Tony Sampson Who the hell is this bloke wat did he do for the village
Tim Veater
He was one of Britain's earliest and greatest philosophers Tony. His grandfather settled in Belluton in the late 1500's and his famous grandson grew up there through the Civil War before he was enrolled in Westminster School and subsequently Christ Church Oxford. He was a friend of Sir Isaac Newton and many other leading lights in the newly formed Royal Society that was part of the remarkable scientific revolution from which we all now benefit. That's just a little of his achievements but he is certainly someone with whom the village should be proud to be associated.Tim Veater
more here for anyone interested: https://veaterecosan.blogspot.com/search?q=john+lockeTim Veater
I have a little collection of his works, some dating back to the early 18th C. He lived in very dangerous times for a free thinker and had to be very careful about his publications from around 1688 onwards. Only later on were they published in his name. In addition to well known revolutionary works on how people think in his essay concerning human understanding, on toleration and government, he also published his ideas on education and health which are some of the earliest from that period. But his influence extended beyond that to trade with the new American colonies, freeing the press from government control and the stabilisation of money which was in crisis at the end of the 17th C.Ali Price Try this link as it gives lots of history including John Locke who was a philosopher
https://www.bafhs.org.uk/.../other.../80-pensford-a-publow
Tim Veater As a school boy I 'discovered' John Locke. I was always amazed that a man who was to have such an impact on Britain and the world, grew up in the same vicinity as me, yet was so little known or acknowledged locally. All the accounts of Locke state he was born at Wrington (which he was as it was his mother's parents home) whilst almost overlooking all his formative years in Pensford where his father was Squire Popham's steward and Clerk to the Justices in a tumultuous period. After his father and only brother died in 1663(?) his visits to his family home were less frequent but he kept a sizeable local estate until his death in Essex in 1704. He would have been 387 a couple of days ago! For more see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke
As a school boy I 'discovered' John Locke. I was always amazed that a man who was to have such an impact on Britain and the world, grew up in the same vicinity as me, yet was so little known or acknowledged locally. All the accounts of Locke state he was born at Wrington (which he was as it was his mother's parents home) whilst almost overlooking all his formative years in Pensford where his father was Squire Popham's steward and Clerk to the Justices in a tumultuous period. After his father and only brother died in 1663(?) his visits to his family home were less frequent but he kept a sizeable local estate until his death in Essex in 1704. He would have been 387 a couple of days ago! For more see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke
Tim Veater Some on this page might be familiar with Lord Edward Strachey (1882 - 1973) who lived at Sutton Court and was the last of a distinguished line. (See: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/.../8f10ae60...) As a child I remember meeting him (and his impressive Great Dane!) with my dad who was on friendly terms with him. What is fascinating is that Locke's best friend from his childhood was the ancestor John Strachie and the two spent many hours there and in the surrounding countryside. Some of the letters between them still survive in archive collections. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strachey_baronets- Tim Veater One unremarked detail of importance is that one of his first and most important treatises, namely First Tract of Government (or the English Tract) dates from 1660, the year of the restoration of Charles II. This after about twenty years of civil strifeand the establishment of a puritanical republican 'Commonwealth' under Oliver Cromwell was a tricky period for Locke and the nation. He seems to have wisely retired to Pensford from Oxford for the transition for some weeks. It is therefore quite reasonable to assume that Pensford may lay claim to be the location of the first draft of a majorly influential work.
- Ros Anstey Rowan Ondapond Barbara Bowes has done a lot of research on John Locke and has included him in her book on Pensford's history. Mr Davies ( your headmaster) also included a few paragraphs of John Locke in his book Past Participles of Pensford...maroon cover... there used to be quite a few of these books about.
- Tim Veater For those less interested in the historical events from the past, it might be worth noting the many political parallels today with those of Locke's time. The stand-off between Parliament and Crown is replicated in the current 'Brexit' controversy. "The more things change, the more they stay the same" it seems!
- Bob Baber Cottage is still there and I believe that John Locke had something to do with the wording in regards to the Constitution of USA
- Tim Veater He did indeed! Following comes from http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2.asp "The single most important influence that shaped the founding of the United States comes from JOHN LOCKE, a 17th century Englishman who redefined the nature of government. In his SECOND TREATISE OF GOVERNMENT, Locke identified the basis of a legitimate government. According to Locke, a ruler gains authority through the consent of the governed. The duty of that government is to protect the natural rights of the people, which Locke believed to include LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PROPERTY. If the government should fail to protect these rights, its citizens would have the right to overthrow that government. This idea deeply influenced THOMAS JEFFERSON as he drafted the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE."
- Tim Veater Many of the liberties we today take for granted were significantly influenced by Locke's clear thinking and writings. Lord Shaftesbury, who for a short period of time was the most powerful politician in England under Charles II led the protestant and Whig concensus against a Catholic tyranny. Locke saved his life with the insertion of a silver catheter to drain a life threatening liver abscess. After this they were almost inseperable and it catepulted Locke into the top echelons of Jacobean politics. In fact he had to escape to Holland to avoid trial and possible scaffold after the Rye House Plot, although his involvement was never proved. So without Locke there would have been no Shaftesbury and history would have been very different.
Rowan Ondapond This is all very nice about john locke.. but no one has actually answered Tony "aka" wanker sampsons original question . What did john locke actually do for pensford.. ??
Rowan Ondapond I dont disagree.. but there must be some history somewhere about him and his family and there involvement with the popham estate that would be nice to know..
Ros Anstey Rowan Ondapond....You can find all about him in various books..I have one on my book shelf.....wasn't Popham after John Locke though? Or have I got that wrong? Probably...:-)
Tim Veater Rowan Ondapond I tried to answer your question here Rowan, though obviously not very successfully lol. https://veaterecosan.blogspot.com/search?q=locke- Rowan Ondapond Thanks Tim
Caroline Batten Where did he live in Pensford?
- Tim Veater It's not entirely clear how 'Locke's Cottage' in Belluton is linked. It might be part of the original substantial house that must have been demolished when the existing Belluton House was built around the end of the 18th C.
- Ros Anstey Tim Veater I've visited Locke's Cottage, Tim and it was a separate cottage at the side of Belluton House. On the left towat=rds the rear as you look at the photo above...It's still there as far as I know. This was in the days of Eve and Ted Gardiner and after they had done it up and made it ready for renting. I have photos somewhere too, and even sat in there for a while seeing if I could feel John Locke's vibes...ha ha ha....I did not ! :-)
- Tim Veater Ros Anstey Fascinating Ros. The power of the Press! I always harboured a desire to do the same. I wish you had taken me along to carry your bags. LOL The back view shows it better I think. My guess is this was originally a worker's cottage or similar attached to the main farmhouse that was demolished to make way for the existing. I suppose it is also possible that Locke kept it in case of needing a roof after the main building was let out, although I think that unlikely. After his father and brother's death in the early 1660's when he visited the locality he seems to have preferred to stay with his old friend John Strachie at Sutton Court.
- Tim Veater Incidentally Ros, did you ever get to Interview Edward Strachey or Lord O'Hagan was that before your time?
- Ros Anstey Tim Veater That was before my time,. Tim,..but we did have Victor Pritchard come and be subjected to questions from our history group,,,which was most enlightening and very, very interesting. ....and looking at a photo of Lord Strachey compared with Victor's .......well........no comment... 💕
- Ros Anstey Tim Veater You could have come along with me any time on my 'jaunts' Tim..(y) (y) (y) You would have helped no end too with your knowledge..I did go off with Eve Gardiner from Belluton House one day...saw her on a bustop, she asked where I was off to and I told her I was going on a trail to find out more about Sir John de Hautville...can I come she said?> I said yes and then followed a very interesting, and hilarious at times, day. We started off at Quoit Farm, got the farmer to show us the Hautville Quoit (which was steadly sinking in to the ground) and then went on to Norton Hawkfield / Norton Malreward church, which was very, very interesting. That was where the Sir John de Hautville effigy was residing before it went to St Andrew's in Chew Magna. Then we ended up with said effigy at the church inh Chew Magna. He lay there, as always, looking as if he was guardian to some amusing secret and all we had to do was wait there until he opened his eyes...he never did,.. But that was a lovely day, and I think you would have enjoyed it too.
As regards John Locke's cottage I must admit I thought it a bit too modern (ish) to be the original cottage, but then...you can refurbish old places and make them look newer,...Eve said it was the original cottage anyway, so.........
I can't blame John Locke staying at Sutton Court though. I used to visit someone there, again to do with an article, and found it a fascinating place.... - Tim Veater Ros Anstey I was at school with Victor. As I remember it he was a very talented artist. Of course his mother, as I understand it, was Lord Strachey's house keeper and he was brought up there. I have seen public correspondence from Victor decrying the treatment of the house after Strachey's death in '74. When I had contact with Mrs Kieffer who published local history articles (did you know her?) she said there was a large library at the house with other historic artifacts. Do you know what happened to it all? Somerset Record Office has the family papers I believe.
- Ros Anstey Tim Veater Hi brother was too., and it was Lord Strachey who did the wall paintings in the little church at Stowey..using faces of local villagers for the subjects... So they probably inherited his artstic gift. Yes their mother was Lord Strachey's housekeeper.
No I have nebver heard of Mrs Kieffer and also don't know what happened to the large library and its contents at the house.. Sorry Tim x - Tim Veater Ros Anstey Liz Kieffer, her daughter, lived in Stanton Drew up to her death a few years ago. The family lived in the cottage next to the fording footpath before you enter Stanton Drew from Pensford.
- Ros Anstey Tim Veater Thanks for that bit of knowledge, Tim....I hadn't even heard of Liz either...mind you I was only in Pensford from 1971 until the late 80s, or thereabouts...might have ebn been later, but definitely not earlier... x
- Tim Veater A contributor here asked the question "Who is John Locke?" I am very gratified to think, that thanks to the efforts of Dom Lowe and friends, many more might ask that question, as they travel through Pensford. His seminal thinking and writing has had lasting consequences for the development of scientific progress and liberal thinking in the western world over the past 300 years, the principles of which could not be more relevant today.
- Tim Veater Popham owned quite a lot of property as did Locke. He refers in his correspondence to the problems of collecting rent and the arrears that accumulated from those unable or unwilling to pay. He had to delegate the management to his cousin or nephew (I can't remember which at the moment) as he was abroad a good deal of the time and even when not, on the other side of the country in London and Essex it obviously made communication difficult. He died a relatively weathy man worth over £20,000 and left bequests to the poor of Pensford as did his father and grandfather. I suppose in answer to an earlier question, this is one small thing he did directly for the village.
- Ros Anstey Never thought of it like that, Dom.....I think you are right with Pensford's daily life in those days affecting John Locke's thinking.. Wouldn't it be good if we could somehow slip back in time and spend a day just watching things as they were back then...a whole different liffe to what we know now.
- Tim Veater Ros Anstey Just think what Pensford was like in the 1600's. Let's take an imaginary journey. No 'New Road', only one small bridge, no Primary School, no Viaduct, no Council Estate or new houses, in fact only a few of the existing buildings to be seen. Pre-motor traffic, aircraft and power tools, the aural environment would have been very different (with the exception of certain manufacturing activities) only the sounds of human voices, animals and the natural world. Pre-railway, pre-steam, pre-electricity, pre-radio, pre-television, pre-telephone, pre-mobiles, pre-internet. Pre-piped water supply, pre-drains and sewage, pre-plastic, pre-rubbish and its collection, pre-central heating, pre-electric light and power. Pre-state education for everyone, pre-ambulance, fire engine and police force. Pre-modern medicine and painless surgery. People subject to killer diseases including plague and TB against which only superstitious cures existed. Virtually no safety net for those unable to work, ill or old. The village an intimate inter-connected and hierarchical society in which most people would spend their whole lives and the only means of travel - feet and legs - unless the rich few with access to a horse. All of this within a wider social, political and religious context that was in a highly febrile state, with men at arms and armies bivouacking in, and marching through, the village. King against Parliament; rebels against government; Protestants against Catholics and Church against Non-Conformists; Dutch William against unpopular James. Maybe despite all our problems, we are better being alive today or did they have a quality of life we have now lost?
- Ros Anstey Tim Veater I just keep thinking of how many young kids died before they were 2 years old....it sounds attractve, the simplicity of it all, but you needed money, or something to trade with, so no money or bartering then no food and certain death..Hmmm I think I know which I would prefer.......x.....
Tim Veater Ros Anstey The treatment of women seems particularly brutal especially in cases of stillbirth or infant death when the mother if she were unlucky would be charged with murder and burnt at the stake! "The first notable trial was that of an elderly gentlewoman named Dame Alice Lyle.[2] The jury reluctantly found her guilty, and, the law recognising no distinction between principals and accessories in treason, she was sentenced to be burned. This was commuted to beheading, with the sentence being carried out in Winchester market-place on 2 September 1685. A woman named Elizabeth Gaunt had the gruesome distinction of being the last woman burnt alive in England for political crimes." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Assizes However burning women alive continued for yet another century. Thus: "Catherine Murphy (died 18 March 1789) (also known as Christian Murphy) was an English counterfeiter, the last woman in England to be officially burned at the stake. Catherine Murphy and her husband, Hugh Murphy, were convicted for coining at the Old Bailey in London and sentenced to death on 18 September 1788." https://en.wikipedia.org/.../Catherine_Murphy... See how recently we have become 'civilized'?
- · Reply
- · Remove Preview
- · 28w
- Tim Veater Everyone accepted that Alice Lyle was quite blameless other than sheltering a runaway.
- Ros Anstey Tim Veater...Terrible what went on...what about the trials in Pensford? Thought Judge Jefferies held court in the Rising Sun, or was it the George and Dragon? Twelve men were found guilty , weren't they? And weren't a couple of them hung up at Gibbet Lane? Some were transported to Oz too I think...if my memory is correct of course..
- Tim Veater Jeffries was almost universally despised and particularly in the West Country. He came to a very sticky end. The ferocious treatment of the 'rebels' left an indelible wound that did much to ensure that when William landed at Torbay just three weeks later he had no difficulty in recruiting again to add to the fighting force he brought with him. This time his advance was further to the south, so unlike Monmouth he didn't pass through the village.
- Tim Veater Ros Anstey I take the view that we owe that Dutchman, a great deal for rescuing us from a French/Catholic tyranny. Three centuries later, similar issues are being played out but in different circumstances and a very different technological and philosophical world.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.