FROME’S Society for Local Study has published its newest ‘yearbook’, an annual series of articles about the town’s history.
Editor Alastair MacLeay said, “Every year the Frome Society for Local Study (FSLS) publishes a Yearbook that records little known history of Frome. The latest volume, which has been designed by Cliff and Janet Howard contains a series of fascinating articles.
“There is a brilliant description of research into the history of Marston Mill in Spring Gardens by the owner, Robert Heath; he describes the evolution of the building, which he thinks was originally a medieval hall house, and shows the tell-tale alterations in a series of detailed photographs.
“Another article by Keith Falconer traces the history of Brunswick Place in Fromefield, together with a record of the short period that the Rossetti family stayed there in 1853.
“Hilary Daniel summarises the wars that have been fought in the West Country and John Jolliffe recalls the bravery of Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells, who refused to swear allegiance to William and Mary, and spent the last twenty years of his life at Longleat and is buried in St John’s churchyard.
“There are extracts from the memoirs of John Allen Giles, a Victorian polymath, son of the vicar of Frome in the early 19th century, and from the autobiography of Clara Grant, a revolutionary teacher born in Chapmanslade, whose family moved to North Parade where FSLS installed a blue plaque to her memory in November 2015.
“Peter Clark describes the differences between the two great politicians, Gladstone and Disraeli, and how Gladstone addressed the crowd at Frome Railway Station, and Margery Hyde tells the story of the formidable Jane Sinkins and her son John, who gave the Literary and Scientific Institution (now Frome Museum) to the town.
“Recent history is covered by David Millard on Frome Market with the move from the Market Yard and its development at Standerwick, and a short sketch by Diana Crossman.
“The articles are interspersed by selected extracts from old newspapers and several lively photographs.”
The book costs £10 and is available from the Hunting Raven Bookshop or Frome Museum, directly from FSLS via www.fsls. org.uk, or from Alastair MacLeay on 01373 836595.