Introduction

Those who have already read Blackford –The Story of a Village and Its People, will probably wonder why another book about the place is being published so soon after the first. One reason is that we have sold almost all the copies of that first edition. another is that the earlier publication was intended to be a snapshot of the village in the year 2000, with just a little past history to put the text into a slightly wider context. Well, the planned ten-page booklet grew until it covered the period from the Domesday Book to more or less the present, but it could not see into the future. Since its publication there have been radical changes which have altered the village from one which could be considered farm centred to one which is purely residential. From five working farms more or less throughout its history, there is now not one. There is still some stock in the fields around, but, apart from a small herd of pedigree cattle based at East Hall Farm, most commute from outside and cannot be considered at home. The beautiful stone barns have been converted to luxury dwellings and the farm labourers’ cottages have been renovated to provide much more spacious accommodation. These are the sorts of changes that should be recorded, since they mark the end of an era. We hope that this new book will also contain new items of interest about the history of the village, as well as some of the earlier background. The Somerset record office provides an invaluable service to those who have the time to seek out its treasures, but for those who prefer their records ready prepared, like a pre-cooked chicken, then we hope you will enjoy digesting the information we have served up for you here. For those who are interested in their roots, we have kept and expanded our earlier chapters on family history. This has been very popular with people whose forebears emigrated, especially to Australia and America. Many have found cousins living, in relative terms, almost next door, of whom they knew nothing and they always find a warm welcome when they return to Blackford. They are helped in this by the Blackford web-site, www.communigate.co.uk/twc/blackford where messages can be posted and links made across the world. This book is the result of much research and hard work by many people in the village who have used their skills and interests to great effect. it has also benefited from generous grants from South Somerset District Council and an awards for all Lottery grant for which we are very grateful. All proceeds from its sale go towards the upkeep of the Blackford reading room, which is the social centre of the village. As before, I have used the pronoun ‘we’ throughout to describe the author, but I here accept full responsibility for any mistakes, misunderstandings and misinterpretations that will inevitably have found their way into the text and hope they will be forgiven. They are mine and mine alone. Susan Hartnell-Beavis Blackford 2007