Frederick Harold Allen Collection

Frederick Harold Allen

A full biography of Frederick Harold Allen (1869-1941) can be found on the website of the Friends of the Wembdon Road Cemetery by Clare Spicer and Jill Trethewey. After its publication in late December 2025 Neil Squibbs, a descendant, kindly donated to the group a scrap book with ephemera and newspaper clippings from Allen’s year in office as Mayor of Bridgwater in 1922-1923. This wonderful insight into Bridgwater at that time will be digitised here and then deposited in the Somerset Heritage Centre. Click below for an article and check back as more are added. Also donated were notes on the Town Hall Tapestries.

Contents of the Collection

The Allotment Holders Association, 1922-1927
The Unbuilt Bridgwater to Watchet Railway, 1923-1924
The Mayoress’s Chain, 1928
The Bridgwater Amateur Operatic Society’s HMS Pinafore, 1933

The Mayor’s Year 1922-1923

Frederick Allen’s scrapbook from his time as mayor gives us a good idea of all the functions, meeting and celebrations he was expected to attend. This is probably not a complete list, but gives a taste of civil life in the town in the 1920s.

  • 9November 1922. Town Council Meeting. Alderman Frederick Harold Allen Elected to be mayor the next year, replacing Alderman S. Berry.
  • Same day, Bridgwater Secondary School for Girls: Speech Day and Presentation at the Town Hall.
  • 11 November Remembrance Day ceremony on Cornhill and in St Mary’s Church.
  • 13 November. Bridgwater Borough Police Court. Welcome to Mayor Allen as one of the magistrates, being mayor.
  • 22-24November. ‘Gibsy Fair’ held in Bridgwater to support St Mary’s Church.
  • 23 November. Bridgwater Angling Association Dinner and Prize Distribution.
  • 29 November. National Farmers’ Union, Somerset County Branch, executive committee annual meeting.
  • 30 November: Somerset War Memorial dedicated at Wells Cathedral, with the Duke of York present. Invitation by the Bishop of Bath and Wells Wynne Williams to the Bishop’s Palace afterwards to meet the Duke.
  • 1 December. Bridgwater Congregationalist Church, Centenary Celebration. 
  • 5 December. Christmas Livestock Shop. 
  • 7 December. Mary Stanley Nursing Home meeting. 
  • 11 December. Carnival Ball.
  • 12 December. Bridgwater Young Men’s Association Jubilee Meeting.
  • 14 December. All Saints’ Mission Chapel Bazaar.
  • 14 December. Town Council Meeting.
  • 18 December. Borough Police Court.
  • December. Children’s Fancy Dress Party.
  • December. Unitarian Church Meeting.
  • 21 December. Town Council Meeting.
  • 25 December. Christmas charity work at the Workhouse and hospital. #
  • 1 January 1923. Borough Police Court.
  • 4 January. Bridgwater Allotment Holders Annual Supper.
  • United Methodists Entertainment for the Blind.
  • 8 January. Installation of Bro. Tom Eveleigh to the Perpetual Friendship Lodge at the Masonic Temple Bridgwater.
  • 18 January. Town Council Meeting.
  • 19 January. Allotment Association Meeting.
  • 22 January. Borough Police Court.
  • 23 January 23rd Lecture on Prisons and Prisoners. 
  • 24 January. St Mary’s Sunday School – prize distribution.
  • 24 January. Allotment Association Meeting.
  • 26 January. Tone Vale Employees Social and Dance.
  • 30 January. Comrades Club Meeting
  • 8 February. Maiden Quarter Sessions.
  • 8 February. Mr Melbourne Inman at Bridgwater.
  • 8 February. Town soccer club whist drive and dance.
  • 15 February. Town Council Meeting.
  • 15 February. Borough Police Court.  
  • 1 March. Bridgwater Infirmary Meeting.
  • 3 March. Schoolboys Cup Competition, Bridgwater versus Street.
  • 3 March. Allotment Association Meeting.
  • 3 March. Bridgwater Unemployment League Town Hall Smoking Concert.  
  • March. Whist drive and dance for Mary Stanley.
  • 15 March. Town Council Meeting.
  • 19 March. Town hall lecture with history of the hospital.
  • 22 March. Skittle League presentation of cup and medals.  
  • 22 March. Girl Guides Meeting.
  • 23 March. Comrades annual boxing tournament.
  • 25 March. Comrades orchestra Sunday concert.
  • 29 March. At White Hart Hotel, Edwin Bryant proprietor leaving for Weston super Mare.
  • 31 March. Funeral of G.E. Shrimpton   
  • 9 April. Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce meeting.
  • 9 April. The Dansant– pupils dancing.
  • 12 April. Cinema Lecture.
  • 19 April. Town Council Meeting.
  • 26 April. Telegraph of congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of York by the town of Bridgwater. Return telegraph from the palace in thanks.
  • 19 April. War memorial rugby match.
  • 20 April. Bridgwater Swimming Club annual Meeting.
  • 22 April. SPCC meeting at Bridgwater.
  • 27 April. Maiden Quarter Session.
  • 27 April. Borough Police Court.
  • 1 May. Bath. Luncheon given by the Mayor of Bath, Alderman Cedric Chivers JP on the occasion of the opening of the Somerset County Agricultural Show.
  • 6 May. Industrial Sunday.  
  • 11 May.  The Kendal Quartet at Bridgwater
  • May. Bridgwater Angling Association annual meeting.
  • 17 May. Town Council Meeting.
  • 24 May. Miss Edna Maude at Bridgwater.
  • 24 May. Empire Day in the Schools.
  • 27 May. New Vicar of Bridgwater, Rev R.S. Berry.
  • 28 May. Welcome Social for the new vicar.
  • 10 to 16 June. Bridgwater Hospital Week.
  • 14 June. The County Fair at the Albion football ground.
  • 21 June. Town Council Meeting.  
  • 21 June. Funeral of Mrs T.B. Dilks.
  • 21 June. Bridgwater Boy Scouts Annual Sports.
  • 9 July. Salvation Army musical demonstration.
  • July Opening of new Road in Wembdon.  
  • 3 July. Swimming Club Sports.
  • 19 July. Town Council Meeting.
  • 20 July. Quarter Sessions.  
  • 30 June. Somerset Teachers annual meeting and luncheon.
  • 26 July. Spaxton Church Fete.
  • 28 July. Cooperative Society Children’s Festival.
  • 25 July. Bridgwater Secondary School for Girls. Exhibition of pupils work.
  • 23 July. Old People’s Outing.
  • 26 July. Bridgwater and District Elementary Schools’ Sports Association Day.
  • July Bridgwater Athletic Association Football Club Meeting.  
  • July. County Petty Sessions.
  • 30 July. Chamber of Commerce Meeting.
  • 4 August Puriton Allotment Holders Association Show.
  • 14 August. Bridgwater Rugby Club meeting.
  • 16 August. Bridgwater Swimming Club sports at the baths.
  • 16 August. Town Council Meeting.
  • 18 August. Bridgwater Allotment Holders annual vegetable and flower show.  
  • 30 August. Corporation Bowls.
  • 14 September. Westonzoyland Horticultural Society  Second annual show.
  • 20 September. Licenced Victuallers Defence League representative meeting at Bridgwater.
  • 20 September. Town Council Meeting.  
  • 24 September. Mrs General Booth at Bridgwater, meetings at Town Hall.
  • 2 October. Conference on Unemployment.
  • 4-5 October. Red Triangle Fair for YMCA.
  • 5 October. Town Council Meeting. Frederick Allen reports not wanting to continue into a second term as Mayor. Councillor W.H.J. Masding to accept office.
  • 13 October. Building begins on the Bridgwater Housing Scheme.
  • 15 October. Sheppard’s pupils’ Recital.
  • 19 October. Chamber of Commerce Meeting.
  • October. Councillors versus Comrades skittles match.
  • 18 October. Town Council Meeting.  
  • 23 October. Town Council meeting.
  • 24 October. Meeting with the GWR held at Paddington with Deputation from Bridgwater about a possible line to Watchet.
  • 28 October. Bridgwater Hospital Sunday. Annual