Times Autumn 2018 Issue: 2

Welcome to the second edition of the Englishcombe Times!!

Thanks to the glorious weather, the Village Weekend was a sparkling success. Families

enjoying the bouncy castle, children’s crafts, quizzes and barbecue on the Saturday. With

Cream Teas and the Songs of Praise get together of the Chapel, St Peters Church and St

Philips & St James Church on the Sunday. John did his usual grand display in the chapel for

all to appreciate.

A big thankyou is due to John and the Chapel folk for arranging the event.

The Old Forge had been open for a display of old photographs, showing Englishcombe

and surrounding areas in times gone by, thanks to Tony Salter, with further photos and

videos set-up in the Old School.

Visit the Parish Website: englishcombe.net

Still photos taken from cine film of Jubilee 1977. Thanks to John Cox.

Funded by a grant from Bath & North East Somerset Community Empowerment Fund

Bristol View, Kilkenny Lane.

Bristol View is a row of 4 cottages built in the late 19th Century. Situated about 100 metres from the Parish Border with Bath (Odd Down) with amazing views over the open countryside towards Bristol and the Brecon Beacons. On a fine day both the Severn Bridges can be seen.

The land Bristol View was built on, originally belonged to the Trustees of the Bath Turnpike Roads . It consisted of a plot of ground, cottage & garden and was bought by a Mr Jacob Cottle on the 7th June 1834, for a sum of £10. It was stated to be “on the south-east side of the Old Turnpike Road leading from Bath to Wells for many years occupied by Thomas Humphreys, General Surveyor of the Bath Turnpike Roads”.

Jacob Cottle is also mentioned in the History of Englishcombe. It states that by 1840 he was running half of the Manor Farm, and that on the 15th September 1846 there was a serious fire in the farmyard. His barn & ricks being totally de-stroyed.

At that time the cottage was known as the Burnt House Cottage , and in 1885 after the death of Jacob Cottle, was purchased by a mason, Mr Alfred Hill for £60. His mark rather than his signature is noted on the Conveyances. He then morgaged the cottage to obtain the capital to build the other dwellings. One by one the cottages were added until all four were finished and the name changed to Bristol View. A well at the back of No.1 providing the water for the whole rank.

Frank Davis purchased No.3 in 1921 and subsequently No.1. His Granddaughter Valerie still lives in No.3 and remembers the little quirks of living on Odd Down (Bath) but being in Englishcombe Parish (Bathavon). This meant she attended the Wansdyke Infant School instead of Fosseway (now St Martins Garden) which was situated on the pathway where Sainsburys is now, and although going to Fosse-way Juniors, had to attend Englishcombe Village School to take the 11+ exams.

Spot light on Englishcombe Parish

Englishcombe Orchard and Apiary

It has been a busy six months in the orchard. The clearing and the cutting back has revital-

ised the trees and they are now laden with new apples of numerous varieties. We were

grateful to Charlton Orchard for their advice and guidance, particularly about pruning. It has

been a long dry summer and our new trees have been struggling somewhat in the heat but

they have been watered regularly and as mad as it may seem, we are praying for rain. In

early autumn the harvesting should be under way and then the real fun begins, making and

drinking the apple juice and cider.

ET Facts about Honey Bees.

☼ Bees of all types live on nectar & pollen.

☼ Honey Bees live in colonies. The hive consists of a single queen, a few hundred drones, and thousands of worker bees.

☼ Worker bees are all female, and do everything for the hive. Birth to death in 45 days!

☼ Male bees are called drones. Job is to mate with Queen Bees, if successful they die immediately afterwards. They are incapable of stinging.

☼ One Queen bee per hive. She lays about 1500 eggs a day in spring & summer.

If you have had the opportunity to walk through the orchard in June and July you might

have noticed a buzz of excitement in the air. Our new bees are doing extremely well and

there are now four busy hives producing honey. The hot summer has certainly been of great

benefit and the colonies are constantly expanding. Look out for the bees in your gardens

and in the hedgerows.

100th Anniversary of the end of the 1914-18 War.

Remembrance Sunday this year falls on November 11th , Armistice Day. It marks the day World War 1 ended, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month. This year it will mark the 100th Anniversary of the end of , what came to be known as, the Great War 1914-18 in which nearly 10 million military personnel were killed.

Armistice Day remembers the agreement made between the Allies and Germany to stop fighting. It was signed in Compiegne, Northern France.

World War 1 was triggered by the assassination of the Archduke of Austria and his wife on the 28th June 1914. A month later Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia and in a matter of days , Europe’s great powers went to war. The Central Powers ( Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria , Ottoman Empire ) fought against the Allied Powers ( Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan, United States ). The war lasted for more than 4 years and ended on the 11th November 1918.

The opening months of the war resulted in huge casualties caused by the use of modern weapons. The terrible casualties sustained in open warfare resulted in soldiers protecting themselves by digging trenches, and came to dominate the Western Front until the end of the war.

Many battles were fought with great losses on both sides. The Battle of Verdun saw the Ger-mans lose over 430,000 men, killed or wounded, with the French sustaining over half a mil-lion casualties. The Battle of the Somme saw more than one million men on all sides killed or wounded.

On 22nd April 1915, Allied troops between Steenstraete and Langemark fell victim to an attack by chlorine gas. More than 5000 soldiers and civilians were killed and many thousands more suffered from the effects for the rest of their lives.

On 7th June 1917, 19 huge mines were detonated underneath the German positions on Messines Ridge. The sound, the largest man-made explosion in history at that point, was said to have been heard in Dublin. The effect upon the German defenders was devastating. An estimated 10,000 men were killed in an instant. Almost half a million kilograms of explo-sive had been used, which resulted in a mini earthquake.

The mines had been planted by tunnellers, to tunnel under the enemy. They also dug under-ground dugouts and subways for the troops. Dugouts to provide “safe” accommodation, and subways to allow troops to move unseen underground. Dug out systems at Hill 60 could ac-commodate 2000 men.

Prior to World War 1, aeroplanes were only used for reconnaissance tasks. This changed almost as soon as the war began. Whoever controlled the skies could observe the enemy unhindered, and target them with deadly artillery fire. Within months, planes were flying in groups, rather than singly. New weapon systems, such as machine guns, were also quickly developed, making possible the first aerial “dog fights”.

During the 1st World War, some 1.5 billion shells were fired. 25% of them failed to explode, including 5—10% with poison gas. After the Armistice, an average of 5000 kilograms ( 5 ton )of explosives were found for each hectare ( 2.5 acres ) of ground cleared. More than 100 years later, rusty shells still regularly come to the surface.

Englishcombe Parish Roll of Honour To those who gave their lives for

King and Country in the Great War

1914—1918. Arthur John Fletcher Sydney John Howe

Ernest George Humphris William Henry Ingram

Arthur Poole Arthur William Stamp

George Henry Thick

Englishcombe Parish Roll of Honour

1939—1945.

Harold John Derrick Bombardier, Royal Artillery

May 1941, Hospital.

Victor Norman Derrick T rooper,3rd Royal Dragoons

June 1944, Java Sea.

Howard Ross Hughes F/Sgt, Royal Air Force

April 1944, Yilcang, China.

Charles Ware Corporal, 1st Bath Wiltshire Regiment

January 1944, Burma.

Albert Ronald Windmill Private, 2nd Bath

Somerset Light Infantry, December 1944, Casina, Italy.

“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.”

LEST WE FORGET.

The Last Post

Since 1928, the Last Post—the final salute to the fallen—has been played every evening at 8 o’clock under the Menin Gate in Leper (Ypres), Belgium.

The sober ceremony is performed by the buglers of the Last Post Association.

At 11 o’clock on 11 November, a special Last Post is held to commemorate the Armistice in 1918.

Commonwealth War Grave

19181 Corporal F.G.Crew Doresetshire Regiment. 27 August 1921. Age:35

ENGLISHCOMBE TIMES

It would be tempting to ape the fictitious Countryside Column of one William Boot of Evelyn

Waugh’s “Scoop” fame, but all resemblance ends here (sadly), and I couldn’t possibly rival

Boot’s prose; and Mister Tim, our editor, is not a stand in for Lord Copper, thankfully.

But the Englishcombe countryside it will be. The long hot summer, at the moment without

relief excepting the occasional rain shower, continues. In our thoughts are the farmers in

Englishcombe Parish who anxiously look to the skies each day to bring what is our normal

fare for this time of year: the nimbostratus and altostratus, harbingers of yet another de-

pression. And too, of course, John Davis and the Chapel folk who head west on holiday into

it to pitch their tents. It is a contant quandary to me as I drive over Rush Hill with the view

(wp) towards the distant Brecons, why Wales should deserve a dousing when this side of the

Bristol Channel seems bathed in sunlight. The Channel itself, I believe, contributes to our

generally fair weather in Somerset rather than benison from on high, which naturally brings

me onto the subject of St Peter’s church.

For centuries it has stood and withstood the ravages of time and fraction. It was the building

the village repaired to most Sundays and in troubled times. My own thoughts are that we

indeed live in the latter (perhaps we always have), but what faith our ancestors had has to

some extent evaporated for a variety of reasons that I leave you to think about for the time

being. St Peter’s still stands, however, and our Vicar Catherine and the Parochial Church

Council are exploring ways and means for the building to be relevant to Englishcombe and

the wider parish, and still keep it standing for a few more centuries. Be part of that conver-

sation. Moves are afoot to install a toilet and facilities for refreshment, among other things.

Refreshment brings me on to the Chapel, so very much the social centre of Englishcombe over nearly the past forty years. John Davies and his team lay on a tea and coffee morning every week on a Thursday and a full and sufficient meal on the first Sunday of the month for

all comers. Elsewhere in this issue of the Englishcombe Times, is a report on the Summer

Fair at the Old School and the Sunday tent service.

So, not at all like Boot’s column, as you see. Now that there has been a shower or two as a

relief to the high temperatures, I feel the village and parish have turned a corner, but to

learn what from what, you will need to keep tuned in to this organ and indeed to the delib-

erations of the Parish Council! No sign of voles (yet).

Robert Law

Dog walking/ Pet Visits: Englishcombe, Priston and surrounding areas.

Please contact Kirsty on 07941 170989 / kirsty@houndsoflove.pet

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS. Bus Service 42 from Odd Down P&R to RUH – Use it or Lose It.

There have been rumours flying around that this service will cease operating this month. However this is not the case in the short term but in the longer term its future could be in doubt. This Bus Service 42 from Odd Down Park &Ride to RUH has been operating as a commercial service (i.e. not subsidised or commissioned by B&NES Council) since Septem-ber 2016. The RUH provides financial support in return for discounted travel for staff.

The operator, Wessex Bus, is now withdrawing from the local bus market and has can-celled the service from 31 August. First Bus has registered a replacement service which they are committed to run for at least 6 months and will consider its viability during that time. Therefore the parish council would urge parishioners to use this service over the next six months to ensure that it is viewed by First Bus as financially viable. This should then secure the future of this service on a longer term basis.

Note First Bus already operates their Bus Service 4 from the Park & Ride site to RUH on Saturdays and Sundays – when the 42 Service does not run.

Bus Service 768 serving Nailwell & Englishcombe to Bath—Use it or Lose it.

Following the consultation process earlier in the year by Bath & North East Somerset Coun-cil, Bus Service 768 will remain the same for Englishcombe & Nailwell. The existing peak hour services will continue with the off-peak service operating between Bath, English-combe, Timsbury (Greenvale Drive), Camerton, Clandown, Radstock and Midsomer Norton (Tesco). No new timetable has yet been received. When available this will be available on the Parish Noticeboard in Englishcombe and available for downloading on the Parish Web-site englishcombe.net.

Englishcombe Parish Council back to full strength.

At the Parish Council Meeting of 30th July, Teresa King was voted onto the Parish Council so filling the vacant seat. To view the full information on your Parish Councillors a list is on the Notice Board in Englishcombe Village, or you can access the list by going to the Parish

Website, englishcombe.net HOME page and clicking on the LINK to the Parish Council

Noticeboard.

Planning Applications.

The parish council has been consulted on the following planning applications since the last issue of the Englishcombe Times was published. For each application there is outlined the current status of the application from B&NES Council planning department

Planning Application REF 18/02446/FUL 72 Rush Hill Southdown Change of use from a 4-bed dwelling (Use Class C3) to a 6-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO) (Use Class C4) PERMIT

Planning Application REF 18/02537/CLEU Padleigh Boarding Kennels Englishcombe Road Use of building as storage and distribution (Class B8) in association with an established household clearance and removals business (Certificate of Lawfulness for an Existing Use) LAWFUL

18/03339/LBA Inglesview Rectory Farm Lane Englishcombe External alterations to include erection of a garden shed. Alteration to boundary & installation of timber fence. PENDING DECISION

Whats on:

Coffee Mornings every Thursday from 11:00am—1.00pm at The Old School, Englishcombe.

Sharing Lunch at The Old School on the 1st Sunday of each month at 1:15pm. Proceeds go to support the Kanyawegi Children's Home in Kenya (Emmanuel Home).

Bible Study at The Old School on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm.

Salem Chapel Services every Sunday—11:15am Breaking of Bread Service. — 6:30pm Family Service. September 2 11:15am Family Service at St Peter’s Church. 16 11:15am Holy Communion Service at St Peter’s Church. 24 7:30pm Parish Council Meeting at the Old School, Englishcombe. 30 4:30pm Harvest Service at the Salem Chapel followed by Harvest Supper. October 5 7.00pm Harvest Service at St Peter’s Church followed by Harvest Supper. 21 11.15am Holy Communion Service at St Peter’s Church. 29 7:30pm Parish Council Meeting at the Old School, Englishcombe. November 4 11.15am Family Service at St Peter’s Church. 5 7:00pm Bonfire Night at the Old School, Englishcombe. 11 11.15am Remembrance Sunday Service at St Peter’s Church. 18 11.15am Holy Communion Service at St Peter’s Church.

FROM THE EDITOR This is the second issue of the Englishcombe Times, funded by a grant received by English-combe Parish Council from Bath & North East Somerset Community Empowerment Fund, to be delivered to every house in the Parish. The next issue for the Winter is scheduled for December. If you have any articles for this issue, please let me have them by November 18th. If you do not want to receive a copy, again, please let me know so you can be removed from the delivery list.

Further copies will be available to download from the Parish Website www.englishcombe.net

Contact : Mister Tim on email address: englishcombetimes@gmail.com

Neighbourhood Watch The Neighbourhood Watch scheme nationally is a partnership between communities and the Police, intended to make our neighbourhoods safer and better places to live. To protect ourselves and our home security by greater vigilance and accurate reporting of crime, suspi-cious incidents and individuals to the Police.

Englishcombe is fortunate in being in a low crime area, but this does not mean that we should become complaisant or any less vigilant.

Through the Village email scheme we endeavour to keep Villagers abreast of incidents in our area of B&NES, with advice on home security, scams, distraction burglaries and hoax telephone calls.

As Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator for Englishcombe you are welcome to call me if there is anything or persons you are not comfortable with.

Brian Huggett 01225 422864, email brianhuggett675@gmail.com or contact Avon & Somer-set Police direct on 101.