Taunton

Tues 22 Apr

Holly Lodge is a lovely old home in Staplegrove Road.

They have a weird wooden thing in the front hall that Sue tells me is a boot-remover. You push your foot through the middle bit, then wedge your heel in the U shape. It looks like it would work quite well.

You can just see the edge of the mosaic tiled floor. Trust me, it is not lino!

I don't know if I have mentioned it yet, but I am enjoying collecting pictures of the different post-boxes. There are two interesting ones in Staplegrove Rd, where I am staying. Right outside Holly Lodge is this - 

That says ER VII - Edward 7th, son of Queen Victoria, who reigned 1901 -1910. I think on a previous trip I saw one for Edward VIII, he who abdicated before he was crowned, but they are very rare. 

 

Further down the same road is this GR, with no numbers after or in it. 

I am guessing George V (1910 - 1936), as I think I - IV were early nineteenth century, before the PO was thought of. And I know I have seen some with George VI, so maybe since #5 was the first, (speaking postally), he didn't need to be identified. Although Edward should not have needed to be either, in that case. There are always so many things to ponder on in this country, and to look up after I go home.

Spent the day at the Taunton Record Office. I got a lift both ways with my host, David, who works very near there. 

The Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School Account Book, had some of the TAYLOR family there William was the Secretary, and wrote the book. Tom SAVIDGE was paid for weeding on occasion at 6d a time. In 1802, a new brush cost 2s 6d, but a broom only 4 &1/2 d. I love these little snippets that give you a glimpse of real life.

The Zion Church Record Book would be a goldmine for some lucky researchers, as it contains some wonderful off-the-cuff obits for members who had died. There was a lot of dissension, as one of the ministers recorded when he resigned. There are also periodic membership lists, where our family names appear, so it will be interesting to see if I can relate them to any actual relatives.

Reading: Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen

Evening: The English Parish Church by Russell Chamberlin

Wed 23 Apr

SRO all day, wet morning, clearing later. Got a lift in with David again,then walked home.

Looking at more Ilminster stuff, cemetery transcriptions and the like, and went thru the Campbell Index, which a lovely man created of lots of the southern Somerset parish BDMs. 

I put 'Waterloo' into their catalogue search, just in case, and came up with an1835 list of pensioners who were fit to serve - John CLEAL or CLAYHILL was not on there, - I thought his hand might have been wounded very badly, since he got a permanent pension out of it - but a Silvester CLAIL was. I had also made a note of him when I was checking the Pension Rolls at TNA. I will have to find out more about him one day.

Reading: Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen

Thurs 24 Apr      

                        

Slept very badly, so after breakfast went back to bed for a while. Then caught up with emails.

Strolled down to Debenhams for lunch, did a heap of errands, and later had a brief wander around St Mary’s (just after they closed) taking pics of West Front. 

I have seen it several times before, and the inside had been spoilt by having a large shop in the West End on my last visit, completely ruining the peace and serenity of the beautiful interior, so I was quite happy not to be able to go inside.

Reading: Making Money by Terry Pratchett

Fri 25 Apr

My Goons friend Kim collected me at 10 am, we found a park in the town (eventually, after she got lost a few times) found her favourite coffee place (again after getting lost), walked for a while, talking non-stop, she had another tea, we had lots of laughs, & lots of good genealogy talk. I felt much refreshed afterwards.

Then we found our way to the train-station, and I got a direct one to Paddington.

 

Staying at the Shakespeare Hotel in Norfolk Square, very close to the one I stayed in previously. It is more expensive without being a lot nicer room but the breakfast is great, and I could not handle the thought of the ultra-grumpy & unhelpful guy on reception at the Continental.

Evening: A Lust for Window-sills by Harry Mount