Saturday 6th April '24 RW, JB, PC, CH and Scrumpy
We gathered our troops at Bruton Station and made our way through the Abbey Ponds area to the Hauser and Worth site. This route took us through the Bruton allotment area and we quizzed Phil on his lack of progress with his new allotment…lots of excuses were offered about the weather and ground conditions which sounded like the sort of thing unsuccessful England cricket teams have said about touring India down the ages. When will the first Clackson carrot be available for tasting? Watch this space.
Hauser and Worth always seems to be a talking point as the exhibitions there are often inexplicable to the peasantry….rather like the Emperor’s New Clothes. Somebody (it could have been Phil) has a relative who works in the silversmith business and makes the most sophisticated objects of beauty requiring craft skills and a talent for design. The point is the contrast between this person’s “art” and the collection of old tat which is often displayed to silent admiration in the gallery. It’s a great mystery and if only we “got it” we too might be millionaires.
As we climbed up the hill alongside Dropping Lane our discussions turned to world affairs, high politics and of course the MP who decided to send pictures of his own private parts to strangers via the internet. It was generally agreed that this is not going to be encouraged within our group. History does not record whether Gladstone and Disraeli swapped paintings of their genitalia (although Palmerston might have done) and I don’t think Churchill had the time …but then again Lloyd George was a bit of a scalliwag. In wartime there was a popular song about the relative equipment belonging to Hitler’s entourage and that is the only justification this sort of thing might possibly have …..a morale booster for the troops!
We made our way upto the top with a grand view towards Alfred’s Tower in one direction and Creech Hill in another with the Hauser and Worth vineyard flourishing in the lee of Hell’s Wood and Sheephouse Farm beyond the railway line. Dropping down from the heights we passed the stock fence where once I came across a trapped sheep. Down we went into the muddy lane in the woods and so to the topside of the flood alleviation scheme. This is such a substantial construction it is difficult to imagine so much rainfall that it fills up….but remembering the flooding of my childhood this has made a difference to Bruton…except that water now flows down Dropping Lane instead!
Crossing the Brue under the railway bridge, we followed the river back towards the town through a field of very ragged sheep. Here we came across the remains of the concrete walling that once reshaped the course of the river and created a leat which held water above its natural height all the way into the onetime Bruton bacon factory. John recalled his youthful adventures boating on this leat which is now largely filled in. The concrete barriers which had channeled the water were broken down in the sixties, allowing the river to return to its natural course. In the industrial heyday of Bruton the river supplied power and clean water to the factory which was a large employer in the town. There are surviving local residents who worked there and in the past it was still recognizably a factory site with a large brick chimney. It became residential flats under the branding of Viney’s Yard.
The path took us to the bridge at the bottom of Darkey Lane where we used to fish for loggerheads and splash around in the water. Bats Hole was rumoured to be very deep and full of monster trout. From the local graffiti it would appear the police are not welcome.
Turning away from the river we made our way to the railway station and again John regaled us with childhood larks crawling through a culvert under the mainline from Paddington to Exeter! On the platform we paused to read through a poster of the celebrations in Bruton for the arrival of the railway in 1856. Once again the mysterious Wellington Inn was referenced but no one has any idea where this might once have stood. Further investigation required.
We headed into town for breakfast at Cats Café which does not welcome dogs! So Scrumpy went to visit Solo at the Clacksons’ house. Cats Café is in the rear of the Bruton Convenience Store and is a traditional kaff as might appear in Coronation Street or Eastenders…verging on the greasy spoon. But the menu is interesting featuring Mexican Breakfast and the staff and most of the customers appear to be Portuguese. It also doubles as a grocery for the local Portuguese community. In fact, a run to seed Luis Figo served us on the day and it was pretty good , warm plates and a good pot of tea included. One final thing…please don’t send any dodgy photos to the group
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