DR BELL: THE WRINGTON YEARS (1935/6-1974)

 

By Adrian V W Freer

 

The name of Dr Bell is inextricably linked with the village of Wrington in North Somerset. The fact that the first half of his life was spent in a variety of locations in southern England, never staying in one location for more than a few years, probably goes some way to explain why he finally settled there.

 

Howard Alexander Bell was born in Bletchingley in Surrey, the family then moved to Broadstairs in Kent and from there he went on to study medicine at Cambridge University and in London. With the outbreak of WW1 he joined the army and spent much of the war years in Flanders and the Middle East. Upon returning home from the conflict he took up practice firstly in Sussex and subsequently Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire.

 

Dr Bell’s next, and what was to be his final move, came when he relocated to Wrington to take up his position as the local GP. There he resided for the remaining four decades of his life. It could be that after constantly moving around so much, once he had discovered Wrington which he loved so much and nearby Blagdon Water where he fished regularly, he decided that it would be the place where he would spend the remainder of his days.

 

So what and where is Wrington, and what was it that made the village so appealing to the doctor?

 

Wrington is located in North Somerset in the area of the Mendip Hills. The nearest large towns and cities are Weston Super Mare 12 miles to the west, Bristol 13 miles north-east, Bath 23 miles to the east and Salisbury which is 57 miles south-east. Wrington is 4 miles from Bristol Airport. However, when Dr Bell moved to Wrington in 1935/6 the most important feature to him was its proximity to his beloved Blagdon Water which is just 5 miles and a few minutes’ drive to the east.

 

Wrington is a large village lying in the Congresbury Yeo valley which today has a population of around 2,600 inhabitants. Amongst other things it boasts Wrington All Saint’s Church built on 13th century foundations but re-modelled around 1450, a URC chapel, a primary school, numerous shops, The Golden Lion inn, a trading estate and even the Butcombe Brewery, a microbrewery set up in 1978!

 

At one time Wrington did have its own railway station on The Wrington Vale Light Railway Line, owned by The Great Western Railway, which ran from Congresbury to Blagdon. The line was first opened in 1901 but was closed to passengers in 1931. It did continue carrying coal freight after this time but the line was closed completely in 1963.

 

During the time Dr Bell lived in Wrington it was, and it still is in many respects, a self-sufficient rural community with all the facilities necessary to satisfy the simple needs of the doctor. He was able to contribute his services as the local medical practitioner and in return tuck himself away quietly and anonymously in tranquil surroundings where he was unknown by the world at large.

 

Sadly all did not to go according to plan as, four years after his move, the Second World War broke out and as he was too old for military service he played an active role in the Wrington Home Guard. After the war had finished he was able to return to his fishing and continue the quiet and peaceful life he craved.

 

Although Wrington is much changed from the village that Dr Bell knew and loved it is still a thriving rural community with its own medical practice, local history group, drama club, bell ringers, scouts and guides and a host of other activities. In addition it has its own cricket club and football team, Wrington Redhill AFC. Doctor Bell would surely have approved.

 

In addition to Dr Bell, Wrington has had several other notable residents:

 

• Samuel Crooke (1575–1649) was the rector of Wrington for 50 years.

• Francis Roberts (1607–1675) the Puritan, librarian and scholar was rector of Wrington from 1650 until 1675.

• John Locke (1632–1704) the philosopher and physician, known as the ‘Father of Liberalism’, was born in Wrington.

• Henry Walton Smith (1738–1792) the founder of W H Smith, the newsagents, was brought up in Wrington.

• Hannah More (1745–1833) who worked tirelessly to improve the conditions of miners and agricultural workers is buried at All Saints' Church.

• William Talbot Aveline (1822–1903) the geologist and archaeologist was brought up in Wrington.

• Frank Cousins (1904-1986) the trade union leader and politician retired to Wrington.

 

The website is indebted to Bill Rogers for the accompanying images of early twentieth century Wrington taken from his collection of postcards on the Wrington website.