Wynmelvin » Somerset

October 26th, 2009

Russell — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:47:12 +0000

BRISTOL — This morning began with an early walk to the railway station to reserve a seat to Paddington (the advanced ticket office is closed Sundays). That done, I returned to the hotel to get the car and drive to Mells, the birthplace of my ancestors Benjamin and Joseph Coles.

I found Mells relatively easily. I managed to squeeze the car in to a space along a street and entered the churchyard of the parish church. I didn’t find any tombstones of familial interest but I wasn’t really expecting to—my Coles family had left Mells around 1800 and most 18th century and earlier tombstones are barely legible.

I then drove into Frome, a large(ish) town nearby and had a look around. I stopped and bought a postage box to send my collection of guide books home and help lighten my baggage. I headed back to Bristol early afternoon, partly to ensure I got a park but also to give me time to pack the box.

I got the box packed with all my guidebooks but I fear it might be a bit too heavy. It will be interesting at the Post Office tomorrow!

October 24th, 2009

Russell — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:58:43 +0000

BRISTOL — This morning I crossed the Severn from Wales into England and by-passed Bristol. I headed for Tyntesfield—I wasn’t sure what it was other than it being a National Trust property. I arrived just after noon and it started bucketing down. Thankfully the rain only lasted for twenty minutes or so. It turns out that Tyntesfield is a country house. Unusually, the house is in the middle of a conservation, preservation and restoration project but is still open to the public.

The house was covered in scaffolding which meant that its unique gothic exterior was hidden from sight. It was only in the gift shop when I saw a postcard of the house that I remembered having seen the house in an episode of Antiques Roadshow. It was interesting to see the interior of the house in a state of disarray while in the process of being restored.

I drove into Bristol and headed towards the city centre. My road atlas was of no use and it took about 40 minutes of driving around before I came across signs for the Temple Meads Railway Station (I knew where the hotel was in relation to the station). I arrived to find the hotel car park full so I had to park in the handicapped spot as a token from reception was needed to exit the barriered car park. While I was checking in some one else was checking out so I was able to appropriate their car park instead.

September 22nd, 2009

Russell — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:15:44 +0000

EXETER — All in all, a very satisfying day today. I drove to Taunton to visit the Somerset Record Office. I managed to get myself both on and off the M5 between Exeter and Taunton, and find the record office without getting lost. I also had quite a bit of success in searching the minute books of the Somerset Society in London.

Much of what I found will be the subject of future posts once I have had a chance to transcribe the text from the photographs that I took (about 350—many of the same page in case some are not clear enough).
Finds include copies in the minutes of the indentures for both Joseph Coles and his younger brother James, the recording of the date of death of their father Benjamin Coles (previously unknown), and a report commissioned by the Society’s governing committee in to the unfortunate state of affairs surrounding Joseph’s apprenticeship.

Afterwards it was back to the M5 and back to Devon. On the way I stopped off at a service area to have an early tea (as I had forgotten to have any lunch). The M5 terminated at Exeter and I suddenly had a choice: do I take the left lane or the right; and the signage didn’t give much help. I chose left and luckily it was the right choice—it wasn’t long before I was back at the hotel.