Your comments and questions:

This is your place to comment. In addition a number of people write to me with questions to which I do not have the answer! These will also be placed here. Maybe someone can help. Thanks to those people who have written to us from all over the world...

would like to know if anyone is researching the white family tree especially a george white born around 1849/1850 he was born in norton st phillip. he married a amelia matilida wyer they had a son called a william george white born 9 may 1878 in the neihbouring villiage of wellow. Wendy Briscoe, UK

Please help, my great grandfather John Tovey was born in Norton St Phillip(approx 1854) and my great great grandfather Thomas lived there with his wife Eliza(Elizabeth) in 1881. Are there any Toveys left? I notice there is a Fulk Tovey mentioned on your site, can anyone supply more information? - Janis Allen, Carlisle, UK

I'm thrilled to have found this web site!  My grandmother, Minnie Mary Cary, grew up in this area at Hassage and Mount Pleasant Farms and wrote a memoir of her early years.  She described the farms and the area surrounding, hearing the church bells from Norton St Phillip, a big snow storm about 1881 in which 17 elms trees fell on the farm during the storm.  Her father took on Mount Pleasant in 1879 until 1887 when they returned to Hassage. - Elizabeth Carmichael, Calgary, Canada.

I'm looking for information about the earliest owners or residents of the Farleigh Hungerford Castle. Family stories say that the earliest Farleigh came from France, and from there, the Farleigh and Farley families resulted. Can't really be sure of that, but was wondering about the Farleigh for which Farleigh Hungerford Castle is named. - Bob Farley, Colorado USA

I have found that my gg grandfather and family left Norton St. Philip to immigrate to the U.S., May 14 1883.  I will be visiting N.S.P. in September, this year so would like to make some contacts or e-mail addresses etc. Just in case someone there knows the history of the area, the family name is WATTS. - Elizabeth Ulrich, USA (April 2005)

I am looking for connections to the Tovey family that originated from the village. They are mentioned in a church plaque at the rear of the church.I have docomented evidence that they originated from the village. My Nan's maiden name was Tovey and her grandfather & family moved to London. I have visited the village and I am in the area towards the end of next week and intend to revisit.Any info would be appreciated - John McNab, UK (April 2005)

  "Accidentally" found your page and just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed taking your photo tour and exploring your site.  Good job!  Lynne Ohio, USA (January 2003)

In June, 2002, my wife, I, and another couple stayed two nights in a B&B in the village. We did so simply because of its proximity to Bath, one target of our holiday travel from the United States. The web site that led us to lodging in Norton St Philip gave no hint of the charm we found in the village. Bravo on capturing that allure so well in your own site, Mr. Pratt! Dennis Eagan, USA (April 2003)

I live in the village, and the information provided is good but what is missing is that there is a Palairet Hall committee. Sidney Drake (May 2003) - (Editor: - thanks Sidney - fair point)

Hello from the States.

The Francis family has lived in Norton St. Philip since at least the 1770s, and a few of my cousins still live there.  My great-grandfather was born in NSP in 1868 and migrated to the U.S. in 1897.

I would like to find someone who remembers the coal yard on North Street, where my Francis ancestors stored coal before delivering it to the village's homes.  Thank you.

Mark Francis
Grand Island, NY, USA, June 2003

We will be visiting the area in Sept '03 and are interested in information on the Bull family,  Winifried to be specific.  We have a High street address from the 40's.  Thank you Sharon King, July 2003

I have just spent a happy couple of hours following your tour and finding my way around the village, learning the history, and mentally plotting the photos onto the map.  I have thoroughly enjoyed myself, and intend to visit one day, to see in reality what I feel I already know so well. It seems to me that this is exactly what a site should be, wide-ranging but coherent, detailed but not monotonous; and if only you'd given me a sketchmap of the 1685 skirmish I could have asked for nothing more. I have never been to N St. P, and typed the name into SearchSaint in an idle moment after hearing about the lightning strike on the church tower last weekend.  I wasn't expecting much by way of results.  I was delighted with what I found.
Thankyou. Cynthi (May 2003)

Emma Addicott writes (11/01/02):
"I wonder if you can help me. I used to live in the village with my grandparents for many years in fact from 1973 untill 1983. Their names were Ernest and Phillis Bedford.Our house was called Phyernem after all of us.Pappy died in 94 and gran died in 95 both of them are buried in the churchyard along with my greatmother Kate Smith.I was knowen to everyone in the village as Emma Wickenden,I went to school in the village and even worked on a sunday morning in the George serving pub lunches.I have moved to southwales now and we had a house fire a few years back alot of the old pictures from that time were lost. If anyone in the village can remember my grandparents of have any pictures that they could sent me I would love to know as this was a very special time in my life. I know that they were very well knowen in the village when they were alive.Also if they are any of my school friends still living in the village or if anyone knows them I would love to hear from them. 
     Thank you for any help that you can be.
              Emma Addicott
p.s.  one point that I did not see was when the village was brought to a stand still for a week when they were filming an episode of the Dick Turpin series at the George. With Richard O'Sullivan and Mary Crosby in it.

Alan Moore writes (19/01/02):
"My father was born in 1911 in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, the son of Richard Moore, a coalminer, and his wife, formerly Eva Cook. Family tradition has it that my grandfather's parents (or maybe grandparents) originated in Norton St Philip in the mid-19th Century. The men were all working in the Somerset coalmines but, when the seams ran out, they walked in search of mining work up to Gloucester, 'turned left' and ended up in the mines of South Wales. Do any of your history experts have any idea whether or not this is true, or simply one of those long-cherished family tales that somehow became twisted in the telling and retelling. As I approach my 60th birthday this year I would be fascinated to know. Many thanks. Alan Moore"

Rachel Lees writes (16/03/02):
"Hi, I am interested in finding out if an old manor/farm called Wintercombe exists near Philip St Norton.  I would really appreciate your reply.  Thankyou, Rachel Lees"

Pamela Belle writes (29/09/02):
In answer to Rachel Lees' question, I'm afraid that the place I described in my 'Wintercombe' novels does not in fact exist in the village - the site is accurately described (on the hill near the present sewage works!) but I used a novelist's licence and took a real house (Great Chalfield in Wiltshire), picked it up and put it down in Norton St. Philip, which is one of my favourite villages. The website is brilliant - I wish it had been in existence when I was writing the books more than ten years ago!

Liz Dilley writes (23/04/02):
A few months ago I stayed in the Corn House in Norton St Philip.  

It was arranged by a friend who has lost details of how to book again.  Do you have a telephone number or email address of the people that rent it out?  I can't seem to find it on any website!

If you can help or point me in the right direction please contact me.
 
 
 

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