The chances of a railway wagon landing high on a hill

We often wonder how  (along with fossils and roman coins, ancient beer bottles and flint arrow heads ) our dear old railway wagon got up our precipitous hill all those years ago? We believe it was in the late 60s when she was transported from Evercreech Junction to her final resting place. When we first arrived 21 years ago, she looked like this:

Last summer, family gatherings and amazing craftsmen worked with us to transform Gabriel’s Wagon to look like this!

Thanks to Myrddin Smithson: Maker/Carpenter, or Merlin, our Wood Wizard as we know him, he constructed the arching roof over the verandah to reflect the shape of the wagon and built the  bathroom out of cedar which provides a constant lingering warm scent of incense to bathe in.  Also Merlin is maker of our fine wood shed and bespoke furniture from reclaimed wood. Contact him on 07402912945/Instagram Coedenfach.

Pete Tapp – best plumber ever and that is his real name!

Neil - Master minder and Builder!

Philip Cox, alias Wiff – Much famed Somerset Digger man extraordinaire.

Eco build expert: Brother Paul with Neil and Merlin

Their skills, sense of fun and vision have made this place the haven of cosiness it is and we are indebted to them.

Why ‘Gabriel’s' Wagon?

Gabriel – oldest of four sons and musician – here he is playing at Ronnie Scotts:

 While he was growing up, the wagon became escape for him and rest for us from constant piano playing in the house and was so named ‘Gabriel’s Wagon.’

Next it became a place of love, a building transformed for Gabriel and Sophie's wedding and for others afterwards to enjoy its peace and tranquility. Here are Gabriel's phone shots of the view and Sophie enjoying her wedding breakfast cooked by Gabe on the verandah:

And this is what she wrote in the Visitor’s Book!

Gabriel’s Wagon looking down above the trace-lines of her past journeys on the Somerset and Dorset Railway.

Up until 1966, the countryside was interlaced with railway lines that connected the villages with the towns and cities. The trains carried milk , cheese, cream, farm produce, as well as passengers to Bath and Bristol and  holiday makers down to Bournemouth. Farmers would have put their milk churns into our wagon at Evercreech Junction in the valley below and taken it to Burnham On Sea, stopping at all these stations, most of which are now closed:

Evercreech, Pylle, West Pennard, Wells, Glastonbury, Ashcott, Shapwick, Edington, Bason Bridge, Highbridge, Burnham On Sea, Cole, Wincanton, Hensbridge, Stalbridge, Sturminster Newton, Shiilingstone; Shepton-Mallet, Downside, Maesbury, Binegar, Chilcompton, Misummer Norton, Radstock, Wellow, Midford Bath, Blandford Forum, Spetisbury, Bailey Gate, Corfe Mullen, Broadstone, Poole, Partktone, Branksome and Bournemouth.

Do listen to ‘The Slow Train’ by Flanders and Swann  who elegiacally record the passing of these great railway systems.

On a happier note, all these wonderful neighbouring villages and small towns remain and will be fun to visit and enjoy during your stay.