The Frome Society for Local Study (FSLS) has published the twentieth Yearbook, recording little known history of Frome and the surrounding countryside.
This volume has again been designed by Cliff and Janet Howard and edited by Alastair MacLeay. As usual it contains a varied mixture of local stories that introduce many interesting characters; the front cover shows a previously unknown watercolour (illustrated) of St John’s Church by CE Giles, the architect of the major refurbishment of the church in the 1850s and 60s for Rev WJE Bennett which made it an outstanding example of Victorian church architecture.
Leading articles by Tim Hopkinson-Ball and Nick Hersey describe the life and work of two extraordinary characters: Dom Ethelbert Horne, a monk at Downside Abbey, who was a polymath who oversaw excavations at Glastonbury Abbey, researched scratch dials on churches and holy wells and was a leading archaeologist in Somerset for 50 years; he was also a prolific author on Somerset subjects. Emma Sheppard, wife of the clothier, George Wood Sheppard, both helped the poor, particularly women sent to the workhouse and founded a school for the children of the employees at Fromefield House. She was the outstanding philanthropist of 19th century Frome.
There is a further extract from the educationalist, Clara Grant’s autobiography, ‘Farthing Bundles’, and an entertaining history of Stourhead and the Hoares by Emily Blanshard. Mick Davis describes his researches into the standing stones in gardens off Bath Road and there is a description of the geology of ECOS, the European Community of Stone, when the stones were installed next to the Merlin Theatre.
Gillian Hogarth recalls the trials and tribulations of the churches, high and low, during the later 19th century, with particular reference to the influence of the Tractarian, Rev WJE Bennett.
The whole book is interspersed with entertaining extracts of incidents and descriptions of Frome people and is beautifully illustrated with excellent photographs and drawings. It is well presented, costs £10 and is available from the Hunting Raven Bookshop, Frome Museum or directly from FSLS via the website www.fsls.org.uk or from Alastair MacLeay, telephone 01373 836595.
