Tragic death of village’s adopted son
On the fateful day of 28 January 1952, Anthony Vivian Younger of Hardington and Ronald Russ of West Coker were killed when their lorry crashed through a barrier at Netherton Lane, Closworth, and ended upside down in a river. The workmen building a dam for the new reservoir rushed to the scene, but their efforts […]
A Wartime Wedding
The context for this wedding is that it occurred during the darkest days of World War Two, a time of unremitting hardship and sacrifice for the country. France had fallen, a nonaggression pact existed between Germany and Russia, and America had yet to enter the war. Despite these challenges, people came together for family celebrations. […]
Hardington Women’s Institute Theatricals
I am grateful to Jennifer Woolmington for this photograph of four Hardington ladies engaged in a theatrical performance or entertainment. The are, from left to right: -Eunice Burridge of the Old Track, Hill End, wife of Philip (AKA Oscar) Burridge and mother of Jane and Roger. -Gladys Rawlins of Vale Farm, Hardington Marsh, wife of […]
August Fun
On Monday, 5 August 1918, Scouts of the 1st Yeovil and Holy Trinity Troops commenced a fortnight’s camp at Bridge Close Farm, invited by Mrs Hinks, the owner, whose son, Geoffrey, was probably a troop member.[1] Undeterred by the shortage of tents, they stayed in a shed next to the orchard, The weather, save for […]
Drunken antics on a Sunday afternoon
On 6 March 1867, Elias Rendall, Isaac Stevens and Joseph Withey were summoned for damaging a stile belonging to John Hayward of Hardington on Sunday 10 February. John’s wife, Harriet, told the court that she saw the three men coming across the fields between three and four o’clock in the afternoon. When they got to […]
Gifts from Portugal
In 1885, Rev Cleife’s uncle, John Cleife, paid for various improvements to the church, namely patent duplex lamps, a hot air heating apparatus, matting and a clock for the tower. Messrs. Hancock, Cox, and Co. of Yeovil supplied the clock of “iron frame or Denison type, fitted with Graham’s dead beat escapement.” It had two […]
Publican in trouble with the law
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the police and magistrates strictly enforced the laws that applied to licensed premises. The police would often visit pubs to ensure everything was in order. On Monday, 12 December 1921, at about 9.30 p.m., P C Roberts, the policeman stationed at West Coker, visited the Royal Oak Inn […]
A communal response to the devastating tragedy of war.
Fifty-eight men from the village served in the armed forces during the First World War, of whom twelve lost their lives. Even before the war ended, the village was making plans to commemorate the fallen. On Friday, 8 February 1918, a whist drive and dance in the schoolroom raised £12 18s for the village Memorial […]
Sunday School Children’s New Year’s Party
On Monday, 4 January 1909, Mrs Cleife, the rector’s wife, treated the Sunday School children and helpers to a New Year’s party at the Rectory. Between forty and fifty took part. After enjoying delicious food in the Parish Room, the children moved into the dining room to play games around a giant Christmas tree lavishly […]
Who stole Archibald’s cheese?
On Monday, 20 January 1913, Archibald Partridge, a cheese hawker of Hardington, stopped at the New Inn, West Coker, leaving his horse and trap in the archway.[1] When he returned to his trap, he found a whole cheese and a smaller portion missing. Determined to catch the person responsible, he went to report the crime […]