CAN you guess where this week’s Mystery Photograph was taken?

Each week, the Journal invites readers to test their local knowledge by identifying a historic location from days gone by.

Last week's Mystery Photograph was taken at Oakhill Village on the high street in 1910!

Oakhill is a small village located in the civil parish of Ashwick. It lies a few miles north of Shepton Mallet and is situated between the A37 and the A367 roads, the latter following the path of the Roman Fosse Way. Despite its modest size, Oakhill functions largely as a commuter village today, offering a peaceful rural setting while remaining connected to nearby towns and cities.

The village grew significantly during the 18th and 19th centuries due to the presence of the Oakhill Brewery, which was founded around 1767. The brewery gained recognition for its “Invalid Stout” and became one of the largest in the region. Its success led to the construction of a short private railway in 1904, linking the brewery to the Somerset and Dorset railway line at Binegar.

Oakhill retains much of its historical character through its buildings. All Saints Church was built in 1861 to serve the village's growing population, while an earlier Methodist chapel from 1825 still stands. The Independent chapel, known locally as the "Little Cathedral," reflects the village’s religious heritage, though it has since been converted into a private residence. The village once had several public houses, but only the Oakhill Inn and the Mendip Inn remain in operation.

Community life in Oakhill remains active and welcoming. The village supports a primary school, a GP surgery, a post office, and a recreation ground. In recent years, it has been recognized for its generosity in hosting over 30 Ukrainian refugees under the UK’s Homes for Ukraine scheme—an effort that stands out given the village's population of under 1,000.