Q1. How did Venus Lane in Clutton get its name? (Gill Hazell 15 July 2025)
Hint - Along Venus Lane was the “Rope Yard” where big coils of wire rope used to be kept, probably for use in the mines. Source - The Story of Clutton Village - Clutton W.I.
Hint - Venus Lane shown on 1894 to 1903 OS Map but not shown on 1884 to 1888 OS Map.
Hint - Venus Lane, which on the 1820's Tythe Map was no more than a path means fenny or marshy - Guidebook – The Living Churchyard, Clutton, Somerset by David French (page 4) - Chatgpt states - Venus" is not a direct synonym for "fenny" or "marsh," but it can be related symbolically or poetically. Venus Land leads, directly into Marsh Lane.
Hint - On the 1838 Tithe map field number 333 (Mid way along Venus Lane the field opposite the Village Hall, where Carlton Close is now built) is called Venus and is classed as Meadow.
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Q2. There is very little information available regarding the Railway Bridges in Clutton; has anyone information or photographs please? (Alan Gray 19 August 2025)
The maps below show the location of the bridges -
Bridges crossing Station Road and the bottom of Clutton Hill
Bridge leading from Greyfield Pit used to dump
the waste on the large spoil heap
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Q3. I am hoping someone may be able to point me in the right direction. Does anyone hold records for Clutton RDC Fire Station, specifically during WW2? I am interested in my grandfather’s history and this is where he worked and lived during WW2. Thanks. (Sally Barnett posted on Clutton Then and Now Facebook page).
From Eric Brain
Church Lane – The Fire Station.
On 1st January 1941 a parish meeting was held regarding a local volunteer fire service mainly to deal with any stray incendiary bombs. The collection of sheds at the end of the footpath from Station Rd to Church Lane became the fire station. Later after the war, I can remember the sheds as lock up garages for cars. The house called ‘Pathways’ now stands on the site. The footpath though the allotments used to be closed by a short gate plus a kissing stile. The nettles and brambles grew through this stile and the churchgoers especially the ladies, made complaints about the wet leaves on their long dresses so Eli Dowling, caretaker of the churchyard, took it as one of his churchyard duties to keep this gate clear of undergrowth. At his funeral aged 77, he was highly praised for his service to the church over many years.
The small sloping paddock behind was used for grazing a pony but an elegant split-level bungalow now stands there, built in the late 1970s. The field gate was where the entrance to the bungalow now is and there was always a pony looking over the gate. Here the road starts to go uphill overlooked on the left by tennis courts. Halfway up stands a largish house facing south where Mr Cottle once lived who was, I believe, the colliery manager.
Indeed it was the Sage family, Ron Sage etc, whose father Percy Sage, once owned/rented? the premises in Temple Cloud where the close of bungalows now stands, by the doctors’ surgery. It later became Veaters saddler shop, then Veaters moved to Taylors’ Bottom in Clutton. The Fire Station as it was always known in my boyhood was where Sages moved to for their car repair business. It was only an AFS fire station for a couple of years, maybe less. There was no fire-engine.
Question Answered
From Sally Barnett - A kind member from Clutton Then and Now informed me that Clutton RD Fire Station is in Paulton and I know the building is still there as you can see it on Google Maps. I hope that has cleared up any confusion.
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