Released On 26th Nov 2024
Heritage Calendar Highlight
The South Somerset Heritage Collection, managed by Yeovil Town Council, has officially launched its highly anticipated 2025 Calendar—a fascinating journey through Yeovil’s storied past.
This year’s calendar offers a captivating blend of images and artifacts that spotlight local industries, shops, and restaurants, while commemorating 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe. Each month pairs a main photograph with a complementary image, creating a vivid tapestry of history that history enthusiasts and locals alike will enjoy.
Among the standout features is a wartime photograph of the Royal Observer Corps group stationed at Court Ash, Yeovil, where their headquarters were located during World War II. Accompanying it is a rare Bakelite headset and receiver.
Another interesting image captures a young 14-year-old apprentice, Ken Croom, with a Westland Whirlwind at Yeovilton, adding to the calendar's poignant wartime connections.
The Cottage Café, a cherished Yeovil landmark once run by the Banfield family, is also showcased. The featured image, believed to be from 1972, marks the café’s final year in operation. Alongside is a menu card and a glimpse of the dining room interior, evoking warm nostalgia for locals who dined there.
The Banfield legacy is again reflected upon with images of the Banfield Restaurant, previously located next to Moffat’s Cycle Shop on the High Street in Yeovil, and a charming postcard of Sidney Gardens, Yeovil, sourced from Christine Banfield’s 1956 homework album.
Cafés remain a recurring theme, with a nod to the Camel Cross Café at West Camel. The calendar begins and concludes with Denners, featuring the Denner and Stiby ironmongery shop in the High Street (possibly photographed by Henry Stiby himself) and a 1995 Christmas display from Denners Department Store.
Heritage Coordinator Joseph Lewis shared the inspiration behind this year’s calendar: “Each year, we strive to capture the essence of the collection through a mix of photographs and objects, ensuring it resonates with our community. This year, we’ve included newly donated images and thought-provoking moments from Yeovil’s history, like Middle Street in the late 1960s. We also use the calendar to seek answers—such as why a Scammell lorry seemingly took a wrong turn on Princes Street in the mid-1970s. If anyone has insights, we’d love to hear them!”
The 2025 Heritage Calendar is available now for £8.00 each or two for £14.00. It can be purchased at:
· South Somerset Heritage Collection, Artillery Road, Yeovil
· The Emporium, Princes Street, Yeovil
· Ninesprings Café, Yeovil Country Park
· Recreation Ground Café, Mudford Road, Yeovil
· Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil
Don’t miss your chance to own this vibrant celebration of Yeovil’s past!
