Index

• The Dark and Middle Ages
  • The Dark Ages
  • The Middle Ages
  • Bridgwater Castle
  • Town's Mediaeval Layout
  • St Mary's Church
  • St John's Hospital
  • Grey Friars
• Bridgwater's Fairs and Markets
  • The Earliest Fairs
  • St Matthew's Fair
  • Markets and Trade
• Bridgwater Carnival
  • Bridgwater Carnival
  • Historical Background
  • Cornhill Bonfire
  • The Final Bonfire
  • Squibbing
  • Early Disasters
  • The Evolution of Carnival
  • Carnival Concerts
• 17th Century
  • English Civil War
  • Admiral Blake
  • The Plague
  • Monmouth Rebellion
• River and Shipping
  • Earliest Records
  • Blossoming Trade
  • Shipbuilding
  • Docks
  • Bertha the Dredger
• 18th Century
  • Stage Coach Travel
  • The Iron Bridge and the Turnpike Trusts
  • The Architectural Legacy
  • Entertainment
• Bridgwater and Slavery
  • Somerset Rebels Sold into Slavery
  • Bridgwater’s Petition
  • A Slave Speaks Out in Bridgwater
• 19th Century
  • Political Corruption
  • Disenfranchised
  • Advent of the Railway
  • Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway
  • Utilities
  • Bridgwater’s Regiment
  • The Borough Constabulary 1834-1940
  • The Bridgwater Workhouses
  • The Brick and Tile Trade
  • The Brickyard Strike of 1896
  • Bath Brick
  • Wicker Products
• Early 20th Century
  • Introduction
  • Introduction of Electricity
  • The New Fire Stations
  • The Launch of the Irene
  • An Unwanted Suffragette
  • First World War
  • Changes in Transport
  • Between the Wars
• Second World War
  • Vernon Bartlett
  • The Day War Broke Out
  • Rationing and Restrictions
  • Prisoners of War
  • Women’s Land Army and the War Effort
  • Air Raids
  • Home Guard and Returning Heroes
  • VE Day
• Late 20th Century
  • Post War Bridgwater
• Around and About the Town
  • Admiral Blake Statue
  • Bridgwater Infirmary
  • Blake Gardens
  • The Cannon
  • Castle Street
  • The Cornhill
  • Friarn Street
  • King Square
  • The Old Vicarage
  • Penel Orlieu
  • Royal Clarence
  • Salmon Parade
  • Town Hall
• Lesser known Bridgwater Worthies
  • Captain George Lewis Browne, William Hubber and the Battle of Trafalgar
  • John Clark, Inventor of the Mackintosh
  • Denis Heron
  • Frances Barkley
  • Brother John Somer
  • Fanny Talbot
• Did You Know?
  • Did You Know?

History

Rationing and Restrictions

Life was changing rapidly.  Food shortages and rationing, the disappearance of the menfolk and the introduction of the black outs soon led to the cancellation of all kinds of events, even the town’s carnival procession.  Bridgwater Fair turned up with one motor cycle show and one set of dodgems and by 7 p.m. it was ‘All lights out’.  Throughout the war, food, petrol, clothing and many other essentials were in short supply.  Rationing was introduced and the nation encouraged to “Dig for Victory”.  By 1943, 600 new allotments had been created and breeding rabbits for meat and keeping chickens was common practice.  Hoarding became an issue which was discouraged by the government and promoted by the shopkeepers.

The initial ‘buzz’ after the outbreak of war turned to concern and sadness as news came through of fatalities overseas.  Everyone dreaded the arrival of the young telegram boy bearing the message from the Ministry of War.  Two weeks into the war, the Mercury reported the loss of the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous with 500 lives.  Charles Wood of Cecil Terrace was one of the survivors, having clung to a piece of timber for an hour before being picked up.  Cecil James, who worked at the Van Heusen shirt factory before the war, was one of four Bridgwater men to go down with the ship.  The others were William Buttle of Athlone Road, Alfred Croker of Durleigh Road and Petty Officer Granville of Rhode Lane.

Text Copyright © 2008 Roger Evans