Todd A Phillips writes:

Hello again, I have some exciting news before we start this month's article. Coming soon I will be hosting my own radio show called "Todd's Time Travel" on Somer Valley FM. This will be going live once a week on Sunday afternoons. I will be interviewing people from different historical sites and museums in our local area. So, stay tuned for more, and don't worry if you don't catch it live, you can always listen later on the Somer Valley FM website where it will be uploaded for you all to listen.

A Sweet Tooth; the Story of Eliza Rivers

Going through the five arches it's always difficult to decide which story I should share with you. However, I discovered this fascinating tale regarding a sweet shop, that was set up in Bath Old Road in Radstock. My thanks to Dr Ian C. Brown for sharing this story, which for him was closer to home, as Eliza was his great aunt.

The store was run for over 45 years before Eliza passed away in 1949 at the age of 90. She was well loved by her friends and family, but specifically the school children. Having no children of her own and never being married, she watched as the children who visited her shop grew into adulthood. To her these customers at the time were her "Boys & Girls". The children in return showed their affection for her, according to Dr Brown, a child once asked her if she would accept a weekly instalment of a halfpenny, towards an Easter Egg. Upon agreeing, once the egg was purchased, the egg was actually a gift for Miss Rivers herself!

Incredibly, even though the cottage she ran her shop through was small, she managed to pack a lot of stock. Downstairs was located two rooms, one being a small area just for a staircase and storage for coal. Additionally, bulkier items that were sold loosely in the shop, such as sugar and vinegar. Amazingly, one room served as a shop, kitchen and living room, talk about making use of space!

All of this was done without the use of gas, electricity or even running water. Even the bathroom facilities were shared with four other cottages that were located in the yard behind. Sweets, soft drink, groceries, laces and ribbons were amongst the items that were sold in the store. Interestingly, inside the Radstock Museum, you will see a layout of a typical grocery store from the early 1900s including lots of original products from the era. I for one, wish they still were still like this!

The shop itself was set up by Eliza's parents, Thomas Rivers and Elizabeth Wareham who were married in Bath in 1857, then settled in Radstock. They spent a few years in the Dunkerton area before setting in Bath old Road in 1867. Eliza's mother was originally the first person to run the shop, whilst Eliza was serving at a Huish Farm in Radstock. Many years passed and Eliza went on to do different jobs travelling out to London to serve as a domestic cook. She returned in 1901 to help her parents who were reaching old age, to help run the home and shop.

Eventually, by the 1920's Eliza was able to not only purchase this cottage, but also four other adjoining cottages along with a coach house, outside toilets and stable yard. This all took place during the period when the Waldegrave Estates had put much of the Radstock area up for sale, allowing Eliza to expand.

After Eliza passed, the five cottages were passed onto Dr Brown's grandmother who then rented them out. Unfortunately, when she passed the council at the time deemed the cottages unhabitable and had them demolished. Such a shame we lost one of Radstock's only sweet shops. Anyone want to chip in and make a traditional old sweet shop? (I promise to not eat the entire stock!).

A modern house was rebuilt on top of the demolished stones, and in doing so Dr Brown and his wife at the time entertained guests and friends in their home continuing the legacy of Eliza Rivers.

My thanks again to The Radstock Museum for letting me research into these articles and sharing the knowledge I've learn with you all. The museum and shop reopens on Wednesday 2nd June for three days a week Wednesdays and Sundays 2-5pm and Saturdays 11-5pmThen in July the museum will open as pre Covid and the tearoom will reopen too.For all of June, July and August the museum will be FREE to enter.

Todd A Phillips

References: Five Arches, journal of the Radstock and Midsomer Norton Museum Society. Issue No.58 Summer 2007 (Miss Rivers' Shop) To subscribe to Five Arches (3 issues published per year) please go to www.radstockmuseum.co.uk scroll down the home page until you see the Five Arches click there to subscribe online or find details of subscribing by post.