Where the Cider Apples Grow - Patricia Pearce
WHERE THE CIDER APPLE S GROW – THE STORY OF SHEPTON BEACHAMP
BY PATRICIA PEARCE PUB 1982
Seavington References:
P10. Mr James Lean. The name is pronounced ‘Lane’ and is a corruption of MacLean a scots family name. Born in India in 1849, worked as a young man as a cattle rancher in Western Kansas, USA for 10 years. Returning to England he later became the manager of Stuckey’s Bank, South Petherton branch in 1884 and also of Wells and Yeovil. A very active man in the district be became a JP and chair of Chard RDC. He became the owner of Shepton House on the death of Mrs Coles, widow of the rector and proved to be a great and generous benefactor to the village. Previously he had farmed at Upton House in Seavington St Michael.
P53. 1807 The Shepton Beachamp Manor and estate was brought by Thomas Naish of Seavington St Mary (he was the Lord of Seavington manor at the time)
P62. The Seavington Harriers wore green livery and hunted hares from horseback, when the rabbits died out the hares returned in large numbers. Foxes were hunted after 1930 when Mr Speke of Jordans , Ilminster changed to red livery.
P80. Shepton Stores was run by the Salway family in 1910. One of their sons, who became a mechanic, ran the garage at Seavington.
P100. The last shepherd in Shepton was a man called Herbert Pond who came from Seavington. He worked for Mr James Lean (See above)
P104. William Wheadon Jacobs & family farmed at Hurcott then moved to Meade Farm at Seavington St Michael.
P106. Shepton Manor Farm was originally part of the manor but in 1807 692 acres was split up and brought by Thomas Naish of Seavington St Mary.
P116. Harold Pond 1899-1982 a small person, was well known for his local folk singing. He once took a grey mare for a trot to Seavington, the locals there found the sight amusing as the horse was a large carthorse and Harold very small on his back. “Thees be better off inside thic horse than on top” they laughed. “ If the horse had your mouth you could get inside yourself” came the smart reply!
P139. 1878 – 20 July Otter hunting took place between Ilminster and Hatch Beachamp on the River Isle where a large otter was caught a mixed pack of Foxhounds and Harriers . They took the animal to the George Hotel in Ilminster where it ‘lay in state’ for viewing, size 4 feet long and 23 pounds in weight. Fox houses and harriers also caught a badger at Shepton, Mr C Langdon being Master of the Seavington Hounds.