Bridgwater Alfred 1.47, 26 June 1832

Notes from the 26 June 1832 Edition:

Advert for the Session Ball to be held in the Assembly Rooms Bridgwater in the Royal Clarence Hotel.

Following on from last week’s notes on insurance brokers, this editional also has mention of George Awbrey as Bridgwater agent for the Sun Fire Office insurance company.

Inquest at the town hall on the body of William Wippell, a boy or 7 or 8 years. On Saturday 9 June he had fallen into a vat of hot grains in his father John’s brewhouse and had been badly scalded. The boy died on 19 June. The 1851 census shows us that the Wippells were innkeepers of the Bristol Arms Inn in High Street. John Wippell lived 1785 to 1847, while his wife, Elizabeth nee Gane lived 1788 to 1860 and she is buried in the Wembdon Road Cemetery along with several of her children. John is reputed to have built the High Street frontage in 1822.

The Bristol Arms from a postcard sent in 1915, showing John Wippell’s frontage. The lower storey with balcony may be a later alteration, although it is not impossible it dates to his time. The balcony was removed in 1960 when the pub closed.

Mention of the accidental injury at Lympsham of Mr Palmer, who while trying to get onto a cart using the wheel he slipped and mangled his leg.

Brief description of the Annual Ball at Stowey.

Highway Robbery near North Petherton of William Lally of Taunton, who was returning from Bridgwater market with his wife, but was attacked by two footpads, who beat him and left him for dead. The two men were subsequently apprehended.