|  HOME  |  FOOT  |
Titles       Preface       Chapters: 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11    12    13    14    15    16    17    

Chapter Thirteen

MALMESBURY



Malmesbury Cross

The ancient town of Malmesbury has played host and home to our family for the past one hundred and sixty years and although my family today are of Swindon origin, because of my grandparents finding work in this area, we do still have many family connections living in the hill top town of Malmesbury today.   Little has been allowed to change, thank goodness, in this fascinating little town that attracts so many visitors from all over the world, and it is quite easy to feel a sense of stepping back in time, treading in the very footsteps of our ancestors as you walk along the High Street or in the ‘Cross Hayes’ at the rear of the shops.   I am certain that many of the family particularly the women and children, would have chatted under the cover of the Cross.   The name Lea does still carry on in Malmesbury and in close by Tetbury just a few miles up the road, though not in the abundance it has in years gone by.   And of course many of our family there carry a different surname, their grandmothers having had their name changed at marriage, but part of our great family they definitely are and over the last two years or so I have had the great pleasure of visiting some of them.   Malmesbury and its people are of a very warm nature which one can feel when coming into contact with them and I feel one would have to look a long way to find a more agreeable town to live in.


Malmesbury Abbey, April 2000


Missing postcards of Malmesbury past

THE SLAPPY

‘The Slappy’, its proper name being ‘The Royal Oak’, was without doubt an Oasis.   Purpose built to serve the thirsts of the commoners of Malmesbury after toiling on their allotted piece of land.   It was in its hey day a thriving concern, often playing host to whole families.   Ideally situated south of Malmesbury on the common, five hundred acres of land given to the people of Malmesbury by King Athelstan for loyal service during the conflicts, the ‘Slappy’ must have been a welcome sight for many a hard worker whose land was something like three acres in size.   It was also a chance for many a wife to spend time with her husband, well away from the drudgery of the housework.   Also great fun for the children who could venture into the woods by the side of the pub and play hide and seek or swing from the ropes that had been tied to the high branches of the walnut trees.   A red brick building still standing today but in a rather sad state of disrepair, is shelter to sheep who wander in and out at will, also home to a local tramp who is believed to be an ex-army man who has for some years now made it his permanent abode.

I have heard many tales of the characters who would frequent the Slappy and I am sure there is enough material available for quite an amusing book.   Just off the cuff, stories I have heard are of a Walter Nichols who had a very bad stutter and was often at the end of ridicule because of his impediment, but it seems his resolve was underestimated though because one night some revellers with white sheets over their heads and bodies intending to give Walter a fright, ran out of the woods groaning and wailing.   Not only did their antics fail to have the desired effect but they were soon put to full flight by Walter who was brandishing a heavy walking stick that he always carried around with him.   Also of how when he passed Courage Cottages on the side of Foxley Road during his two mile walk home, he was heard to say in a loud, clear and strong voice, “Night Ernie”, without the slightest trace of a stutter.

I have been told of a person who had been wheeled home in a wheel barrow after having been got the better of by the by the strong cider sold straight from the barrel in the Slappy.

I am assured the dropping of the snowball down the chimney by persons affected by drink and it falling straight into the big black pot over the fire is an authentic tale.

It seems to have also been a sanctuary for the local bobby on cold nights, who I am sure was just checking to see that all was well, only taking a little bit longer than it would normally take.

The stories are far too numerous to carry on with here but the few that I have related to does show that the “Royal Oak” had more than its fair share of character and characters.   I am told that it was run by a Mrs Eddles and her two sons, Harry and Eddie, for many years before they emigrated to Canada.   Later it was home for Mr and Mrs Goddard.   I have not been able to ascertain when it was built or when it was closed down, but I do know that it was well established in 1905.

Missing newspaper cutting about Bremilham Church
~~oo0oo~~

Additional material in the folder, not showing on this page due to copyright regulations:
Postcards.
Sketches of Cross and Abbey.
Newspaper cutting.
Titles       Preface       Chapters: 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11    12    13    14    15    16    17    

HOME       Contact Us       Introduction       Rabbits       Surnames Search       Us       Xmas Newsletters       TOP

This page was last updated on 10th April 2007.