Question for Guests to this Site .

[merlin]

If I am around I check in here most days to see what...if anything... has changed !

At the bottom of the page there is a short summary of who was on line during the previous 24 hours and how many Guest views there has been.

So these questions are for the Guests;

"What brought you to this Site ?

"What were you looking for ?"

"Did you Find what you were looking for ?"

"If Not why did you leave without Comment ?"


Some of us want this Web Site to be the font of all knowledge for Tetbury.

We welcome questions and if we don't know the answer we will at least try and find it for you or point you in the right direction.

So please, if you are a guest or visitor Please don't just pass by stop and at least say Hello! If for no other reason than to convince me I'm not talking to myself !

[normanspants]

You're doing an admirable job trying to chivvy everyone along Merlin, as Cliff has also done in the past. Nice one!

It's a while since I was a guest and not a fully signed up member, but I suppose we were all guests once, and so my answers are/would have been as follows:

"What brought you to this Site ? "I was brought up in Tetbury and, although no longer local, nevertheless had a burst of nostaglia.

"What were you looking for ?" I was interested to see who was about, whether I knew them and whether anyone had any interesting gossip or amusing anecdotes. Not just on a nostalgic theme, other themes as well, like crisps and biscuits. Also slightly interested in making contributions myself, if the opportunity presented itself.

"Did you Find what you were looking for ?"'Fraid not. Not really anyway.

"If Not why did you leave without Comment ?"I think I pretty much signed up there as I couldn't really see why I shouldn't.

Hope this helps.

[merlin]

Hi Normanspants....

I think if you're looking for gossip and friends of old you may have to come out of the closet and tell us who you really are and who you might remember from your time here.

Feel free to start a Nostalgia Thread and see what happens.

As you can see I have written one booklet about Tetbury and am working on another probably about all the Pubs and Inns that were once here.

But I am also trying to recreate the Town centre as it was in years gone by by finding out what shops were where so any help you can give would be greatly appreciated as well as any old photos.

[normanspants]

Good thought about starting a new nostalgia thread, although I'm a bit reticent: I must admit my experiences on here have generally be troubled, which has prevented me from contributing more. I was originally a member of the old pre-2006 Tetbury discussion board, which got axed and deleted in favour of this one. I had some treasured posts on the old board (long story) which I was told couldn't be retrieved, and I must admit after that I rather lost heart, concerned that if I invested too much time and effort in the new board the same could happen again.

Then this new board was visited by spammers, which was tiresome, and moronic trolls like 'Mr Tetbury', which was extremely tiresome. I asked that the site be made registration only to try and cut down on the spammers and the imbeciles. This was declined, and in the end I found myself wandering away.

As for my contributions to your research, I didn't live in Tetbury for that long, about 10 years in the 70s and early 80s, this is probably not the era you are interested in, and I didn't take photos in those days, so not sure that I can be of much help. Your walk round Tetbury book sounds good though - nice one.

[merlin]

Spammers are a real pain I agree but I think for the time being we are reasonably safe, so far this site is so little used it is hardly worth a Spammer's time to bother with us !

As for my research is concerned I'm afraid your all too recent stay here does not go far enough back but it might be interesting to see what shops you remember from back then just so people of Tetbury can get a feel for what they have lost. See my answer to Bee's question.

I have an extract from Pigot's directory of 1844 that shows what commercial traders were here back then but it's just a list with no addresses.

I think the Nostalgia thread idea might work with past Tetburians
depositing their memories.

[Monica Mary]

Hello Merlin,a few memories of Tetbury Shops from 1940 TO 1960.
Starting from opposite the Church in Church st there were about three small shops selling Sweets ,Cigarettes. amongst many other thing. going further up there was a chemist shop and a large Grocers Internationals,next door another small sweet shop Mrs Jonathan who sold the most delicious ice=cream,next door a menswear shop Mr Long and then a shoe shop called Millwards also the Post Office was there until it was moved to where it is now,next door an old hardware shop called Trooper Mitchells and another sweet shop called Gethings right at the top of the town These were all on the left on side walking up from Bath Bridge I could go on down Long st but I think this is enough for now perhaps Cliff can carry on as we were both kids at that time
A Happy Easter to all, Monica Mary.

[merlin]

Hi Monica Mary,

I am trying to recreate a series of street maps of business's at different periods in history to demonstrate the changing face of Tetbury.

Not easy because it wasn't until the advent of the general Postal delivery service that street numbers were required. Back then all you had to say was Mr. Soandso in Long Street...

Such a project may not be possible and I may have to settle for a list of commercial traders in the town on any given date.

However thank you for your input and I will see if I can spot them on a map of the town.

I think you would be horrified to see how few real shops the town has left, we have to go to Nailsworth for a decent Greengrocer. Philips the Baker became Hobbs and they no longer bake here I think that comes from Nailsworth as well.

And the call it progress!

[cliff]

Hi Merlin & Monica,
Sorry Monica my reply to your last communication ( eagerly awaited no doubt) has again gone the back burner. As usual, I check Tetbury Website first, so glad to see some interest from others. Always willing to contribute. NOSTALGIA a much nicer word than APATHY.
Just a quick one, following the mention of PHILLIPS' . I guess at some time in my youth I was either an Errand Boy or helped out at several business' in Tetbury. PHILLIPS' being one of them. Albert EVANS was the Head Baker, after the War with his Son. Tisty NEWMAN a General Handyman/Baker,he was also responsible for the Horse and bread delivery cart. still in use in my day. He also collected salt from the rail goods yard in blocks similar in shape to road cones, and about 20 lbs in weight. All loaded direct on to a straw covered flat cart. I wonder what the h
Health and Safety would think today. Hot cross buns, now readily available 365 days of the year, only baked on Good Friday with a queue before the shop opened, can remember one year a complete sellout and a second baking to supply demand.
Further reminiscences another time. Have some memories of the shops Monica mentioned. Any one interested ? Like Merlin will try and answer where I can.
I only wish that some of those from my school days would drop a line sometime. Trotch, Ticker, Biffer, Gobby, Sparrow, come on !.
Cliff B. aka Cookie.

[Monica Mary]

Hello Merlin and Cliff,

Just opened up my lap-top and read your letter Cliff and could,nt resist writing a few more shops At least four butchers Mr Higgins in Church st Mr Butler in Long st and another two I cant remember the names also three more large grocers Fawkes, Gillets, both at the top of the town and Co-op in Long st plus Internationals in Church st amongst many other small shops including three greengrocers and two chemists,in my memory I dont think we had to go anywhere to do shopping except for something special like a wedding dress for example and then most of us went to Swindon by train from Tetbury which has now gone.I came back home about twelve years ago to look after my mother and could,nt believe the changes,had to go to Ciren to do weekly shopping Tesco was,nt there then,it was,nt the Tetbury I used to get homesick for.Still as you say thats progress,glad I was born in the good old days, Monica Mary.

[merlin]

Hi Guys and thanks to Monica Mary for these additions.


You are quite right of course the Town of Tetbury is almost a graveyard as far as real shops are concerned and what's worse nobody seems to care.

We live in the middle of the countryside and can't buy fresh country produce. I guess the one exception is Jesse Smith the Butcher he at least supplies good quality meat and a few other things besides.

I am still waiting for someone to come along and give me an argument bit it seems everone is in agreement with me or they can't be bothered....

Sad really but what can I say ?

[cliff]

Hi Merlin, Monica, & any others,
Before the days of Supermarkets, deep freeze and plastic packaging, produce in Tetbury was in the main fairly local. Monica mentioned a fourth Butcher she was unable to name. I feel sure it was Les VICK who had a shop almost next door to PEGLARS Garage/Shop. Back in my early days he could always be seen at the Wednesday Live stock market. Dressed in a long white coat, in the cattle pens, prodding and checking a prospective purchase. Once he had decided, he clipped a code with a sharp pair of scissors into the hair of the beast. I guess this was to prevent the identity numbers stuck on with an adhesive being swapped.
PHILLIP'S' Bakers, used traffic cone shaped blocks of salt, weighing 20lbs plus in bread making. Collected and delivered by a Mr NEWMAN, (a Phillips employee) on an open horse drawn cart covered with straw, from a goods van in the GWR yard, no Health and Safety worries then. There were two bakers in Long Street also, PEGLARS and LEWIS'.
Question for Merlin. Have you a pub that was called The Black Horse in your list ?. It stood just off West Street on the rough lane going down to the Arches if my memory serves me right. Still standing when I were a lad.
Question for any one else. What was the make of the plane that crashed in the fields just above Coronation Road ? I have always thought it was an Avro Anson. Another source says it was a Spitfire
Be pleased to see any thoughts,
Cliff B

[merlin]

Hi Cliff,

Thanks for the input on the shops, and yes I have the Black Horse Pub on my list. It stood at the top of Black Horse Hill and used to supply extra horses to help pull carts and coaches up the steep hill into the town.

When the Bath Bridge was built in 1775 to take away some of the gradient this bypassed the old hill and pub more or less killed off the pubs trade.

You can still go down Black Horse Hill and under the arches and see the original Packhorse Bridge and ford and walk up the old Bath Road out of Tetbury.

It's on my historic tour !


Not 100% sure but the only WWII plane crash I know of was a German Fighter crash lande near the water works in 1943 is that the one you remember ?

[Monica Mary]

Hello Merlin,I can remember the plane in London Road and I will always remember my Father taking me over to see the damage the bomb had done,it had killed a cow in the field and it had been completely cut in half with the front in one place and back in another,I can remember it so clearly and seeing half of Tetbury also going to have a look.The story we were told it was a German plane that was damaged and flew low to unload some of its bombs etc. so that it could get back to Germany,cant remember your plane Cliff,but I will never forget that poor cow.I have told my children and grandchildren about it over the years since they were old enough to understand and they thought it was hysterical.Another war memory was an escaped German pilot who hid out in the tennis court pavilion in Love Lane (now long gone) but considering a few of us children went up and down there every day to school we were lucky we did,nt see him.
No more memories for now Best wishes Monica Mary

[cliff]

Hi Merlin & Monica,
As is my usual, here in the Library, hit on Tetbury on line for an update, got two, unfortunately , regulars ! No input from our dedicated readers.
Remember the cattle getting bombed in the field just off London Road, a Saturday night/Sunday morning ?? six bombs, not far off hitting the gasometer. somewhere in what is now entrance to the School in St Mary's Road. Visited, collected some shrapnel, general consensus was a plane chased off from raid on Bristol dropped its bombs whilst escaping from night fighters.
Really would like to know the details of the crashed plane/s, were there two at different times ?? Again visited this site, but kept some distance away by military/Police. Trolley WOOD in a memoir I read some where, was sure it was a Spitfire.
With the grant of the Duchy of Cambridge to Prince William being current news, any one out there, (Monica excepted) remember Lady CAMBRIDGE living at Estcourt Grange during the war? Her Daughter Mary who was one of the Queens train bearers at her Wedding/Coronation ?
Again welcome any input,
Cliff.B.

[merlin]

Hi Cliff and Monica,

You guys have got me a bit confused about the plane crash, seems to me there has to be more than one so can you give me a little more detail please.

From what you've said so far this is what I have :

1) Cliff wrote: "What was the make of the plane that crashed in the fields just above Coronation Road ? I have always thought it was an Avro Anson. Another source says it was a Spitfire. "

I put Coronation Road off Hampton Street on the way to Avening Yes ?

One official record I have found confirms that a Spitfire did Crash close to Babdown Farm in October 1942.it was a training flight and the Norwegian pilot died in the crash in thick fog.

2) There is an online record of aplane crash of a German Fighter near the water works in 1943.

Question where exactly was the Water works back then ? Are they talking about the Sewage works ?


3) Monica remembers a plane crash off London Road.

That one sounds like a Bomber, so am I right in assuming we have three crashed aircraft, because the locations seem quite far apart to me.....

In the mean time I'll ask the local Historical Society for their input see if that helps !