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The History of North Curry |
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19th Century North Curry
Paupers were housed in a workhouse in North Curry and a few chosen men of the village were employed as Overseers of the Poor until the 20th century. In the middle of the 19th century there was a Town Crier called Mr Buzzy who spread the news, and doctors and surgeons operated in the village and dealt with all medical needs.
A small cinema was located in Moor Lane and many dances with music supplied by the village band and meetings of clubs and societies took place in the schoolroom and later at the Morris Memorial Hall. A Penny Library was started at the Vicarage and the Annual Fete with sporting activities was held in the grounds of Moredon. Magic lantern shows were very popular and the Flower Show with sideshows and entertainment was held annually. The Parish
Council was inaugurated in 1894. Nine councillors were elected with
the Vicar as Chairman. Before this a meeting of inhabitants and ratepayers
of the parish met annually to nominate proper persons to serve as
Overseers of the Poor, to nominate two persons to serve as Guardians of
the Poor and two persons to serve as collectors of taxes. In 1897 a stone memorial
(right) was erected in the centre of the village to commemorate the
60th year of the reign of Queen Victoria. It has become known
as the Pepper Pot because of its shape. A War Memorial (left) was erected in Queen Square dedicated to the memory of those who fell in the First and Second World Wars. 31 men lost their lives.
For more information on the history of North Curry why not buy a copy of "North Curry - A Place in History" by Angela Dix. For details go to http://www.dixuk.com. |
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Although farming and
withy growing provided much employment, services and trades also thrived
in North Curry and residents had no need to leave the village to find
skills and labour. The population of North Curry at the time of 
The River Tone
Navigation was used by boats of up to 15 tons to discharge their cargo at
New Bridge and Knapp Bridge. Coal barges came at high tide and supplied a
coal merchant in the village and many goods were taken to Bridgwater by
water. A journey to Taunton took the best part of a day and a horse and
cart provided transport for all manner of passengers and produce. Milk was
delivered with a shoulder carrier carrying two buckets of milk and women
would walk to Taunton with butter and eggs. The River Tone and the
Bridgwater Canal were used to send hay as far as South Wales.
The
coming of the railway in the 1800’s gave people opportunities to travel
further afield, not so much for work, but for many leisure pursuits and to
mix with and marry people from afar. In 1870 a new road was constructed to
make it easier to get to Durston Station. During the 19th
Century, amenities and entertainment were all to be found in the parish.
There were numerous inns in the parish - The Angel, The Bird in Hand, The
Bell, and The White Hart in North Curry: the Rising Sun and Royal Oak in
Knapp: the New Inn at New Bridge; The Wheelwrights and The Canal Inn in
Wrantage; The Star at Lillesdon. As well as these there were numerous
small establishments making and selling cider from the many apple
orchards. A malthouse and a small brewery produced beer for the village
and surrounding area. There were mills in Newport, Knapp and Ham since
early days.
