Water

We all know about water in Stoke. It grows our grass and grows our willow. Occasionally we have too little, but more often there is rather too much for comfort. We now take our piped water for granted, and are even willing to put up with months of detours round the lanes to to keep up the quality and supply.

Before the Parish Councils were formed in 1894, the responsibility for clean water, waste, and other hazards, was with the Churchwardens. Apart from their church duties, they were the secular power in the village and were responsible for the health and dafety of Stoke residents. Piped Water arrived in Stoke in 1910 but not all properties were connected directly. Many families had to continue using well water or carry jugs from the various standpipes around the village. Some even used river water from the Tone for most of their needs. Many wells however, were filled in as they were deemed to be health hazards. One instance came to light at Stathe reported in the Taunton courier in February: "STOKE ST. GREGORY CASE. Mr. W. F. B. Dawe, on behalf the Taunton Rural District Council, applied for order for the closing of a polluted well belonging to Mrs. Fanny Keirle, of Stoke St. Gregory.—Mr. Dawe stated that Mrs. Keirie was the owner of two cottages at Stathe, Stoke St. Gregory, one of which she occupied. Attached to that cottage the well in question. Six weeks ago Mrs. Keirle was written to on the matter, but she had gone to London, where the summons was served on her. She was willing to have the well partially closed, that was only to use the water for washing purposes, and not for drinking. The Council, however, asked that it should completely closed, as Stoke St. Gregory had now a water supply, and Mrs. Keirle could at a very small cost have a tap put in each of the cottages from the main. In time of flooding the occupants would be driven to the well for all thelr water. At present they got their drinking water from the standpipe to the main.—Mr. S. J. James, inspector of nuisances, gave evidence, and in answer to the Bench said that the stand pipe was 200 yards away from the cottage.—A daughter of Mrs. Keirle. who was present, said they only wanted to use the well water for washing up purposes, and were quite willing to get their drinking water from the standpipe.—The Bench made order to that effect, warning the woman that if the well water was used for drinking there would be considerable trouble. She was ordered to pay 5s costs."

One such cottage was perched on the bank of the Tone close to the bridge at Turkey. If you turn left through the gate before the bridge watch out for ghosts - you will be walking through the home of the Boyland family. Walter Boyland, an incomer from devon, married a local Boobyer girl, Gracie. Their son, Stan recalled his mother using river water for most of their houshold needs. He would occasionally be sent to Withygrove House with a bucket, as Mr Musgrave had piped water! He also rembered the steep bank to the river, where the fire ashes were thrown, which he had to negotiate before walking up Curload Hill, down Griggs Hill and along Willey Road to school.

Does anyone remember Gracie Boyland? Apparently she would travel far and wide on her bike, wearing several skirts that flew around in the wind. Marjorie Hearn remembered when Gracie’s own mother died. Marjorie was working in the village shop at the time, and Gracie came in to buy 4 oz of mint imperials - to put in her mother’s grave. Her husband Walter was also a ‘village character’. He was an expert clock and watch repairer, but he also claimed to have invented the little turnbuckle thing that we used to open shoe polish tins. He told someone about it in the bar of the Royal Oak, and this person promptly went away and patented it. That’s Stoke for you.

When the first Dark Lane council houses were built they moved to No 1 Woodhill Terrace, built sometime between 1934 & 1938. At the bottom of the garden of No 1 there was a big concrete chamber built as a septic tank with an overflow chamber with cinders. The water flow was dreadful. The nearest phone was a long way off. If you needed one in an emergency it was good to know someone in a big private house who had one. Stan’s father told him one day that the time would come when you would be able to stand in the middle of the road and talk on the telephone to anyone in the world.

And then they built a water tank opposite Dykes, but that’s another story . . . .