Taunton

During December 1929 much of the Taunton area was hit by heavy rain. Vivary Park and part of the town were flooded.

I expect quite a few of you have seen the film ‘1917’. This time around I thought I would use an image dating to 1917 with connections to the war in France.

As we are living in remarkable times I thought that I would look at some local historical parallels. This image shows the Isolation Hospital at Cheddon Road around 1925.

Not the best of photographs but so rare and a recent addition to the archive. Mr. Fry was at 18 Fore St. from 1878 to around 1912.

The original store was opened in 1864 by two London brothers William and Arthur Chapman.

The change in the retail sector started a good few years ago. Spiller and Webber became part of that change when they closed shortly after their centenary in 1990.

The station was built in 1856 to house the Taunton Division. It stood next to the Shire Hall opposite the later station.

This image shows Trull post office around 1912. The wooden structure which served as the post office from c.1908 for many years was a study used by the vicar…

The trouble with being an avid local postcard collector is the fear that by letting something pass you by you may never see it again.

This photograph shows Taunton gas works in 1950 seven years before closure and ultimate demolition. (and the site still remains largely undeveloped!)

I have a special interest in chemists shops as I used to work in one. Well actually it was Boots in Taunton but they transferred me to a Boots in Wellington.

The image is pre postcard and illustrates the end of an era. The time is coming when small shops like these are giving way to larger shops.

This is perhaps the most photographed street in Taunton. It features The Devon and Somerset Stores. I can just remember ‘The Stores’.

Four generations of my family attended Trull School so I have a mix of memories and history for you.

Like many others I went to Askwith School in South Street. But back then I don’t suppose many of us knew why it was called that.

The heavy rains of Thursday night and Friday had flooded the Tone, and its banks began to overflow shortly before noon. Little danger was apprehended till evening.

This postcard was recently added to the collection. It is uncaptioned but produced by Taunton photographer Montague Cooper.

You rarely see devastating local fires today. Mainly thanks to an efficient fire service and safer building practices.

I have edited and coloured this original image from my archive. I would say about 1900 because there are no tram lines in the road.

This image has been coloured from the original. It shows the fallen oak tree and school teacher ‘Daddy’ Whale.