Posted March 26th, 2012
by Pete Savage
Not a few have been puzzled by the heraldric red dragon seen throughout Somerset, because that is the emblem of Wales. However, dragons have been associated with Somerset for centuries and were adopted as standards by Celts, Romans and Saxons. The West Saxons in the 8th century carried a golden dragon or wyvern standard against the [...]
Posted February 29th, 2012
by Richard Savage
This part of Somerset is an ideal area for exploring the footsteps of some of the most famous romantic poets in English literature. In the last posting we mentioned something about William Wordsworth, and the countryside between Nether Stowey and Lynton was an area enjoyed by Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Not far from Lower [...]
Posted February 27th, 2012
by Richard Savage
After a glorious sunny weekend, we feel that spring is definitely with us at Lower Lakes. The fine weather has brought out the daffodils, primroses and the blackthorn into flower. The interesting things about the blackthorn is that the white flowers blossom even before any green leaves appear. The interesting things about the blackthorn is [...]
Posted February 15th, 2012
by Richard Savage
This afternoon I went in search of another notable Bridgwater naval man, one who fought in the American Civil War from 1861 to1865 for the abolition of slavery, William Jolley Nicholls (1843-1921). He emigrated to America in 1853 when he was 11 years old and was one of the early pioneers. He served with the [...]
Posted February 13th, 2012
by Richard Savage
Most people, in Somerset at least, know that there isn’t a Bridge in Bridgwater. That is, the only “e” in Bridgwater is in the water. The way to remember is by referring to its ancient origin, the Saxon settlement of Brycge, which means a jetty or gang-plank for unloading ships. It was only after the [...]
Posted February 4th, 2012
by Richard Savage
This morning I needed to add a new category to our Experience Somerset blogs to cover unusual events and visitors. While we were cleaning and tidying our garden sheds, we suddenly realized we were being watched: a goat was standing on the bank outside of Oak Lodge. We had never seen a goat at Lower [...]
Posted February 4th, 2012
by Richard Savage
Robert Blake was not the only naval hero from Bridgwater. Two other “bricks” served under Nelson. Sir Davidge Gould (1758-1847) was born in Bridgwater, although his father came from Sharpham Park near Glastonbury. He joined the navy at the age of 13 and served as a midshipman in the Mediterranean until being promoted to Lieutenant [...]
Posted February 3rd, 2012
by Richard Savage
Walking through Lower Lakes on this beautiful frosty sunny morning in February (the temperature dropped to -7C last night), I was arrested by the sight of the red stems of the Siberian Dogwood growing on the bank outside Oak Lodge. The Siberian or Red Dogwood genus, Cornus alba , was introduced from Siberia in [...]
Posted February 3rd, 2012
by Richard Savage
Reminiscing about the Bridgwater brick works must have been the reason why I woke up with the expression “You’re a brick!” in my mind, and wondering where that came from. It refers, of course, to a good, solid, substantial, dependable person. The expression is said to have originated with King Lycurgus of Sparta (ca. 800-730 [...]
Posted February 1st, 2012
by Richard Savage
Sunrise over Lower Lakes is a lovely scene. Every morning is different, as you can see from these photos, but each marks the beginning of a new day. This morning, after my visit to the Brick and Tile Museum yesterday, I mused about the beginning and the end of that industrial era in Bridgwater. Probably [...]
Posted February 1st, 2012
by Richard Savage
Apart from the manufacture of bricks and tiles, the production of scouring bricks was an important part of the industry. During the 19th century the Bath Brick was a popular cleaner throughout Britain, Europe andAmerica for polishing, scouring and cleaning metalwork and cutlery. They were once issued regularly to soldiers in the British army, and [...]
Posted February 1st, 2012
by Richard Savage
Situated at East Quay, on the east bank of the River Parrett between Chandos Bridge and the more northerly bridge where Western Way crosses the river, is the museum dedicated to the Somerset Brick and Tile Industry. It is housed in the buildings adjoining the kiln that once belonged to the brick yard of Barham [...]
Posted January 30th, 2012
by Richard Savage
On the wall in the Bygones Room of the Blake Museum hangs the nameplate of the Confederate States Ship Alabama, one of the most successful warships of the Southern States during the American Civil War of 1861-1865. Those not so well acquainted with American history may not have realized that the American Civil War was [...]
Posted January 29th, 2012
by Richard Savage
This morning I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours in the Blake Museum, a “must” for anyone who is interested in the historical heritage of this part of Somerset. What made it a particular pleasure was to talk to some of the enthusiastic band of volunteers who give their time and energy [...]
Posted January 28th, 2012
by Richard Savage
Thinking about famous Bridgwater women I was reminded of the saying “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” but not knowing where it came from I looked it up on Google, and found out that it was from a poem written in 1865 by an American poet, William Ross Wallace, to praise motherhood. [...]
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