The nice little town of Wellington in Somerset
Lots of people know where Wellington is because it lies just off the M5 on the border with Devon and is marked by Wellington Monument which sits proudly on top of the hill. In fact I have a webpage on the famous landmark here.
Wellington is not what you might call a posh town, and it doesn't have jaw dropping architecture, but it has a lovely balance of modern and older style properties and a population of about 16,000. It is a friendly place to live and has a lovely park, interesting shops, 3 supermarkets, Sports centre and many clubs catering for all interests within the town boundary.
The M5 at junction 26 is just 2 miles away and the County Town of Taunton 7 miles with a regular bus service between the two towns. To read more about the town, check out this website
What I would like to do here is to take you on a walk through the town and show you photographs of some interesting buildings which shape the town landscape. I hope you find interest in these images which form the territory of my working life over the last half century. I will update these photographs from time to time and show you other walks and also Wellington' s green places.
There is a reason I am doing this walk and its a bit embarrassing. Wellington is currently without its own post office and we either have to walk or drive down to the little "village" of Rockwell Green or travel to a village of Oake, half way to Taunton. These pictures show the walk from South Street through a segment of the town into Rockwell Green which is part of Wellington but separated by a protected green space known as Hilly Head.
The Green Dragon is a good place to start and the hanging baskets look particularly nice this year. Being a Monday when I took this photograph the Biffa red bins were out adding extra colour to the street.
Several visiting friends stay here when they come to the town. The beer is good, the breakfasts are splendid, the en-suite rooms are very clean and the welcome is genuine and fulsome. View web here.
Still in South Street, you can see the interesting selection of local businesses.
For example, you can see Cafe Liscious which serves good home made food all day and is a popular meeting place. Upstairs and downstairs.
Then, if you are looking for an interesting present for yourself or others, there is Frame of Mind. Website here
Next is the Cheese and Wine shop always a special welcome from Paul and Claire. They serve a bit more than the title suggests. Website here.
Further down is a charity shop and beyond lies a double fronted shop called the Sporting Duchess. Website here. I know for a fact that folk come for miles around to find these tempting, owner- run shops.
To take this photo I was outside the
Healthfood shop Everything to keep us healthy. Facebook only.
Jak the Picture Frame Man and a great photographer and friend. Website here
Wellington Bookshop. An independent bookshop with some great titles and meet the author sessions. Website here
Down at the town centre and the famous traffic lights where the sequence of change seems to match the colour of car you happen to be driving!
The Iron Duke is a local landmark and for years was an eyesore after the enclosed cinema, then library closed until it was taken over by Wetherspoons and they operate their pub business over the ground floor with oodles of floor space. This pub chain has a good record in seeking out characterful buildings in towns and converting them to form good meeting centres. This one is no exception.
It also holds the town clock and at least twice a day it shows the right time, albeit in a different time zone.
Another place to meet for an informal coffee is Coffee 1. Lots of space and random sized tables and chairs make it a popular venue particularly in the summer when the windows at the front can be fully opened -ah la South of France!
Notice the shop next door and this plus another in this sequence show how Wellington traders are an integral part of the strong retail outlets in the town.
Meat Our Butcher. Tim Potter, Son and Daughter Ltd. Website here.
This handsome building is occupied by Lloyds Bank. Its claim to fame is that it was the last private bank - Fox Fowler - to be printing its own bank notes. Lloyds took over Fox Fowler & Co in 1921.
Well, we have seen Tim Potter's family trading name, but here, next to the Pop up Shop is H T Perry and Son and Granddaughter, an old established and well respected ironmongery business. No website just facebook.
Here is an interesting building of many architectural styles which at one time was the home of the Council Offices and numerous small businesses. It marks the entrance to the North Street car park.
This is a fine selection of interesting buildings, not least the pink house with its nod to a Dutch Colonial style roof. It is currently used as a Doctors surgery with the name of Luson. The floral hanging baskets are provided by the local council
We have a lot of Barber shops in Wellington and this one has been refurbished and sits within a building of fascinating design. Just look at the projecting shop display and the cut-away to the first floor and some of the second.
Here we have another bonus to the retail scene with almost 50 shops under one roof trading from this former church building under the name Wellington Emporium. Ray and Maggy Cooper held well-attended and regular furniture auctions here and this produced great activity in Fore Street/Mantle Street each week.
If you think the Emporium is full of interesting things, why not also move down to the Chilcott family emporium. This really is a family concern and whoever you see in there is likely to be a Chilcott!
Beds, Blinds, Curtains, Vinyls, Carpets, Cuddly Toys and goodness knows what else. Wherever you look in my home you will see their handiwork. I can lie on it, roll it up or down, pull it over, mop it when Ive dropped something and sink into its thick pile.
As for the last item in the list, it's out of stock. Shame! website here.
Don't let their What3Word address put you off! = ///cargo.vegetable.exhaling
The trouble with Wellington is that it is a very friendly town and everyone is very welcoming and chatty.
I had to stop here and will pick up the second bit of my walk to get to the Rockwell Green Post Office and will put in a sequel shortly