This issue we take a look at some of the more light hearted incidents in our lovely old town.
In December of 1790 several persons of Frome having lately been bitten by a mad dog the parishioners at a vestry meeting entered into a resolution of relieving no pauper who should keep a dog – a laudable example for other parishes to follow.
Frome man Joseph Stokes was offered as many oysters as he could eat for one shilling and six pence. In December 1823 he polished off 2 baskets worth amounting to about 250.
In January 1824 the Parish Church of Frome was robbed and shortly after the poor house of that place was also robbed and on Monday night the common guardhouse was robbed and we wonder what the rogues will attempt next.
In the autumn of 1836 a Frome gentleman made a bet of a sovereign with a companion over a friendly glass of ale, that he could dig 16 sacks of potatoes within 12 hours. The match took place in Corsley and over 20 sacks were dug by the challenger in 3 hours 20 minutes! “We have heard” continues a contemporary report, “that the loser forgot to stipulate that there should be no ‘pickers up’, but of which the winner, of course, availed himself!”
Sixty one year old Bridgwater resident Richmond Batt married Edith Kingstone in 1843 but fancying a change he left her in 1878 and moved to Frome where he proposed to a widow named Hunt telling her that his first wife was dead and that he was glad because he ‘never liked her’. Ms. Hunt accepted his proposal but regretted it because he was ‘no good to anyone’. Batt was charged with bigamy but in his defence claimed that he had never married her, “Didn’t we bide 20 minutes and no clergyman came to marry us? You went back and came 3 days after saying we was married! (laughter) Oh Dear! exclaimed Ms. Hunt, provoking the court to even more laughter. It was to no avail, the registrar was called and proved that the marriage did indeed take place. Batt was described as a ‘very bad man’ and given 6 months hard labour.
In March 1879 a George Coleman was summoned for having unlawfully and wantonly disturbed Henry Wilkins of the Half Moon beer house Long Row by knocking at his door and windows. Acting sergeant Milton and PC Walter Parsons proved hearing the disturbance but as Mr. Evans, the landlord said it did not disturb him, the case was dismissed.
Mick Davis and David Lassman
• Apologies to the Ellenbray Press for a slight mistake in the article on Eagle Lane. According to documents in Frome Museum Ellenbray Press purchased the building from Albany Ward Theatres Ltd in 1948 for £2,500 and sold it to WD Miller the following year for £5,000 though this probably included the front end, 6 Bath Street. We said that Ellenbray held it until 1961 which was incorrect.
