre. When I visited on a mild morning in mid-May the shops were certainly bustling. Traditional trades still thrive in the busy shopping streets – butcher, baker, greengrocer, ironmonger, bookseller, grocer, delicatessen and more – and the multiplicity of independent retailers selling high-quality goods and offering friendly personal service appeared to be attracting visitors from far and wide as well as catering for local needs.

My visit coincided with Market Day. Although traditional markets ceased many years ago and the Market House has long outlived its original purpose, every Tuesday until 2.00pm its cobbled forecourt and undercroft revert to their original role – and attract a goodly number of stallholders and customers. So much so that the market now extends up Bailey Hill alongside the Market House. Usually the stalls include a

To accommodate the growing number of stallholders the Tuesday Market also occupies part of Bailey Hill. Quality service assured at Phillips Tyres, Castle Cary.

fishmonger, a traditional baker, a greengrocer and others selling local meat, cheeses and chutneys, wool and haberdashery, soaps and smellies, clothing and more. Nowadays the ground floor of the building is home to the town

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Tuesday Market at Market Place, every Tuesday until 2.00pm.

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council office and tourist information centre, and the former shambles area is used for a variety of events, exhibitions, displays and functions such as weddings.

Attractive old shopfronts add period charm to the town centre, and when you’re window-shopping in the town it’s worth remembering that until the late 18th century most of the properties in Cary were twostorey, built of rough local stone and thatched – the front part of the George Hotel remains as an example. And behind the 19th and 20th century facades of some of the town centre shops are buildings dating from earlier centuries, especially on busy Fore Street that stretches from the Market Place to the horsepond. The size, architectural style, materials and appearance of many of Cary’s buildings help to explain how the town has changed and expanded over the last 300 years. Indeed, much of its charm lies in the minutiae that the inquisitive eye spots while strolling through the streets.

The horsepond at the bottom of Fore Street is one of Castle Cary’s most distinctive features. In its centre is the town’s war memorial, erected in 1920, and nearby is a bronze sculpture of a swan, installed earlier in the current century to commemorate the black swans that settled on the pond in bygone days. The horsepond is all that remains of the moat that once surrounded a medieval manor house thought to have been built in the 13th century using stone from the dismantled castle, and its site included two mills, a dovecote, gardens and Park Pond, the source of the river Cary. The house was demolished in the early 1800s and Manor Farmhouse was built on the site. The small estate of modern houses behind the horsepond occupies the former extensive farmyard and at the top of the drive alongside George’s fruit and vegetable shop the farmhouse still stands as a reminder of the historical importance of this site.

If the town’s history intrigues you, it’s well worth spending an hour or two in the museum upstairs in the Market House. As I’ve written in previous articles about the town, it is crammed with exhibits reflecting local industries, agriculture, lifestyles and people through the ages, and in the main display room you can find out more about two of the town’s once-important businesses – T S Donne Ltd, flax spinners and ropemakers, and John Boyd & Co Ltd, horse-hair weavers. Other rooms contain displays relating to Douglas Macmillan, founder of Macmillan Cancer Relief who for many years lived at Ochiltree House on Upper High Street, and Parson James Woodforde who was born in Ansford in 1740 and served as curate at Castle Cary from 1765 till 1773. His legacy is his diary which records in great detail the social scene of the period – the places, the people, what they ate and what it cost, how they behaved, worked, spent their leisure and died – and it is intriguing to trace the places he mentions and imagine them as he had seen them more than two centuries ago. The museum is open until the end of September on weekdays from 10.30am till 12.30pm and 2.30pm till 4.30pm (including Bank Holidays) and on Saturday mornings. Admission is free, but I suspect you will be sufficiently impressed to leave a generous donation in the collection box to support the volunteers who run the museum.

The town is well-provided with characterful cafés, restaurants and pubs offering a wide choice of fare, and some have outdoor seating that creates a continental atmosphere on warm days. The building next to the former bank on High Street is in the throes of conversion into another restaurant, the Lazy Lobster, and judging by the advert for staff its opening can’t be far off.

Castle Cary still displays the bustle of a thriving old market town, and if you make the journey not only will you come away enriched by the experience, you will also have helped to boost visitor numbers. For although the town remains a traditional market town with shops and services that meet the needs of local people, its future prosperity also depends to a large extent on attracting more visitors.

Castle Cary’s post office relocated last year from Bailey Hill to inside the greengrocer’s shop on Fore Street. Some of Castle Cary’s streets including The Pitchings have changed but little in the last hundred years or more.

Roger Richards.

MAX FOOTE Associates Ltd

Chartered Certified Accountants

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Castle Cary Women’s Institute 1922-2022

Castle Cary Women's Institute was formed 29th May 1922 with Ansford being included in the title from 1945. President Irene Dobson welcomed members to The Shambles on Saturday 21st May for a Centenary party.

Joining them were representatives from The Somerset County Federation of Women's Institutes - Teresa Hemms (County Chair) Casey Worrall (Federation Secretary) and Judy Glossop (WI advisor) with members from local institutes - Witham Friary and Bruton.

Photographs were on show, of numerous past events including the recent planting of a rowan tree to honour the Centenary.

Casey had brought 2 books from the WI archives, which held minutes of meetings from the years 1922 to 1929. She read from a 1927 meeting which explained 2 proposed resolutions that had been suggested to go forward to the National Annual meeting Humane killings in slaughter houses and adequate sentences for the guilty of the offence against children. What amazing forward thinking women striving to do the right thing.

The present ladies try to continue their wonderful work. If you care to join they hold monthly meetings the 3rd Tuesday of each month at The Shambles, 7.15pm.

Castle Cary & Ansford Women’s Institute celebrated their Centenary with a party in The Shambles Market House. Outdoor space at The Orchard Inn Galhampton, plus buy one-get one 1/2 price on Wednesday’s Sausage & Mash Night!

The Old Cider House Cattery

Petra moved to Alford in February 2014 from Charlton Mackrell. She had been a full time carer for some years and managed to work from home as an online tutor. Once moved she started thinking about other work she could do from home and eventually started the cattery, having completed qualifications to support the business and offer the best care for the cats.

Unfortunately the cattery was ready to open just as Covid struck and the beautiful cattery sat mostly empty.

Luckily Petra had a few customers and gradually business picked up. The cattery is licensed with the Council (high standard rating) and offers six large chalets each with insulated and heated sleeping area and large run. The website is www.theoldcider housecattery.co.uk or find them on Facebook ‘oldcider housecattery’.

If you would like to book a viewing please contact Petra on 07795 358494.

The Market House

The Market House is a beautiful historic grade II listed building in the heart of Castle Cary, with good access and parking nearby. Renovations in recent years have

Staff Wanted

Various Positions

The Market House in the centre of Castle Cary. kept its characteristic charm enabling the space to be used as a multi-functional venue, be it a party, meeting, exhibition, or wedding.

The Market House is available for hire with any combination of spaces: The Shambles – boasts a fusion of modern architecture and original features, including stunning windows and original flagstone flooring.

Complete with glazed roof, underfloor heating, seating for up to 50 people, with additional standing room, a purpose-built servery and AV and projector equipment.

From the Shambles step out to the covered ‘Undercroft’, it’s the perfect overspill area for events in The Shambles and provides a quirky covered area for markets and summer social events. Finally, the spacious Assembly Room - on the upper floor, which is the most recent space to undergo renovation, will be fully available to hire soon. For more details and to discuss an event please contact Catrin Loxton by email on markethouse. bookings@castle-cary.co.uk or call 01963 351763.

Highfield House, Castle Cary

Highfield House is completely dedicated to involving the people who live there in excellent care and support received by listening to, and acting upon people’s feedback. At the heart of Highfield House are their concerns for each person’s happiness, health, safety, well-being and dignity.

This is reflected by the Platinum Award achieved with the nationally recognised Gold Standards Framework April 2022 and Awards for Care Home of the Year, and the award for Dementia and Palliative Care. They are also now rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission.

Their vision is to be a leader in providing a responsive care service where the standard of care and calibre of staff are second to none. The mission is to provide a safe, warm and friendly environment where excellent person-centred care is offered and where staff appreciate the unique qualities of each individual living at Highfield House.

The rear garden at Highfield House, Castle Cary.

HIGHFIELD HOUSE

Award Winning Residential Care Home

E.V.S

Eric’s Vehicle Services is a small local business that opened its doors in December 2021 at Priddles Hill Farm, just on the outskirts of Castle Cary.

Eric has 40 years experience of all things vehicle related, from small cars to big commercial vehicles and can tow with a recovery truck too … he is still learning, as you never know what comes in next! After the many challenges Eric has overcome in

Passionate about providing EXCELLENT care and support in a homely environment. Situated in the centre of Castle Cary we benefit from all the delights that Castle Cary has to offer within a short walk. Our calibre of staff is second to none and we are here to cater for each and every individual person.

Please feel free to contact us for any further information.

Telephone: 01963 350697 Email: manager@highfieldhouse.net www.highfieldhousecastlecary.com

his career to date, he has found inspiration and turned his vehicle dreams into reality by setting up his own business. For enquiries please call 07413 567975 or email ericsvehicleservices@gmail.com.

Eric of E.V.S has 40 years experience of all things vehicle related, from small cars to big commercial vehicles.

Roderick Thomas

Roderick Thomas Estate Agents introduces Applewood, a substantial detached property in the popular village of Keinton Mandeville.

This stylish and cleverly designed home offers plenty of modern living including a spacious kitchen-dining-lounge opening into a superb light-flooded sunroom with triple-aspect views of immaculate south-facing gardens.

Upstairs, four large double bedrooms include a master bedroom featuring a juliette balcony and en-suite, plus a further family shower-room.

A comfortable home within easy reach of Somerton, Glastonbury and Castle Cary, Applewood is just 10 minutes from the A303 and convenient for a number of state primary and secondary schools plus independent schools including Millfield, Wells Cathedral School, Hazlegrove, King’s Bruton and Sherborne. Offers at £1m. Contact their Castle Cary office today 01963 351993. www.roderick thomas.co.uk.

Applewood, Keinton Mandeville is being marketed for sale by Roderick Thomas. A Bishop Electricals

A Bishop Electricals have been providing a professional and friendly service at competitive prices in Castle Cary since 1999. Offering advice, sales and installation of electrical goods, large or small with free local delivery to Castle Cary, Wincanton, Shepton Mallet and the surrounding areas. They have an on-site workshop for small appliance servicing and repairs including lamps and they have service engineers on hand for larger appliances such as cookers/washing machines and tv tuning/installation problems.

They are Main Dealers for Bosch, Neff and Siemens as well as Samsung and Panasonic. Currently in stock is the incredible Samsung QE75Q70AATXXU 75” TV priced at £1600 delivered and installed with a 6 year warrantywhy not treat yourself?

As the cost of energy creeps up and more of us become conscious of our carbon footprint, many savvy households are looking at ways of cutting back.

One way to ensure that you are paying less in the long run - and helping the environment at the same time - is to switch to more energy efficient appliances. Households could save, for example, £113 a year - simply by switching to a more efficient fridge freezer.

Technology has improved leaps and bounds in recent years with a focus on making appliances more environmentally friendly. Unlike vented dryers and condenser dryers, heat pump dryers operate by reusing heated air in a closed-circuit system to dry your laundry. This means you get perfect drying results while consuming up to 50% less electricity than other dryer types. Now you can dry multiple laundry loads or thick fabrics like towels and duvets frequently without worrying about your electricity bill.

Bosch heat pump dryers available from £599 with FREE local delivery and FREE installation at A Bishop Electricals.