New Begining... Any Questions ?

[merlin]

It is time for us to get away from the negative and start afresh.

Unless your comment is strictly for Threads " This Board Is Lame" or Seriously Under Used "

New Readers or those with questions should come here where for one I will be a regular contributer from here on in.

I'm no great expert but I have a strong interest in Tetbury, live here and have recently written a short historic guided tour of some of the local historic spots.

My interest is the business history of the town rather than the families, although it is hard to do one without falling over the other.

The problem with tracing family is that most records like old census records are held in archives which require an annual fee to access so it is dificult for researchers like me to do these things free of charge.

But don't let that stop you asking any questions about Tetbury past. or present I may not be able to answer but hopefully someone else will come to our aid. Or hopefully I will try and find someone who can.

I look forward to answering your quiery.

[bowralbob]

Good on you Merlin! At least you are willing to get in there and make things happen.
You have been able to answer my questions quickly and in a most helpful manner. I wish you well trying to revitalize the site.

Finally as a matter of interest is Tetbury twinned with any other town worldwide?

[cliff]

Another well done MERLIN,
As a fairly regular visitor, and contributor, albeit some time sarcastically, nice to seen your offer and intentions.
Ex- Tetburian, born and bred, I have many memories of a War time Tetbury, and I am also willing to help where I can. I still have family in the Town and can seek help there.
As they say Down Under, Good on Yer.
Cliff, B,

[merlin]

Hi Bob,

Thank you for you good wishes and I can but try, I do hope that when others see the Site Moving again and the fact that they will no longer be ignored if they have a question then others will join in.

In response to your question the answer is Yes, Tetbury is twinned with the town of Zwinenberg in Germany and has been since 1991.

As far as I know that's the only one.

Merlin

[merlin]

Hey Cliff,

Again thank you for your good wishes and support and I look forward to pulling upon your memories.

As a local author I was asked, it I would consider writing a short history and local walking guide around town. It was quite a challenge considering the 1,300 odd years of history the town has seen.

It was tough too to try and keep it light and entertaining so as not to put everybody to sleep as our history teachers once did to us.

Silly things kept popping up and side tracking me such as did you know that at one time the town had 42 pubs ?

I just had to find them, or see if there was a trace of them still to be found.

How Tetbury came to be called Tetbury was another side track...

As I did my research I found I was in complete disagreement with the semi official version that's been around for years.

That and the fact that I also disagree that Tetbury was ever a hill fort...

I haven't even got to the Dolphins yet !!!

So if I suddenly disappear from the site you'll know I've been lynched by a rampaging mob of local historians.... My brochure came out in print over the weekend...

[cliff]

Hi Merlin,
Appreciate all you have come back to me with, keep it coming. Look out for all of those guys with pillows with eye holes over their heads. I know the feeling. Several years ago was sat waiting for lunch in one of the few remaining Tetbury Hostelries. Owing to the loud bray, could not help hearing the diatribe from a gentle man in the corner expounding his knowledge of Tetbury. He was some what abashed when as I was leaving, I quietly aked him if he knew where the Workhouse once was. As it was virtually on the other side of the road. All was quiet as I left after pointing it out to him and adding to his KNOWLEDGE.
There I have done it again. No doubt I will be suitably chastised again. I guess my sense of humour is not to every ones taste. Having been told off for suggesting commercial house cleaning products. Come back I.T.M.A. all is forgiven. Were any of our readers at the Concert in the 1940's, when Tommy HANDLEY and the ITMA company appeared in the Institute to raise money in a Spitfire, Tank, or Battleship Week??? I was. Anyone remember Toc.H and T.O.F.F.S, or R.T.Pole Flying Club??
Had a few drinks in all of the now defunct Pubs, but only thirteen in my time, not counting " the Canteen ".
Looking forward to any replies from who ever.
Cliff. B.

[merlin]

Hey Cliff....

Question are you a local lad still living around Tetbury ?

Fancy a pint and a Chat ?

Merlin

[JB]

Keep the info coming folks! I am still looking at moving to Tetbury later this year as you all seem such a vibrant lot!

[cliff]

Hi Merlin,
Sorry to say , no longer a resident. But, do visit from time to time, mainly for family reasons, or passing through en-route to pastures green. Nice few hits in a very short time, look forward to more in the future. Would like to meet up on one of my flying visits and take up the opportunity of a social drink and the chance to remenisce
I only regret not having questioned my Grandparents about their life in Tetbury, and their memories. I remember my Great Grandmother who died aged 88 in 1938, what could she have told me. My Grandparents are mentioned in one or other of the books of recent printings, a chip shop in West Street. I am able to name and identify the unknowns in the photograph of the Tebury Grammar School football team of 1948, should any one be interested. One of them lived in the " Drum and Monkey ", pre-DYER days. Last had a drink there during the weekend when it was drunk dry before closing.
Keep coming back.
Cliff B.

[merlin]

Hi Cliff,

I will look forward to your next visit and I hope you will bring your memorabilia with you, a chip shop in West Street, you know that a large part of West Street was demolished and left as a car park.

The Drum and Monkey, otherwise known as the Prince of Wales is also gone.

Can you imagine the memories your great grandmother had, I bet she could have filled a lot of the gaps in my historic research.

It amazes me that not so very long ago if you didn't own property you didn't exist !

Please put together whatever you have next time you pass through I'll get the History of Tetbury Guys to meet with us I'm sure they'd love to meet with you as well...

See if we can't screw them out of a pint or three !!!

[Monica mary]

Hi Cliff,nice to see you getting some answers to your letters
all very interesting,thought I would write this instead of our usual e-mails.
Just two question what was the thirteen pubs,I can only remember twelve,and secondly what was the pub called down Charlton road.
I hope New Begining keeps going its very interesting,from another ex-pat.who often turns on Tetbury-on -line for news of back home.Good Luck Merlin.Monica MARY.

[merlin]

Hi Monica Mary,

I hope that Cliff answers your pub question as well, it is a fascinating subject and one I came across while I was doing the research for the Tetbury walk.

I came across this reference ; In the year the White Hart (now the Snooty Fox) was built in 1594 there was 13 Taverns in Tetbury.
By 1715 it had risen to 33 rising to a peak of 42 by 1755.

In 1830 had 3 breweries and a Malt-house.

By 1891 the licensed premises were down to 22.

I have tried to find the 42 pubs and their locations and so far I have about 50 names, 41 confirmed. However I would welcome any extra input.

In answer to your pub question as far as I am aware there were two pubs in Charlton road ; one The Wheatsheaf was on the junction with New Church Street.

However I believe the one you're thinking of was further out the Charlton road and was the Three thingys. Locally known as the Ladies Delight !! Opened in 1795 Tetbury people had to pass through the Toll to get to this popular alehouse which leads me to think it may have been a sporting and/or gambling den for thingy fighting, hence the name.

The pub closed in 1961.

[merlin]

I think we have an Auto censor on this site in my response to Monica Mary above My answer to her pub question has been altered unnecessarily from

C-O-C-K-S to 'thingies'
and my reference to c-o-c-k fighting has also been changed.....

[cliff]

Hi Merlin,
You are quite correct about the censor filter. I had the same problem some time ago in describing savoury meat BALLS ?
as supplied by Jesse CULL from the cleanest, well scrubbed and polished premises. On my last vist to the Metropolis !! I noted that his name in large gilt letters are still on show. Are they now.
From the filtering in my entry, I seem to think it has American word definitions. I am right ! a spell check brings up an alternative for savoury. All for now,
Cliff B.

[Andy]

Hey guys,

While talking about the need to help protect our wild bird population during the winter I used the expression "Tits like coconuts" and got a nasty Email from the Web Master.....

Yeah ! It's an American thing, they really don't understand English as a language even although they pretend to speak it...!

They went apoplectic (Bet they will need to look that one up) when I refered to having a f*g behind the bike sheds when I was a kid !

Glad to see the site picking up a little but it's still lacking input from more than we gallant few....