Nance (Annie Elizabeth) Clarke
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George and Nance Andrew moved to Fitzhead in 1926, a week before the birth of their son Brian Andrew.
Despite being staunch abstainers, they grew cider apples for the Taunton Cider company. Uncle Stan remembered taking cart loads of apples from Fitzhead to Norton Fitzwarren which was where Taunton cider was made until the mid (?) sixties.
They also made cider for their farm workers, in a cider cellar which was down outside stairs under the house. Although there is a story about a farm hand who overdid the availability and was sacked, shortly after they moved to Fitzhead and they may have stopped after that.
The children would earn money rat-catching, especially when they were thrashing out the corn ricks – catch the rats in some sort of mesh crate on the end of a stout poll and then put the end of the crate in the pond and watch them drown.
Granny cooked and baked, particularly double bakes, which were rolls, baked then cut in half and baked again, and sweet rolls. The kitchen was a traditional one, where hams were smoked in the chimney, there was a stockpot on the fire. Over the winter they would survive on cheese, preserved meat etc. Worth remembering at a time when everything must be eaten within three days of opening! John Andrew recalled that they didn’t have many vegetables, except lots of nettles in the spring.
Kelly’s Directory Somerset 1897
Fitzhead
7 farmers. (inc Jas Burston Corner at Manor Farm)
Agricultural implement manufacturer/farmer
Inn. Carpenters Inn
Vet
Land Agent
Blacksmith/post office
Thatcher
Inn/shopkeeper
Plumber and glazier
Chipstable
School for 65 children
Post Office/bootmaker
8 farmers
Farm bailiff
Shoe maker
Road contractor
Miller (water)/farmer/assessor of taxes
Agricultural implement manufacturer (Pool)
Grocer (Pool)
Photographic artist. Alfred James Pool
Carpenter (Pool)
Junior assistant overseer (Pool)
Baker, at Waterow
Police Constable
Blacksmith
Blacksmith/farmer/butcher
Mason
Inn. Rock Inn Waterow
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Joyce and Boris married in 1939 at Fitzhead Parish Church, a couple of weeks after the start of WW2.
In 1938 Stan married Melba Sherwin at Fitzhead.
They went to Suffolk to farm with Oliver Andrew and Mina. In Sussex they had their two children Nick and Cynthia.
They then returned to the West Country and farmed at Tatworth near Chard where Stan and Oliver farmed together … Continue reading →
George and Christopher
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