Completing our family tree unearthed historic Wincanton

A busy Wincanton High Street looking at the town's clock

How little did I know when I moved with my family to the Wincanton area from West London, in the spring of 1987, that I was going back to where my family roots in Somerset had began.

I had always been interested in family history and had already researched my father's side back to the early 1700s, to a village called Longparish in Hampshire. While researching this, my grandmother (whose maiden name was Tutton), had told me before she died that her grandparents George and Mary Ann Tutton had originated from Somerset at a place called Othery.

Here I was living in Somerset, thinking about what my grandmother had told me and decided to visit the Record Office in Taunton to see if I could find any information on my grandmother's grandparents.

Straight away I found their marriage entry in the 1852 parish church records of Othery. The entry read:

"George Tutton, 23 yrs from this parish and Mary Ann Hutchings 25yrs from Wincanton."

WINCANTON! Surely not; I live at Wincanton - and from that day I have been fascinated with the history of this Somerset town.

Over the years I have researched my family, the Hutchings, Hansford and a few more names from Wincanton, one of these names being a 13 year old boy called George Hansford who was at the famous Battle of Trafalgar 1805 on board the H.M.S Conqueror as a powder monkey.

I have also collected many postcards and a few photographs and information about this Somerset market town. For some time I have wanted to start a web page about Wincanton and to add the photos and information that I have collected over the years to it. My brother John, who had already started the Charlton Musgrove group page on Facebook, suggested I do the same for Wincanton.

So about three weeks ago I set up a group page for Wincanton which already has over 100 members. Below are some photographs from the group which hopefully you may find interesting. If so please feel free to visit this Facebook Page or you can find it on Facebook by searching for "Wincanton Somerset Group".

Crowds gathering in the High Street preparing for the Meet of the Hounds 1902

Wincanton football club pose in front of the goal before playing a costume match. Sept. 1905

Children gather for a photograph in front of Hutchings & Sons in the Market Place circ. 1905

Photo of Wincanton Cricket Club and the farmers meet for a photo before a match. circ. 1908

Looking down Mill Street towards the old workhouse.
A postman can been seen delivering mail on the left. circ 1910.

Soldiers saying their goodbyes as they leave Wincanton station for the front line in France WW1.
In the background can be seen the Parish Church.

Comments

johnbaxter
Posts: 1

Historic Wincanton
Reply #1 on : Wed January 22, 2014, 18:13:34

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Dear Anthony, what super photos you have found. We would love to see you at the next meeting of the Wincanton Museum and History Society. See our web site. Also we have our AGM and a talk by Judith Teasdale on Corfe Castle Friday 31st 7.30pm in the Balsam Centre.

Posts: 1

Join in
Reply #2 on : Mon January 27, 2014, 20:28:06

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I'm pretty sure that by then end of the month this facebook page will have grown beyond anything we've seen before in the town. If you've lived in Wincanton for just one day or for the whole of your life it's magic. This site really has engaged the town, you can't beat looking back, history is what brings us together. Follow the site and every time you walk down the High Street you'll understand a little more about the town's history and feel a little more connected. Outstanding.

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