Sarah
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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 06 Dec 1958
Page 8 Column 1 and 2
CHANGED FACE OF TAUNTON
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ELEGANT CHARACTER OF HIGH STREET
By H. J. CHANNON
A NUMBER of shops in Taunton's main streets have retained the quiet elegance and seemliness which characterised 18th century and early 19th century buildings. Thomas SHARP wrote in his, “A Plan for Taunton”: “High-street is particularly favoured. At least 50 per cent. of the buildings there are of some architectural merit. Individually they are not especially impressive; collectively they form an unusually good example of informal urban street design.”
I like the gabled facades of two inns, the Three Mariners and the Green Dragon. They have an Elizabethan flavour. Powlett House is a striking old building, now used as consulting rooms for surgeons and doctors. It was once the home of the late Dr. R. L. MEADE-KING, one of Taunton's best known men 50 years ago. He took a great interest in swimming.
Sammy WOODS' “Knock-out”
The attractive George Hotel goes back to the coaching days, when the coaches passed through High-street on their way to Exeter. A much liked “mine host” of the George was the late E. J. LOCK, a fine cricketer and golfer[?], and for many years a member of the choir of St. Mary's Church and the Taunton Madrigal Society. The famous Somerset cricketer, Sam WOODS, made this hotel his home for some years, with the genial “Ted” LOCK and his wife to care for him.
Sam was in the bar one evening talking about various sporting incidents. Boxing was mentioned. Sam was a very good “heavyweight” performer. He was telling the story of an international rugger match in Dublin long ago when he captained the English team. In the evening Sam, and the light-weight English scrum-half were strolling down Dublin's main street when two burly Irishmen approached. One of them pushed Sam's friend off the pavement. Sam at once retaliated and three times floored the bully, who turned out to be the Irish professional heavyweight champion boxer that year. Sam's friends at the bar were rather sceptical about this feat. A fellow, with his face screen by an evening paper, had been listening, and unable to tolerate the “doubting Thomases,” exclaimed: “It's true, you may like to know I was the other Irishman.”
Notorius Inn
At the Fore-street corner of High-street, the Devon and Somerset Stores, grocers, &c., have been established for over 70 years. The White Hart Inn occupied this site for several centuries. The upper rooms projected several feet over the lower ones, the recesses being enclosed by very strong wooden railings. The inn acquired a notorious reputation when Judge JEFFREYS and his officers used it as a grandstand to see the hanging on The Parade of rebels after the battle of Sedgmoor.
The pleasing premises of Hatcher & Sons, drapers, out-fitters, &c., occupy a long stretch of High-street. The alley intersecting their shops on the east side of the street was known as Pig Market-lane.
There were formerly two pawnshops in High-street, pointers to hard times. Thank goodness the need for them has gone.
Old Family Businesses
Near Hatcher's, Clatworthy & Son (grandfather, father and son) carried on an ironmonger's business for about a century. Other very old family businesses are those of Henry West & Son, electrical, sanitary and heating engineers; A. J. HADDY, leather and twine shop; W. Nash & Sons, greengrocers; George Small & Son, coal and corn merchants; and W. H. Westlake & Son, tailors and outfitters. The fact that these family businesses have lasted so long is evidence of the high esteem in which they have been held by their customers. They have given jolly good service to the public.
Poor People's Friend
On the site of Nell Gynne's Cafe was a chemist shop kept by G. W. SHORT. Many times I went to him sick in body, and seldom did his remedies fail. In days when there was no free medical service, he was the poor people's friend. I do not think he was popular with the doctors, for he knew too much about their profession.
There is one more pleasing feature about High-street. It leads to the charming Vivary Park (opened in 1896) – long ago a huge fish pond of Taunton Priory. There one feels right in the country, and yet but a stone's throw from the town.
Next week:- East-street.