North Petherton in Kelly’s Directory of Somersetshire, 1889

Source: Kelly’s Directory of Somersetshire, 1889, with main extraction from pages 304-305.

Scope note. This report extracts and organises the North Petherton entry and related cross-references from the supplied Kelly’s Directory documents. Entries reflect the directory as printed in 1889 and should not be treated as a full census. Abbreviations have been expanded where clear; historic spellings and place names have generally been retained.

Main findings. The directory presents North Petherton as a substantial parish with a strong agricultural economy, several mills, a brewery, inns and beer retailers, numerous village trades, a parish church, Congregational and Baptist chapels, a cemetery, board schools and a reading room. Moorland/North Moor Green and Huntworth appear as associated settlements within the same extracted entry.

1. Key facts about North Petherton

North Petherton was described as a large village and parish, three miles south-by-west from Bridgwater station, on the main Bristol and Exeter section of the Great Western Railway.
The village lay on the high road from Bridgwater to Taunton and consisted of one main street with smaller side streets.
The River Parrett and the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal passed through the parish.
The parish area was 10,269 acres, with a rateable value of £28,988 and an 1881 population of 3,723.
The soil was described as red marl, loam and sandy, with varied subsoil; crops included wheat, oats, barley and green crops, with a good portion of pasture.
The directory names Huntworth as a hamlet about one and a half miles north-east, and Moorland, or North Moor Green, as a separate ecclesiastical parish three miles east.

2. What the directory shows about the local economy

Overall pattern. Agriculture dominates the directory: many people are listed as farmers, with named farms such as Staffland Farm, Petherton Park, Heathfield, Haydon Farm, Wheelstocks Farm, Ball’s Farm, Milestone Farm, Huntworth Park Farm and others. The village also had a broad service economy: blacksmiths, wheelwrights, builders, plumbers, masons, shoemakers, tailors, saddlers, basket makers, butchers, bakers, grocers, drapers, shopkeepers, innkeepers and beer retailers.

Indicative count of extracted directory entries by broad type:

Broad type	Number of extracted entries
Farming / market gardening	44
Crafts and trades	32
Private / not specified	17
Hospitality / beer trade	15
Retail, dealing and provisions	12
Mills, brewing and baking	7
Public service / education / organisation	5
Clergy / religious	4

3. Churches, schools, public services, groups and organisations

Type	Place / organisation	Extracted information	Source location
Parish / geography	North Petherton	Large village and parish 3 miles south-by-west from Bridgwater station, on the Bristol and Exeter section of the Great Western Railway; village on the Bridgwater to Taunton high road.	Part 2, p. 304
Administrative district	North Petherton	In the Bridgwater division of the county, hundred of North Petherton, petty sessional division, union and county court district of Bridgwater, rural deanery of Bridgwater, archdeaconry of Taunton and diocese of Bath and Wells.	Part 2, p. 304
Waterways	North Petherton	The River Parrett and the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal pass through the parish.	Part 2, p. 304
Parish church	St Mary	Stone church in the Later English style: chancel, nave of six bays, aisles, north and south porches, embattled western tower with Decorated pinnacles, clock and 6 bells; new organ erected in 1888 at a cost of £560; 630 sittings; register from 1558.	Part 2, p. 304
Vicarage	Living of St Mary	Vicarage; average tithe rent-charge £757; net yearly value £486 with residence; held since 1857 by Rev. John William Robinson M.A. of Trinity College, Dublin.	Part 2, p. 304
Nonconformist chapel	Congregational chapel	Stone chapel in Lombardic style, erected in 1869.	Part 2, p. 304
Chapel	Fordgate Congregational chapel	Congregational chapel at Fordgate, erected in 1863.	Part 2, p. 304
Chapel	Baptist chapel at Moorland	A Baptist chapel is listed at Moorland.	Part 2, p. 304
Ecclesiastical parish	Moorland / North Moor Green	Three miles east; separate parish for ecclesiastical purposes. Church of SS Peter and John: stone building with nave, south porch and a turret containing one bell; 340 sittings; register from 1835.	Part 2, p. 304
Moorland living	SS Peter and John	Vicarage in the gift of the vicar of North Petherton; yearly value £100; held since 1864 by Rev. James Hunt B.A., non-resident; Rev. George Walter Spicer curate in charge from 1889.	Part 2, p. 304
Cemetery	North Petherton Cemetery	Cemetery of 1.5 acres with two mortuary chapels, a quarter of a mile east of the church, formed in 1856 and under a Burial Board of 9 members. Samuel Collings Brown was clerk to the burial board.	Part 2, p. 304
Fairs	North Petherton fairs	Fairs held on 1 May and 8 November.	Part 2, p. 304
Charity / education	Dorothy Cheeke charity	House and land gifted in 1867 for teaching six or more poor children.	Part 2, p. 304
Charity	Thomas Bacon charity	Rent-charge of £2.	Part 2, p. 304
Charity / education	Sir Thomas Wroth charity	£500 by will in 1721; under a Charity Commissioners scheme, interest given to children attending Board schools, in money and prizes.	Part 2, p. 304
School Board	North Petherton & St Michael Church School Board	Seven-member School Board formed 16 April 1875 for the united district of North Petherton and St Michael Church; Paul O. H. & T. M. Reed of Bridgwater were clerks.	Part 2, p. 304
School	Board School, North Petherton	Mixed school erected in 1877 for 120 boys, 140 girls and 150 infants; average attendance 95 boys, 103 girls and 111 infants; Francis John Salter master; Mrs Harriet Day mistress; Miss Kate Nation infants mistress.	Part 2, p. 304
School	Board School, North Moor Green	Mixed school erected in 1857 for 140 children; average attendance 85; William Sinnard master.	Part 2, p. 304
Post office	North Petherton Post, Money Order & Telegraph Office	William Burrows, postmaster. Letters arrive from Bridgwater at 7 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.; dispatched at 11 a.m. and 6.50 p.m.	Part 2, p. 304
Post office	Moorland Post Office	James Hutchings, receiver. Letters through Bridgwater arrive at 5.20 a.m.; dispatched 6.20 p.m. Wall box cleared 8.35 a.m. and 6.50 p.m.	Part 2, p. 304
Post	Huntworth Pillar Post	Huntworth, about 1.5 miles north-east, had a pillar post cleared at 6.45 p.m.	Part 2, p. 304
Insurance	Northern Fire & Life	F. Townsend, Fore Street, listed as insurance agent.	Part 2, p. 304
Public officer	Assistant Overseer	Samuel Collings Brown.	Part 2, p. 304
Public officer	Registrar / vaccination / relieving officer	Thomas Hallett, Registrar of Births & Deaths and Vaccination Officer for North Petherton Sub-district and Relieving Officer for No. 3 District, Bridgwater Union.	Part 2, p. 304
Public officer	Deputy registrar	Mrs Louisa Hallett, Deputy Registrar of Births & Deaths.	Part 2, p. 304
Carriers	To Bridgwater	James Coram daily; Burrows daily. Bridgwater road-carrier list also names Evans from the Three Crowns on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, and Burrows from the Fleur-de-Lis daily.	Part 1, Bridgwater carriers; Part 2, p. 304
Reading room	North Petherton Reading Room	Francis John Salter listed as secretary. The local directory also lists a Reading Room with Francis John Salter as secretary.	Part 2, p. 304; Part 4, Trades Directory
County council	Petherton North electoral division	Thomas Starkey, North Petherton, Bridgwater, listed as councillor for Petherton North.	Part 1, County Councillors
Hundred	Hundred of North Petherton	The hundred comprised Bawdrip, Bridgwater, Chedzoy, Durston, North Petherton, Pawlett, St Michael Church, Thurloxton and Wembdon.	Part 1, list of hundreds
Bridgwater Union	Union membership	North Petherton was one of the 40 places in Bridgwater Union.	Part 1, Bridgwater Union
Drainage boards	Drainage districts	North Petherton land appears in Bridgwater & Pawlett, Cannington & Wembdon, Othery/Middlezoy/Westonzoyland, Chedzoy, and North Moor drainage districts.	Part 1, Drainage Boards
Land / agriculture	Parish land, crops and value	Area 10,269 acres; rateable value £28,988; population in 1881 was 3,723. Soil red marl, loam and sandy with varied subsoil; chief crops wheat, oats, barley and green crops with a good portion of pasture.	Part 2, p. 304
Landowners	Principal landowners and lord of manor	Viscount Portman J.P.; William Hamilton Codrington Nation; Sir Alfred Frederick Adolphus Slade, lord of the manor; Colonel Charles Kemeys Kemeys-Tynte; Oliver Meade-King; Rev. Francis Charles Kinglake.	Part 2, p. 304

4. Private residents

These are entries listed under the North Petherton private residents heading.

Area	Name / entity	Address or place	Occupation / role	Notes
North Petherton	Barnstable, Henry John	Compass Villa	Private resident	Listed under private residents.
North Petherton	Bond, Thomas	Fairlawn Villa	Private resident	Listed under private residents.
North Petherton	Culverwell Misses	Crossway Cottage	Private residents	Listed under private residents.
North Petherton	Dibble, Mrs		Private resident	No address or occupation stated.
North Petherton	Havill, Mrs		Private resident	No address or occupation stated.
North Petherton	Heal, Mrs		Private resident	No address or occupation stated.
North Petherton	Hodges, Mrs	Ashway Villa	Private resident	Listed under private residents.
North Petherton	Hodson, Rev. Granville Heber Frodsham Elton, B.A.		Rector of St Michael	Clergyman listed under private residents.
North Petherton	Kneen, Rev. John		Congregational minister	Listed as Congregational.
North Petherton	Nation, Mrs		Private resident	No address or occupation stated.
North Petherton	Neat, George		Private resident	No address or occupation stated.
North Petherton	Nicholls, Edgar	Woolmersdon	Private resident	Listed under private residents.
North Petherton	Portman, Hon. Mrs Berkeley	Ashfield	Private resident / landowner family	Ashfield named as her residence.
North Petherton	Robinson, Rev. John William, M.A.	Vicarage	Vicar of St Mary	Living held since 1857.
North Petherton	Small, Mrs		Private resident	No address or occupation stated.
North Moor Green / Moorland	Spicer, Rev. George Walter	North Moor Green	Curate in charge of SS Peter & John	Curate in charge since 1889.
North Petherton	Starkey Misses		Private residents	Listed under private residents.
North Petherton	Todd, Mrs		Private resident	No address or occupation stated.

5. North Petherton commercial entries

This table includes shops, inns, mills, farmers, tradespeople, officials and organisations listed in the commercial section for North Petherton.

Area	Name / entity	Address or place	Occupation / role	Notes
North Petherton	Adams, Joseph	Dawes	Farmer
North Petherton	Aish, George		Wheelwright
North Petherton	Avery, Henry	Staffland Farm	Farmer
North Petherton	Bartlett, Charles		Blacksmith
North Petherton	Bennett, Joseph		Shoeing smith
North Petherton	Blacker, Alfred		Upholsterer
North Petherton	Bond, John	Parkersfield	Farmer
North Petherton	Bond, Thomas Hellings	Petherton Park	Farmer
North Petherton	Brewer, James Hurford		Plumber
North Petherton	Brice, Thomas	Woolmersdon	Farmer
North Petherton	Brown, Samuel Collings		Assistant overseer; clerk to burial board	Also clerk for North Petherton Cemetery.
North Petherton	Browning, Silas		Blacksmith
North Petherton	Burge, James	Road	Farmer
North Petherton	Burrows, William	Post Office	Saddler; postmaster	Post, Money Order & Telegraph Office listed to Wm. Burrows.
North Petherton	Burston, Charles		Pig dealer
North Petherton	Burston, John		Pig dealer
North Petherton	Callow, David	Heathfield	Farmer
North Petherton	Callow, William	Haydon Farm	Farmer
North Petherton	Carkett, William		Tailor
North Petherton	Cemetery		Public establishment	Samuel Collings Brown, clerk to the burial board.
North Petherton	Channing, Mary Ann (Mrs)		Beer retailer
North Petherton	Chedzoy, William		Beer retailer
North Petherton	Chidley, Joseph		Beer retailer
North Petherton	Clatworthy, John		Builder and contractor
North Petherton	Clatworthy, John, jun.		Coffee rooms
North Petherton	Coate, Henry		Cattle dealer
North Petherton	Coate, James		Cattle dealer
North Petherton	Coate, John		Farmer
Fordgate	Collings, James	Fordgate	Farmer
North Petherton	Coram, James	Swan Inn	Innkeeper / carrier	Carrier to Bridgwater listed daily.
North Petherton	Culverwell, Jasper	Clavershay	Farmer
North Petherton	Day, George	Whitestocks	Farmer
North Petherton	Day, James		Farmer
North Petherton	Day, Samuel	Dyer’s Green	Farmer
North Petherton	Durman, Frederick		Plumber
North Petherton	Edbrooke, William	Road	Farmer
North Petherton	Farthing, Herbert		Farmer
North Petherton	Farthing, Robert	Farringdon Farm	Farmer
North Petherton	Filer, Thomas		Tailor
North Petherton	Fursland, Samuel	Malt & Hops P.H.	Public house / beer house
North Petherton	Godfrey, George		Farmer
North Petherton	Godfrey, Joseph	West Yeo	Farmer
North Petherton	Haines, William		Builder
North Petherton	Hallett, Louisa (Mrs)	North Petherton district	Deputy registrar of births and deaths	Public officer.
North Petherton	Hallett, Thomas	North Petherton sub-district	Registrar of births and deaths; vaccination officer; relieving officer	No. 3 district, Bridgwater Union.
North Petherton	Harden, Elizabeth (Mrs)		Water miller
North Petherton	Heal, Robert	King’s Farm	Farmer
North Petherton	Howe, Edward		Fruiterer
North Petherton	Howe, Edward, jun.		Butcher
North Petherton	Irish, Eli		Boot and shoe maker
North Petherton	Jeanes, Henry		Farmer
North Petherton	Knight, George		Draper; wine and spirit agent	Agent for W. & A. Gilbey.
North Petherton	Langford, Michael Henry		Tinplate worker
North Petherton	Marshall Brothers	Wheelstocks Farm	Farmers
North Petherton	Nation & Son		Millers (water)
North Petherton	Painter, Henry		Grocer
North Petherton	Phillips, Tom	Lamb Inn	Innkeeper
North Petherton	Pierce, William		Shopkeeper
North Petherton	Pocock, Charlotte (Mrs)		Beer retailer
North Petherton	Pocock, Jeremiah		Saddler
North Petherton	Pocock, Robert	Baymead	Horse dealer
North Petherton	Properjohn, George		Builder
North Petherton	Radford, Francis	Shearston	Farmer
North Petherton	Reading Room		Reading room / community organisation	Francis John Salter, secretary.
North Petherton	Rich, Annie (Mrs)		Saddler
North Petherton	Rich, Francis		Stone mason
North Petherton	Ridge, Matilda (Mrs)		Wheelwright
North Petherton	Rodgers, Henry		School	Probably a school proprietor/teacher entry.
North Petherton	Rogers, James		Butcher
North Petherton	Rogers, John		Butcher
North Petherton	Rogers, Robert	New Inn	Innkeeper
North Petherton	Saunders, William		Basket maker
North Petherton	Shepherd, Isaac		Tailor
North Petherton	Sibley, Frank Bryant	Ball’s Farm	Farmer
North Petherton	Slocombe, John		Basket maker
North Petherton	Slocombe, John & William		Builders
North Petherton	Slocombe, Noah		Stone mason
Compass	Smith, Alfred	Compass	Basket maker
North Petherton	Starkey, Knight & Co. Limited	North Petherton Brewery	Maltsters, brewers, hop, wine and spirit merchants	Also at Taunton and Bridgwater.
North Petherton	Taylor, Douglas	George Inn	Innkeeper
North Petherton	Townsend & Son		Builders and grocers
North Petherton	Tozer, George		Baker
North Petherton	Tucker, John & Son	Fore Street; North Petherton Steam Mills	Millers, bakers and corn dealers	Steam and water mills.
North Petherton	Vearncombe, John		Watch maker
Fordgate	Venn, Henry	Fordgate	Beer retailer
Whitestocks	Warner, Thomas	Whitestocks	Beer retailer
North Petherton	Warren, Thomas		Miller (wind and steam)
North Petherton	Warren, William		Baker
North Petherton	Watts, Charles		Shoe maker
Compass	West, Charles	Compass	Beer retailer
North Petherton	Wilkins, Charles William		Shoe maker
Milestone Farm	Wilkins, Edmund	Milestone Farm	Farmer
North Petherton	Williams, James		Carpenter
North Petherton	Williams, James		Shoe maker
North Petherton	Williams, John		Carpenter
North Petherton	Woodland, John		Market gardener

6. Moorland / North Moor Green entries

Moorland, also called North Moor Green, is treated in the directory as an associated ecclesiastical parish and settlement.

Area	Name / entity	Address or place	Occupation / role	Notes
Moorland / North Moor Green	Ames, William		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Burston, Thomas		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Coles, James		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Fear, George		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Gillard, James		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Hutchings, Henry		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Hutchings, James	Post Office	Farmer; post-office receiver	Moorland post office receiver.
Moorland / North Moor Green	Hutchings, John		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Hutchings, Thomas		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Laing, Albert		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Lake, Benjamin		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Moat, Edward		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Slocombe, James		Beer retailer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Wills, George		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Wills, James		Farmer
Moorland / North Moor Green	Wills, James, jun.		Farmer

7. Huntworth entries

Huntworth is described as a hamlet about one and a half miles north-east of North Petherton.

Area	Name / entity	Address or place	Occupation / role	Notes
Huntworth	Dawes Misses		Private residents / not specified	No occupation stated.
Huntworth	Clark, William		Blacksmith
Huntworth	Mead, Mary Ann (Mrs)		Beer retailer
Huntworth	Milton, Thomas	Huntworth Park Farm	Farmer
Huntworth	Moat, William		Farmer
Huntworth	Wills, George		Farmer

8. Shops, businesses and organisations grouped by type

Inns, public houses, beer retailers and refreshment rooms

James Coram – Swan Inn
Samuel Fursland – Malt & Hops P.H.
Tom Phillips – Lamb Inn
Robert Rogers – New Inn
Douglas Taylor – George Inn
Mary Ann Channing – beer retailer
William Chedzoy – beer retailer
Joseph Chidley – beer retailer
Charlotte Pocock – beer retailer
Henry Venn – beer retailer at Fordgate
Thomas Warner – beer retailer at Whitestocks
Charles West – beer retailer at Compass
James Slocombe – beer retailer at Moorland
Mary Ann Mead – beer retailer at Huntworth
John Clatworthy jun. – coffee rooms

Mills, brewing and baking

Starkey, Knight & Co. Ltd – North Petherton Brewery; maltsters, brewers, hop, wine and spirit merchants
John Tucker & Son – millers, bakers and corn dealers, Fore Street and North Petherton Steam Mills (steam and water)
Nation & Son – water millers
Elizabeth Harden – water miller
Thomas Warren – wind and steam miller
William Warren – baker
George Tozer – baker

Retail, provisions and dealing

George Knight – draper and W. & A. Gilbey wine and spirit agent
Henry Painter – grocer
William Pierce – shopkeeper
Townsend & Son – builders and grocers
Edward Howe – fruiterer
Edward Howe junior – butcher
James Rogers – butcher
John Rogers – butcher
Henry Coate and James Coate – cattle dealers
Robert Pocock – horse dealer, Baymead
Charles and John Burston – pig dealers

Building, craft and village trades

George Aish and Matilda Ridge – wheelwrights
Charles Bartlett and Silas Browning – blacksmiths
John Clatworthy, George Properjohn, William Haines, Slocombe John & William and Townsend & Son – builders / contractors
James Hurford Brewer, Frederick Durman – plumbers
Francis Rich and Noah Slocombe – stone masons
William Carkett, Thomas Filer, Isaac Shepherd – tailors
Joseph Bennett – shoeing smith
Eli Irish, Charles Watts, Charles William Wilkins and James Williams – boot/shoe makers
Jeremiah Pocock and Annie Rich – saddlers
William Saunders, John Slocombe and Alfred Smith – basket makers
Michael Henry Langford – tinplate worker
John Vearncombe – watch maker
Alfred Blacker – upholsterer

Public, education and community

North Petherton Cemetery / Burial Board – Samuel Collings Brown, clerk
Reading Room – Francis John Salter, secretary
Board School, North Petherton – Francis John Salter, Mrs Harriet Day and Miss Kate Nation
Board School, North Moor Green – William Sinnard
Thomas Hallett – registrar / vaccination / relieving officer
Mrs Louisa Hallett – deputy registrar
Henry Rodgers – school entry in commercial section

9. Source notes and extraction cautions

The main parish entry appears across printed pages 304-305 of Part 2. The first page carries the parish description, institutions, schools and most of the resident/commercial listing; the second page continues the North Petherton list and then gives Moorland and Huntworth entries.
The supplied source includes OCR artefacts. The entries in this report were checked against the rendered page images where available. Some old abbreviations remain, for example P.H. for public house and M.O. & T.O. for Money Order and Telegraph Office.
Moorland is identified in the directory as Moorland or North Moor Green. The report keeps it as a distinct associated settlement because the directory gives it a separate ecclesiastical description and commercial list.
Where the directory does not give a residence or address, the address/place field is left blank rather than inferred.

10. References used

Kelly’s Directory of Somersetshire, 1889, Part 2, printed p. 304: North Petherton parish entry, churches, post offices, schools, public officers and first part of resident/commercial lists.
Kelly’s Directory of Somersetshire, 1889, Part 2, printed p. 305: continuation of North Petherton commercial list; Moorland and Huntworth entries.
Kelly’s Directory of Somersetshire, 1889, Part 1: lists of hundreds, county councillors, Bridgwater Union, drainage boards and Bridgwater road carriers.
Kelly’s Directory of Somersetshire, 1889, Part 4: Trades Directory cross-reference to North Petherton Reading Room and selected trade listings.

1889 (Kelly’s)