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Aerial view of East Harptree from the north-east
(Double Click on picture to enlarge)
The plan of the centre of the village is so strikingly regular(and similar to that of Hinton Blewett and to some extent,Pensford) that the layout was probably deliberately planned. Mick Aston, in 'The Archaeology of Avon' and other writings, has suggested that planning of medieval villages mostly dates form the tenth t twelfth centuries, when the power of the feudal lords was at its height. The basic pattern is the two parallel lanes, in this case Middle Street and Church Lane, with the church at the North West corner, and possibly some sortof meeting place at the North East corner. This adds to speculation that the original location for the 12th century East Harptree Cross, which is now in Taunton Museum, as described in last month's Gazette might have been at the North East corner of this grid, in the vicinity of the present Clock Tower. Further evidence comes from the fact that the Clock House, behind the clock, was called Cross Cottage until the reconstruction of the clock (to mark Queen Victoria's Silver Jubilee) in 1897. Former occupant Of the house, Pat Pearce, says that she thinks the cottage in which the cross was found in 1869 was that which was on the site of the Branch's East Harptree Stores, formerly the Co-op, built in 1874. East Harptree's status in the later medieval era is also shown by its title to one of the four Lordships of the mining rights of the whole of Mendip. the others being Chewton, Wells and Charterhouse.
Three roads - Water street, Middle street and Church lane divide at clock level and run in parallel line up the hill. dow the hill from the clock runs High street, the road eventually joining the one which runs from West Harptree to Coley. If you cross this, it takes you past the playing field and the new coucil houses and Townsend to Shrowle. The centre of the village gives you but a poor idea of its size, as there are many groups of houses and farms scattered far afield in the parish. Facing Church lane are eight Council houses built in 1926 and backing on them and facing Middle street eight more built in 1933. Sixteen more were completed in 1950 and lie below the centre of the village and opposite the playing field.
The High Street, East Harptree from the Clock A Stormy View of East Harptree from the North.
The Shop and Theatre from the Old Vicarage
The Clock
The village clock is in the centre of the village with the church, school, rectory, theatre and co-operative stores (Now called the 'Village Stores' and run by Nick Branch) in close proximity. It was a gift of Mr W.W.Kettlewell, and was erected in 1897 to commemorate the 60 years reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. The centenary of the clock was celebrated by a street party during June 1997.
The Clock Tower with its inscriptions 'Heaven's Light our Guide' and 'Time Flies Don't Delay'
The School
The school was founded by John Newton in 1653. The school records start in 1893, when 113 children were taught in two small rooms, and the school recieved a grant of œ79.14 for the following year. The building was an old converted cottage then,although a new room had been built on in 1807. A new classroom was built in 1899 for 40 children, and an infant room in 1901, with a cloakroom, to increase the capacity to 140. From the school records the following entries can be found:- June 1894 Have had all the slates scrubbed and relined by the boys of the 1st class. October 1894 School was closed last week for potato picking. November 1894 Owing to excessive floods school closed 3 half-days this week. March 1897 Children used paper in upper standards for the first time. August 1901 New porch built by W.W.Kettlewell March 1904 Slates abolished, and children admitted to school at 3 years of age. September 1939 Arrival of evacuees from Bristol with 2 masters. September 1948 The school became an under 11, the seniors going to Bishop Sutton. The school still receives money from the Plumley Charity, which was set up in 1615 by William Plumley Gent, who left all his land in Glastonbury and Catcott for the use of the poor in East Harptree. In 1911 part of the money was used to set up the Trust for the school - Plumley's Educational Foundation, which still benefits the children at the School.
East Harptree Primary School
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The Theatre
The Theatre (or it may be called village club) was built by the Kettlewells in 1889, and managed by the Rector and Church Council who rented it from the owners for village activities. In September 1945, Col. Kettlewell offered to sell the Theatre to the village for £1,200. A grant of £745 was given by the Ministry of Education, and money was raised from the proceeds of fetes etc. The total amount raised was £1,413.13.8 by November 1949. The Theatre was handed over to The Theatre Management Committee, who have been raising money ever since for the upkeep and improvements. In March 1952 A combined Theatre and Playing Field Committee was formed.
East Harptree is one of the few local villages with its own social club, but more unusually, this relatively recent institution, founded some twelve years ago. Originating in the Football Club's attempts to provide a social club. someone suggested that rather than build, they could occupy the downstairs area of the Theatre (built by the Ketttewells in 1889, and bought by the village in 1949). This was duly done and if has been a total success. with about 200 members, and it is now continuing its local popularity with a new and younger committee taking over from those who set the project up. The main continuity has been provided by steward Wendy Childs, who has been looking after the Club. for the first three years as a volunteer. but now as an almost full time job, for some twelve years. The success of the club is built on a variety of activities - skittles (8 teams run from the club), darts, table skittles, pool, shove ha'penny. etc. Everyone is welcome, with an annual subscription of £2.50 (£l for OAP's), and the club is open 7.30-11.00pm Monday to Saturday.
The Theatre also incorporates the popular village hairdressing salon, Solo, run by Alison Currell.
The Theatre
The Shops
The Post office was for many years adjacent to the clock and kept by Mrs Harry Curtis, and then moved to a bungalow in High street and kept by Mrs Wilfred Simmons. The Post office is now run by Joan Roe in a cottage halfway down the High street. The village shop was originally a thatched cottage on the present shop site. The original Co-operative stores were started in 1899 by the Kettlewells, when they found that people were getting into debt to the local shopkeepers. The premises were afterwards purchased by the Kettlewells, and became the property of the members. At one time the Co-op employed 8 people, with 2 vans touring the valley doing deliveries. The co-op was closed in 1972, and the shop bought by Mr and Mrs Branch. In 1985 the shop was bought by their son, Nick Branch, who runs the shop and minibus hire service in the village now. Butcher Hunt used to have a shop where the clock now stands. The village also has a hairdresser's shop next to the theatre.
The Village Stores
Inns
Round about 1870 there were six inns in East Harptree, the Waldegrave Arms, The Castle of Comfort, The Lilacs, Live and Let Live, and two more at Proud Cross and in Middle Street. Only the first two remain..
The Waldegrave Arms', now under new management has recently been refurbished. The function room is being upgraded and the landlord hopes to open it in January.
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