ANECDOTES
ABOUT THE VILLAGE.
John Huntley died at the age or 94 in 1891 having been born in the year 1797.The
following are reminscinces of the village told by him to Miss Helen Foxcroft in
1888
An election anecdote
In the days before the 1914- 18 war, political elections, in the view of the older
ones among us, had far more savour than is the case nowadays. In the old Frome
Division, and elsewhere, the contests were generally straight fights between Conservative
and Liberals. The colours adopted by the two parties were the same throughout
the Country. Blue for Conservative and Red for Liberals. Plenty of red and blue
paint was splashed about not unaccompanied by a certain amount of free beer of
the old kind. Our village was no exception. Traces of the blue paint splashed
on the wall of Mr. Ernest Andrews's cottage can still be seen. "there is
one story related by Mr. Arthur Swift in particular, which never fails to delight.
Living in what is now Mr. Carter's cottage in Wellow Lane was the late Mr. John
Deverell, possessor of a name once well known in this village. A stout hearted
Conservative of exceedingly blasphemous address, he owned a grey mare of which
he was very proud. One night at election time two bright sparks (rumour has it
Mr. Chancellor and Mr. Holcombe) took a large pot of red paint and painted this
grey mare, the joy of Tory John Deverell's heart, with beautiful red stripes and
the words "Vote for Barlow". The next day found John Deverell almost at a loss
for oaths. He was told by friends in the Local to take his mare, perhaps in the
hope of some redress to the local J.P. Squire Foxcroft, but warned not to swear.
The phenomenon was duly led up to the front door, where Mr. and Mrs. Foxcroft
were waiting to receive man and horse. It was very hard for either of those holding
the reception to think of anyadequate or soothing comment. Eventually Mrs. Foxcroft
remarked on the fact that even the ears were bedaubed with the Liberal colouring.
"Yes" says John Deverell that's were b...s caught hold of `un". He was led off
muttering, having broken his promise.