ONE of the authors of the new book, ‘A-Z of Frome’, will giving at talk on the book and a whistle stop tour of the town’s quirkier features at Winstone’s Hunting Raven Books this week.
David Lassman, who co-wrote the book with Mick Davis, will be at the book shop on Cheap Street this Thursday, 16th September, at 7.30pm – admission is £3 which includes a glass of wine or a soft drink.
About the latest addition to books on Frome’s history and culture, Mick and David say, “Within its pages you can find out what happened when Mr Povis attempted to buy some pickled eels feet in 1859, how a large pot of money turned up in a local field, and where to find the country’s oldest and longest serving landlady.
“It answers some very interesting questions such as, where to get some clothes, free food and a vegetarian takeaway from an old public lavatory, who was Charlie Robbins? What was Field Marshall Montgomery doing in town and why was Jenson Button encouraged to blatantly ignore the Highway Code in the Market Place? Why are there no secret tunnels in Frome and why did the chicken cross the road?
“All these questions (apart from the last which is still being investigated) are answered in our new book A-Z of Frome which takes a fairly relaxed and light-hearted view of the town and its history with many photographs. There is also a mistake, only discovered after the book had gone to press and membership of the Frome Society for Local Study is offered at a mere £10 per year to anyone who spots it and contacts us.
“Other topics discussed include the cutting of Bath Street in 1813 before which the only way out of town was via Stoney Street, a very steep and narrow lane that was badly maintained. This improvement was initiated by Thomas Bunn a local philanthropist who was responsible for many improvements in the town.
“Frome once had its own Neolithic long barrow at Fromefield first uncovered in 1819 and found to contain the remains of 16 people, it was destroyed in the 1960s for a housing development.
“The Great Reform Act of 1832 prompted the election which gave rise to three days of rioting during which the crowd was fired upon by the local militia and two people killed.
“Also included are the local museum, pubs, a vinegar factory, the disappearance of the town’s loos, some flying saucers, a dancing bear and a unicorn.”
A-Z of Frome. Places-People-History by Mick Davis and David Lassman is published by Amberley Press at £15.99. The book is fully illustrated and is the second book on the town to be published by Amberley Press, others are to follow. It is obtainable from Winstone’s Hunting Raven Bookshop in Cheap Street or Frome Museum in North Parade.
Picture: Mick Davis and David Lassman with their A-Z Frome book outside Winstone’s Hunting Raven bookshop.
