Frome Times Past: History at our fingertips

IN 1956 a successful exhibition of local history was held at St. John’s School, then in Vicarage Street, and following on from this a meeting was organised to discuss ways of promoting and preserving the town’s past. This resulted in the formation of what is now the Frome Society for Local Study in June 1958 and on 9th October it held its inaugural lecture by the famous archaeologist Sir Leonard Wooley.

Its stated aims at the time remain the same today, “To promote and further interest in natural history, geology, archaeology, architecture, local history and kindred subjects; to complete and reserve local records on these subjects and to foster preservation in Frome of anything deemed to be of special interest in these matters.”

Mr Hilary Daniel, from an ancient Frome family, was elected as chairman and still serves as our president today, now in his 90s.

The noble ambition of those far off days remain the same today although some of our intended activities like archaeology and geology have not seen the light of day for a while. What is perhaps our most significant achievement was the foundation of Frome Museum in May 1966 which is thriving today at its home in North Parade.

The Society produces an annual Yearbook packed full of information about the town and surroundings which is free to members as well as organising a series of lectures in the autumn and coach trips in the summer.

We now have well over 400 members but we are actively seeking people who want to get involved in our various activities be it organising or helping with various projects, carrying out research, writing articles or just taking photographs.

Some years ago, we merged with the Frome Civic Society which aims to provide a forum for discussing the future of the town particularly its built environment and scrutinising such things as the quality of materials used and its effect on the historic fabric of the town. Its recent activities have concerned the Saxonvale development and the Selwood Garden Village proposals. It also provides advice on planning applications to the town council and Mendip. Membership is automatic upon joining the Frome Society.

Since its foundation, the society has produced in the region of 100 books and pamphlets; our most prolific period of publication was during the 1980s when we had some serious historians working on the town’s history in Peter Belham, Derek Gill, Eunice Overend, Rodney Goodall, John Harvey and Michael McGarvie. Their work is preserved in the museum library but the large majority have been out of print for many years, sometimes surviving as a single copy. To make this large body of research available once more around 70 publications have now been scanned into the museum website and made available in PDF format without charge.

Frome Museum can be found at 1 North Parade, Frome, BA11 1AT   01373 454 611; frome-heritage-museum .org . Frome Society membership details are available from  membership@fsls.org.uk

For a list of all out-of-print Society publications available free in PDF format from the Museum website please contact publications@fsls.com

The Frome Society website is at www.fsls.org.uk

By Mick Davis