Maiden Bradley

Maiden Bradley is a historic village blighted by modern traffic. Attempts by the County Council to divert heavy lorries away from the B3092 seem to have got lost in the council's bureaucracy.

The strength of the local community is shown by the way they've got together to operate a village shop, just opposite the Somerset Arms on the main road.

In 1891 the Duke of Somerset built a fountain and had it inscribed with the words,

"Drink, travellers drink of Bradley's purest rill

Which, strange to say, runs quite a mile uphill;

Then to your panting steeds let all attend,

An honest horse is surely man's best friend.

The Duke doesn't explain how to recognise a dishonest horse, and the local disregard for the laws of physics also extended to the laws of man. When Edmund Ludlow, son of the local MP and a figurehead in the Parliamentary army, was asked by Cromwell why he was still discontented after the overthrow of an oppressive monarchy and what he now wanted he said, "That which we fought for - that the nation might be governed by its own consent."

We're not there yet Edmund, but we're working on it.