70 years after VE day with the aid of Nailsea Town Council and N&DLHS this book contains the result of 25 years research and provides memories of Evacuees, Starfish and Things that go bump in the night from over 100 individuals.

On 2nd September 1939 evacuees from both east and west London arrived. The next day during the service at Chelvey the Rector announced to his congregation “We are at War”.

Eileen met the boy who would become her husband on the first day after they arrived, while Frank and Joyce, head boy and girl of the Hammersmith School, married in April 1946. Frank describes his time as a “Bevin Boy” when he was conscripted. Later children and troops from other countries were also to be seen and the “Americans” came to Tyntesfield. There are many other accounts of the trials and tribulations of life in war time and as can be seen from the contents the scope is far wider than can be described here.

A5 paperback, perfect bound, 300 pages

Available to personal shoppers only from Nailsea Town Council offices at the Tithe Barn, near Holy Trinity Church, price £13.50

Orders by post - send only to Nailsea & District Local History Society (address as above)
Price inc p&p £16 (UK), £18 (Europe and Overseas)
Cheques to be made payable to N&DLHS

For orders of more than 1 copy, please email N&DLHS for a quotation

For a PDF of the book contents click HERE

Having failed to reach Dunkirk Victor was trapped in Northern France. Hidden for several months by a French family he was eventually passed down “Pat O’Leary’s” escape line. Reaching Vichy France he was promptly interned. With the prospect of the German’s taking complete control of that part of Southern France he decided to escape. Having successfully got out of the prison with others he travelled over the Pyrenees but was then held in Spain. Finally he was moved to Gibraltar followed by a journey by sea to England and Freedom.

In the adventures recounted here amongst other stories you will find his surprise at being able to inspect a Luftwaffe air base in full view of the guards. You will also discover how the trousers of a pre-war racing driver aided Victor and his companions.

PDF ebook supplied on a CD in A5 & A4 formats, as well as a .mobi version that can be viewed on an Amazon Kindle or other ‘Mobipocket’ compatible reader, £5.00
Please note that this IS NOT an audio disk

This is an edited compilation of two books written by Jack Hart, one time Licensee of the Queen's Head. In this new book, which is copiously illustrated with photographs from the Society archive, Jack recalls work and leisure in Nailsea between 1900 and the start of World War 2.

A5 paperback, perfect bound, 65 pages £7.00  

Written by a brother (Wilf Rew) and his three sisters this book covers their memories of Wraxall School over 23 years together with an impression of Nailsea school during the war years.

Wilf has added his memories of his time as an uncertificated teacher in the thirties at several schools in Somerset.

A4 spiral bound, 29 pages £5.00

For contents click HERE
For two sample pages click HERE

A5 paperback, £5.00

A4 spiral bound, 42 pages £6.00

A4 spiral bound, 48 pages £7.50

The remarkable story of the rise and decline of this world famous Glassworks which operated from 1788 until 1873. Its partnerships, employees, manufacturing techniques, social life and buildings are all described in this popular book.

A5 paperback, 55 pages, £3.50.

During the period c1500 - 1890, some 27 pits operated in this outlying area of the Bristol & Somerset coalfield. This comprehensive account of mining the geologically complex and narrow seams includes details of the major concerns, including Middle Engine Pit, now a scheduled monument.

A5 paperback, 52 pages, £3.50.

Hundreds of dates (by year in chronological order) extracted from the large number of publications about Nailsea and the surrounding villages of Wraxall, Backwell and Tickenham. An invaluable quick reference for local historians.

A5 spiral bound, 66 pages, £4.00. Reduced!

A very readable introduction to the history of Nailsea from Stone Age to the present commuter town.

A5 paperback, 56 pages, £3.50.

A reprint with illustrations of "The Book of Nailsea Court" by Silvia Hope Evans, published in 1923.

21 x 27 cms, paperback, 61 pages, £8.99.

"Despair & Repair". Based on Rev. Frederick Brown's 1876 "History and Antiquities of Nailsea Court". Contains new articles and illustrations revealing the changes to the Court over two centuries and some information about the families who lived there.

21 x 27 cms, paperback, 63 pages, £8.99.

Covering the villages of Nailsea, Backwell, Tickenham and Wraxall, the story is told in the words of those who lived there during the 2nd World War.

21 x 20 cms, paperback, 33 pages, £3.50.

Further 2nd World War memories of Nailsea, Backwell, Tickenham and Wraxall.

19 x 26 cms, paperback, 46 pages, £3.50.

A compendium of memories of evacuation and World War II in and around Nailsea.

20 x 26 cms, paperback, 68 pages, £6.00