EACH week, the Journal invites readers to identify a historic location from days gone by and last week’s idyllic country scene struck a chord with readers.
Again, our Facebook post was inundated with guesses, mostly correct, with an email from Mary Waite who wrote in to say: “The mystery photograph in the Nov 4 edition of the Journal is of Dunkerton. Its taken from the junction of the lane, leading to the church, and the A367 main road looking towards Peasedown.”
On Facebook Catherine Josham guessed: “Bottom of Dunkerton going up to Peasedown St John,” while Priscilla Thomas guessed: “Definitely Dunkerton Hill. Pub on the left was formerly The Swan, I believe? The twisty road in the distance gives it away, somewhat.”
Lorr Pike wrote: “Dunkerton hill. Apparently my grandfather had a car accident on the sharp bend at the bottom in the early 1960s.”
John Michael Derrick asked: “Most people have it, definitely Dunkerton looking towards Peasedown St John and the Prince of Wales - anyone remember the Prince?”
“Bottom of Dunkerton Hill looking towards Peasedown,” wrote Angela Croft. “Sadly far from quiet now! It’s a struggle to cross the road because of the volume of traffic and the excessive speeds of vehicles. Some traffic management desperately needed.”
David Joseph Mullins also agreed it was The Swan in Dunkerton. Charlie Thatcher commented guessing Duke of Cumberland at Holcombe which is now a farm shop. But alas, Charlie, the majority got it right this week. It was indeed Dunkerton on the road to Peasedown St John.
The Swan Inn, in the picture, was famous for being the site where William Smith, the Father of English Geology first wrote about his theories of the order of the strata, according to the Bath in Time image library.
Apparently he lodged in the public house while working on the Somerset Coal Canal. It closed in the 1960s and, like the Prince of Wales mentioned earlier, because residential housing.
Thank you for all our contributors, and to Radstock Museum for the photographs.
Get in touch with your guesses to: [email protected].