EACH week, the Journal invites readers to identify a historic location from days gone by.

Last week we featured a picture supplied by Peter Strawbridge and by the looks of it, it had everyone flummoxed and we didn’t have a single entry via our email address.

Checking in on Facebook though we did find a couple of suggestions. Derek Clough thought it was Pridy Fair which unfortunately is incorrect.

Simon Davis commented with the sole correct answer. He said: “The site of Somervale School,” adding it “used to have a carnival up there and the garden path [from his Mother’s house] goes to the field as well.”

Any idea where this summer photograph was taken?
This horse fair was around 1954 and held on the Somervale School site, part of the former Norton House estate. (Peter Strawbridge)

Indeed Simon is correct. The picture does show a horse fair being held on what is now the Somervale School site. The picture was taken from the back of a house halfway along St. Chad's Avenue in around 1954, says Peter. The then ‘new’ Land Rover pulling the horse box in the foreground means it can’t be any earlier.

The Somervale School in Midsomer Norton was built in 1965/66 moving from the High Street. The school was constructed on land that was formerly part of the estate of Norton House, built by Thomas Savage in 1789. The Savage family invested in coal mines in the Somerset Coalfield.

Over the years, the house passed through many hands until it was used as a shelter during World War I for those fleeing their homes in Belgium. The house was used as a school after the war and was demolished to make way for housing, the Somervale School and Silver Street nature reserve.

Our thanks again go to Radstock Museum for this week’s Mystery Photograph. Let’s hope this next image from the age of steam has you all guessing correctly.

If you know where it is, then let us know at: [email protected]