At the heart of Midsomer Norton is a rare Crimean War Memorial, but until now, little has been known about Major Frederick Stukeley Savage, the man to whom it is dedicated.

However, this is about to change, as this month’s Midsomer Norton Society talk on Thursday, 19th April at 7.30 p.m. in the Town Hall will reveal exciting new research on the life and times of this man.

Beginning with a brief history of the Savage family of Norton House, the talk will examine the Major’s life from childhood and attendance at Eton through to his role as part of the 68th Durham Light Infantry in the Crimean War, for which he received the highest honours.

Following his premature death at the age of 39, his mother, in her anguish, erected the monument in St Chad’s Well that we all know. There then followed the sale and eventual demolition of the fine Savage family Regency mansion and the building of Park Way on the site from 1939. Thereafter, the monument in St Chad’s Well, memorials in St John’s Church and a grave in Bath Abbey Cemetery are all that remains of the Savage family today.

Paul Myers, Mayor of Midsomer Norton and speaker on the 19th April, said: “It has been an amazing process over the last year, uncovering the life and times of Frederick Stukeley Savage. It has led me to Durham historian, Sidney Patterson, who very generously shared his life’s work of research – most significantly involving finding the Major’s Crimean War Diary, which gives incredible insight into the life of the man.”

For anyone interested in the history of Midsomer Norton this is an evening not to be missed – revealing fascinating new research and insights into life in the town in the mid-19th century.