Somerset Archives and Local Studies

Somerset Archives and Local Studies Provides access to the Somerset Archives and Local Studies Library For more information visit: https://swheritage.org.uk/somerset-archives/

Provides access to the Somerset Archives and Local Studies Library and the Historic Environment Record. It is part of The South West Heritage Trust, an independent charity committed to protecting and celebrating Somerset and Devon’s rich heritage.

Happy apple season! Would you try this c.1910s recipe for ‘apple snow?’ Mrs Bates-Harbin of Yeovil even included a tip f...
01/10/2026

Happy apple season! Would you try this c.1910s recipe for ‘apple snow?’ Mrs Bates-Harbin of Yeovil even included a tip for improving the taste if you’re using some not-so-good apples… Would you try it? 🍏🍎

Come and see this recipe, and many others, on display at the Somerset Heritage Centre’s Archive Harvest event on 10th October (10am-12pm).

Transcript: stew some apples in a little water, strain off the water. Put the pulp through a sieve, sweeten & when quite cold add some cream (according to what can be spared) and if pulp very thick just a little new milk. If no cream, use the whites of 2 eggs very stiffly beaten, if poor tasting apples use a little lemon juice. (From DD/HN/3/2/12).

Further details, including how to find us, can be found here: https://swheritage.org.uk/events/harvest-time-in-the-archives/

As well as our wonderful drop-in Harvest Time Discovery Saturday event on 10 October (10am-12pm), our searchroom will al...
30/09/2026

As well as our wonderful drop-in Harvest Time Discovery Saturday event on 10 October (10am-12pm), our searchroom will also be open between 9am-1pm should you wish to undertake a spot of research.

Laura Beckworth, from the Portable Antiquities Scheme, will also be available to help with recording and identifying archaeological finds (booking is essential).

Further details can be found here: https://swheritage.org.uk/somerset-archives/home/somerset-heritage-centre/booking/

29/09/2026

Don't forget to join us at the Somerset Heritage Centre on Saturday 10th October (10am-12pm) for an exhibition of archive documents and oral history recordings showcasing Somerset’s food culture, from harvest to table! 🍏🥕🥔🌽

For further details, visit our website 👉https://swheritage.org.uk/somerset-archives/whats-on/

29/09/2026

The best sort of breaking news! 🎉🎉

Do you recognise these pieces of tech, as photographed just around the corner from us in Norton Fitzwarren in 1946? We’l...
25/09/2026

Do you recognise these pieces of tech, as photographed just around the corner from us in Norton Fitzwarren in 1946? We’ll give you a clue – it was used by a local business to make an iconic Somerset drink.

If you’re a fan, drop in to the Somerset Heritage Centre on Saturday 10th October (10am-12pm) for our Archive Harvest event, and discover more about Somerset’s favourite tipple.

Further details can be found here: https://swheritage.org.uk/events/harvest-time-in-the-archives/

What was that? What were the featured images? They were an apple elevator and press at Taunton C***r Co. Ltd., Norton Fitzwarren (references A/DQN/11/7575 and A/DQN/11/7579) 🍏🍎🍏

A nice, warming ginger cake always hits the spot in autumn - this recipe appears in two generations of Newton Surmaville...
24/09/2026

A nice, warming ginger cake always hits the spot in autumn - this recipe appears in two generations of Newton Surmaville housekeeper’s recipe books, so it must have been a good one!

Come and see this recipe, and many others, on display at the Somerset Heritage Centre’s Archive Harvest event on 10th October (10am-12pm). Further details can be found here: https://swheritage.org.uk/events/harvest-time-in-the-archives/

Transcript: Rub ½ lb butter into a pound and half of flour, add a pound of moist sugar and one ounce of powdered ginger. Mix the whole together with about half a teacup full of milk – roll it out, cut into cakes and bake them a light brown. (From DD/HN/3/2/15).

22/09/2026

Join us at the Somerset Heritage Centre on Saturday 10 October (10am-12pm) for an exhibition of archive documents and oral history recordings showcasing Somerset’s food culture, from harvest to table! 🍏🥕🥔🌽

For further details, visit our website 👉https://swheritage.org.uk/somerset-archives/whats-on/

If you enjoy the outdoors and wildlife, why not Join Esther Hoyle, Head of Somerset Archives and Local Studies, for her ...
21/09/2026

If you enjoy the outdoors and wildlife, why not Join Esther Hoyle, Head of Somerset Archives and Local Studies, for her online Coffee Time Talk on nature on Friday, 16 October at 10.30am?

Here's an illustration from a travel journal of the Savory family, providing an account of a walk from Glenthorne, Exmoor, to Portishead in August 1919 (ref. A/EIL/1).

Further details, including how to book, can be found 👉 https://swheritage.org.uk/events/nature/

19/09/2026

** Upcoming SANHS Associated Societies' events **

Monday 21 September
Milborne Port History & Heritage Group
Gloving in Milborne Port - Lesley Wray presents an illustrated talk, accompanied by Liz Lammas, whose family used to run a glove factory.

Wednesday 23 September
Historical Association – Taunton branch
The AGM Lunch, and a talk on “An introduction to Somerset Archives” with Esther Hoyle, Head of Somerset Archives and Local Studies Somerset Archives and Local Studies

Wednesday 23 September
Tintinhull Local History Group
“The story of Lytes Cary” - talk by David Maclean

Thursday 24 Septembner
South Petherton Local History Group
AGM; followed by Stone masonry, stone carving and mosaics at cathedrals and abbeys – with architectural conservator Nick Durnan.

Further details can be found on the Events calendar on the SANHS website: https://sanhs.org/events/

Where does one even start when insuring a castle?!? Well, the agents for the Royal-Exchange Assurance Company had no suc...
17/09/2026

Where does one even start when insuring a castle?!? Well, the agents for the Royal-Exchange Assurance Company had no such issues in 1800 when asked to insure Dunster Castle and Watermill.

This insurance policy for protection against fire values 'a mansion house, stone built and covered with lead...known as Dunster Castle' for £2,000, and the 'stables adjoining with rooms over, stone built' for £300, and a 'house stone built and tiled' tenanted by William Gay apothecary for an additional £400, all for the princely annual premium of £3.4s.

This document is part of the archive of the Luttrell family of Dunster Castle, and has recently been discovered during cataloguing work. [Document reference DD/L/3/101/13] 🏰

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Somerset Heritage Centre, Brunel Way, Norton Fitzwarren
Taunton
TA26SF

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