IT WAS a time when Highbridge was thriving.

In this week’s Looking Back, Spencer Dibble continues to recall with great fondness growing up in the market town, showing just how much the area has changed in recent times.

He said: “At the Lamb Pub, you came to the line gates.

“These gates went across the road to allow the S and D train going to Burnham-on-Sea.

“You then had Newtown Road and the first pub was The Anchor and I don`t recall much about it as it has been shut for about 50 years or more.

“Then there was the `Globe` run in my time by Mr Dinham, we used to get our soft drinks from the off licence section of the pub.

“Then there was Dyers corner shop and lastly the Top House pub.

“Certainly the Globe and the Top House, were very popular with the Highbridge wharf workers, who unloaded the ships and trains.

“I believe that the timber yard of Blands took over the running of the wharf.

“In fact, working in the mill alongside Mr Carpenter was my first job, when I left school.

“Your break times were ruled by a hooter and on pay days, you went to the cashier’s window, showed your face and received your wages.

“That was all you had to do, as everybody new everybody.”

With an almost eidetic memory, Mr Dibble continues to recall the main streets of the town.

He continues: “Coming out of Newtown Road and back into Church Street, you had the Regal cinema, which later became the Regal Club, which was generally a gambling house.

“Moving further on you had another shop, then a hairdressers, which was actually built in the mid 60`s, then there was a church, which is still there to this day, then Moores the fish and chip shop, then a sweet shop, then a wet fish shop, run by Mr Griffin.

“Then the White Hart pub, slightly set back from the road, with a small car park.

“Returning to the top end of Church Street and turning the corner next to Barclays Bank, were a couple of shops. I used to watch the traffic go by there, before the M5 was built. “The A38 was chock-a-block in the summer time and passing through Highbridge.

“Next there was the Highbridge Bacon Company shop. In a school friend of mine, Mike Facey`s mother had a nasty accident there, involving a bacon slicer."

Although we have had to leave it there, we would like to thank Mr Dibble for his fascinating input over the past two weeks.

If you would like to get in touch with your memories, please email harry.mottram@nqsw.co.uk

“Then you `Pouncey and Hyden, the news agents, where you could also get your fishing licence and rod licence from. Next was the`Goerge Hotel` then another shop and the railway goods yard, which had the old S & D running through it, with a siding off. The train line ran across the main A38 and had a pedestrian bridge over it. There was green grocers shop next, another shop, which I can't recall what it was, followed by `Steer`s` garage, which was set back from the road, so that petrol could be served. I think `Foster`s` green grocers was next along with Lismore`s shoe repair shop. There was then a row of shops, including a butchers and at the end was the `Electric` shop. There was a house next, which I think the manager of the `Electric` shop lived in. Then another church, then a lane and on the corner of Church Street and Grange Avenue, was the doctors house and surgery. Having crossed the junction of Church Street and Grange Avenue, you then had Herbert Smith and his gents outfitters (Where Brandon Hire is now).