Page 381: NORTH PETHERTON is a large village and parish, 3 miles south-by-west from Bridgwater stations on the Bristol and Exeter section of the main line of the Great Western and the .Somerset and Dorset Joint railways, in the Bridgwater division of the county, hundred of North Petherton, petty sessional division, union and county court district of Bridgwater and in the rural deanery of Bridgwater, archdeaconry of Taunton and diocese of Bath and Wells. The river Parret and the Taunton and Bridgwater canal pass through the parish.
The village consists of one main street, on the high road from Bridgwater to Taunton, and a few smaller ones on either side. The church of St. Mary is an edifice of red sandstone in the Later English style, consisting of -chancel, nave of six bays, aisles, north and south porches and an embattled western tower, with pinnacles of the Decorated period, containing a clock and six bells, recast and rehung by Mears and Stainbank at a cost of £360: in 1912 the tower was repaired at a cost of £1,000: in 1888 a new organ was erected at a cost of over £600 : a memorial window has been placed in the Portman chapel to the Hon. Maurice Berkeley Portman, d.12.Jan.1888: the Church has been restored since 1873, at a cost of £1,284, and in 1909 the oak roofs of both aisles and the nave were opened and three new screens erected at a cost of £2,000: there are sittings for 700 persons.
‘The register dates from the year 1558. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £485, with residence, in the :gift of Mrs. Henry Boyd, and held since 1894 by the Rev. Percy Turner Pryce-Michell M.A. of Queen’s College, Oxford. The Congregational chapel is a building of -stone in the Lombardic style, erected in 1833. The Cemetery, formed in 1856, but since enlarged and re-consecrated, is a quarter of a mile east of the church, and has two mortuary chapels; it is under the control of the Parish Council of 13 members. The charities consist of a house and land, the gift of Dorothy Cheeke in 1867, for teaching six or more poor children; a Tent-charge of £2 by Thomas Bacon; and £500 given by will by Sir Thomas Wroth, in 1721, the interest of which, under a scheme of the Charity Commissioners, is now given to the children attending the Board schools. in money and prizes. Ashfield is the residence of the -Hon. Mrs. Maurice Berkeley Portman. The chief land–owners are Viscount Portman, William Hamilton Codrington Nation esq. of 19 Queen’s gate, Kensington, London S W, the trustees of the late Sir Cuthbert Slade, 4th hart. (d. 1908), who are lords of the manor, Charles Theodore Halswell Kemeys-Tynte esq. of Halswell House, Goathurst, and Lieut.-Col. William Oliver Meade-King D.L. of Walford House, West Monkton. The soil is red marl, loam and sandy; subsoil, various. The chief crops are wheat, oats, barley and green crops, with a good portion of pasture land. The area of the civil parish is 10,431 acres of land, 53 of water, 17 of tidal water and 16 of foreshore; rateable value, £23,132; the population in 1911 was: civil, 3,338; ecclesiastical, 1,985.
Under the provisions of the “Divided Parishes Act. 1882” (45 and 46 Vict. c. 58), Cular and Lyng Drove was transferred from North Petherton to Lyng.
North Newton and Moorland, or North Moor Green, are ecclesiastical parishes formed from North Petherton civil parish, and will be found under separate headings.
Huntworth is a hamlet, about 1, 1/2 miles north-east.
County Police Station, Fore street, Charles Hill, sergeant, & 1 constable
Post, M.O.T. & Telephone Call Office. Hy. Wood, sub-postmaster. Letters arrive from Bridgwater at 5.10 a.m. & 4 p.m.; dispatched at 11.25 a.m. & 7.30 p.m
Huntworth, delivery from Bridgwater. Wall Letter Box cleared 7.15 p.m
Wall Letter Boxes: Hedging, cleared at 8.45 a.m. & 5.30 p.m.; Shearston, cleared at g.25 a.m. & 6.15 p.m. week days only; Compass, cleared at 11.30 a.m. & 7.35 p.m; Sundays 9.10 a.m. & 6 p.m. & Shovel Hill, 7·5 a.m. & 7·5 pm
PUBLIC OFFICERS.
Medical Officer No. 9 & Public Vaccinator, No. 10 District, Bridgwater Union, Caesar Frederick Hawkins
Assistant Overseer, William Henry Palmer
Registrar of Births & Deaths & Vaccination Officer for North Petherton Sub-District & Relieving Officer for No. 3 District, Bridgwater Union, Ernest Joe Davis
Deputy Registrar of Births & Deaths, Mrs. E. Davis Sanitary Inspector to Bridgwater Rural District Council, Richard Popham
Public Elementary School, erected in 1877, & enlarged in 1895. for 150 boys, 150 girls & 105 infants;
average attendance, 120 boys, I00 girls & 105 infants; Henry Philip Apter, head master; Mrs. Harriet Day, mistress; Miss Kate Nation, infants’ mistress
The school is controlled by nine managers, appointed July 1. 1903, six by the County Council & three by the Parish Council, T. M. Reed, solicitor, King square, Bridgwater, correspondent
Carriers to Bridgwater, Charles Brewer, daily; Ernest Habberfield, daily
PRIVATE RESIDENTS
Avery Mrs. Magnolia villa
Burge James, Rhode
Chick Joseph, Brae side
Curtis Edward Constable J.P. Old Rectory
Havil Mrs
Hawkins Caesar Fredk. Ashway villa
Hutchings John, Heathfield
Lloyd Rev. David (Congregational), Clare street
Merson Francis James, Farringdon
Palmer William Henry, Fairlawn vil
Petrocochino Alexander, Huntworth ho
Pocock Robert, Lingfield
Popham Richard
Portman Hon. Mrs Maurice Berkeley, Ashfield
Price George, Fore street
Pryce-Michell Rev. Percy Turner M.A. Vicarage
Taylor Clifford, Heathfield house
Todd The Misses, Old vicarage
Walker H. Banes, Verriers
Williams George Carne, Batts house
Wilson alexander M. Shovell
COMMERCIAL
Baker Henry, beer ret. Hammet St
Bennett William, watch maker
Bond Albert, insurance agent
Bond George, farmer, Willstock farm
Bond James Orchard, farmer, Hedging house
Bradford Walt. market gardener, Newton road
Brewer Charles, carrier
Brewer Jas. Hurford, plumper, Hammet street
Bult Henry, market gardener, Rydon
Burrows Frederick William, carpenter
Burrows Walter, saddler
Burston Henry, pig dealer
Burston Thos. pig dealer, crosswell
Burston Walter, pig dealer
Callow Clifford, farmer, Heathfield
Carter Sidney Frank, Clarence P.H
Cemetery (Wm. Hy. Palmer, clerk)
Chapman Thomas Bond, farmer, Parkersfield farm
Chedzoy James & Henry, mrkt. gdnrs
Chidley Joseph, beer retailer
Clatworthy John & Sons, builders, contractors, builders’ merchants, undertaker & general smiths & agents for Raleigh cycles; offices & workshops, Fore st TN
Collard Win. market gardener, Coxhill
Coram Francis, farmer, Woolmersdon
Culverwell Wm. farmer, Woolmersdon
Dare Jas, Jobbing gardner, Cliff Road
Davey Jojhn, market gardener, Rydon
Davies Herbert Wilton, Farmer
Davis E. (Mrs.), deputy registrar of births & deaths North Petherton sub-district, Bridgwater union
Day Jas. farmer, shovell HIll farm
Day Samuel, farmer, Dyer’s green
Durman George, plumber
Edbre Hy, farmer, Rhode (letters through Bridgwater)
Elver Edward John, boot repairer
Fay Edmond, beer retailer
Gadd Samuel, baker, Fore street
Gardner John, tailor
Gardner Matthew, watch maker
Gould Andrew, farmer
Habberfield Ernest, miller (water & steam) & carrier
Habberfield John, farmer
Hagon & Teek, solicitors; & at Bridgwater
Harden David, farmer, Staffland farm
Hawkins Caesar Frederick M.R.C.S. Eng., L.S.A. London. surgeon, & medical officer No. 9 & public vaccinator, No. 10 district, Bridgwater union, Ashway villa
Heal Robert, farmer, Kings farm
Horsey Richard, Geo. farmer, Daws Farm
House Thomas George, insurance agent
Hutchings Sidney, farmer, Heathfield
Hutchings Thomas, farmer, Rhode
Jeanes John, farmer, Bankland
Jenkins John, wicker work manufacturer
Jenkins Jn. F. farmer, Church Hill farm
Jones Richard, farmer
Major & Sons, grocers
Marriorr Joseph, insurance agent Heathfield
Merson Fras. Jas farmer, Farringdon
Miller Thomas, basket maker
Moate Samuel, farmer, upper Clavelshay farm
Morris Albert, farmer, Goodings farm
Morris Edward, farmer, Chapel hill
Normal Christopher W. Farmer, Park farm
North Petherton Athletic Association (Edward Rich, hon. sec)
Palmer WIlliam Henry & Son, auctioneers, accountants, insurance & land agents; & at Bridgwater
Palmer William Henry, assistant Oversr
Payne Albert, farmer, Spitgrove
Peirce William, Shopkeeper
Philips Tom, Lamb Inn
Pocock Frederick, hair dresser
Pocock Jeremiah, saddler
Pocock Percy, horse dealer, Baymead
Popham Richard, sanitary inspector to Bridgwater Rural District Council
Quantock Vale Cider Co. Limited (William Dunlop McCreath, sec)
Rich Anne (Mrs.) & Son, saddlers Fore street
Ridge Henry & Son, wheelwrights
Ridge James, blacksmith
Rogers Annie (Mrs.) & Son, butchers, Fore street
Saunders William, haulier, Dye house
Sellick Anthony, mason, Mill street
Shattock WIlliam, farmer, Shearston
Shepher Harry, grocer, Fore strteet
Sibley Francis, farmer, Ball’s farm
Slocombe John & Son, wicker chair manufacturers
Slocombe John & William, builders
Smith Alfred, basket maker, Compass
Sprague Frederick, George Hotel; excellent accommodation for motorist; terms moderate; posting
Starkey, Knight & Ford Limited, cider manufacturers & brewers, North Petherton brewery; & at Taunton & Bridgwater. See advertisement
Stone Charles William, butcher
Studley George Henry, Swann inn
Townsend & Son grovers, Fore street
Tregaskis Valentine, hair dresser
Tucker Lucy (Mrs.), shopkeeper, Queen street
Warner Charles, beer retailer
Warren John, baker
Warren WIlliam, shopkeeper, Fore street
Watts Charles, shoe maker
West Richard, greengrocer
Western & Son builders
White Samuel & William, farmers, Boomer Farm
Wilkins Charles William, shoe maker
Wilkins Edward, farmer, Milestone farm
Wilkins Thomas Grislock, dairyman
Williams George, carpenter
Williams John, haulier
Winslade Walt, blacksmith, Shearston
HUNTWORTH
Waddon Clifford Charles, The Hayes
Adams Henry, shopkeeper
Baker Mary (Mrs.), beer retailer
Milton Thomas, farmer, Huntworth Park Farm
Moate William, farmer
Smith Jacob, basket maker
Wills George, farmer
Wills Henry, carpenter