Great British Road Journeys - Somerset - Yeovil to Weston Super Mare - Ep. 45

#infrastructure #driving #somerset
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It's not always about the destination, sometimes the journey is equally as exciting.
Using a copy of the 1923 Michelin Guide, I'll be travelling the country to see what remains and what's changed since it's publication. The guide offers suggestions on thing to see and where to stay all with the goal of getting you out there and exploring in your motor vehicle.
In this episode we'll be Travelling through;
Yeovil
Somerton
Street
Glastonbury
Cheddar
Weston Super Mare
*Why not visit these places*
Clarks Village - clarksvillage....
Glastonbury Tor - www.nationaltr...
Glastonbury Lake Village - avalonmarshes....
Cheddar Gorge - www.cheddargor...
Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company - www.cheddargor...
Weston Grand Pier - www.grandpier....

[@williamfence566]

" I love cheddar cheese , I used to gorge on it " Really Jon , Really!

[@tolby53]

He said could gorge on it, it's a joke!

[@landroversforever]

ffs. I missed that one!

[@KenwayJoel]

@@tolby53 You ok mate?

[@xr6lad]

@@tolby53whoosh. I think he knew that.

[@michaelaFlangee]

perhaps the cables being laid from the public toilet to the USA was one a great play on words "i'm just off to lay a cable" and a very neat way for the british to show the purity and depth of thir disdain for the americans by having all the communications delivered to/from a toilet or big white telpehone.

[@iancharlton678]

@@michaelaFlangee loving your work 🥳 Reminds me of a lifetimes family attachment to Cable & Wireless, and the hut where “cable was laid” to the colonies…… the Minack Theatre overlooking the beach at Porthcurno….. and the C&W college nearby……. I feel I must have laid a few cables on Porthcurno beach or in the shallows as a sprat 🙂🇬🇧

[@jacksonmacmanus1001]

their comms would have been delivered to or from a toilet if it wasnt a toilet building, coz weston-super-mare is a massive toilet anyway, i should know ive lived there for 23 years

[@EdwardKane-pb5rj]

Technology eh? Now we just log on.

[@iancharlton678]

@@EdwardKane-pb5rj ironically, in this digital world of signals bouncing off satellites……. the majority of our communications still pass beneath the waves via cables 😳 Your email is no more bouncing around the upper atmosphere, than your data is lodged in an actual cloud, not an anonymous building on a Slough Industrial Estate 🥳

[@greentravels2850]

I'm glad you made a stop in Wells, for the greater good, of course!

[@jimherbert007]

Where Jon was stood in Wells I had that going around my head 🤣

[@paulbodiam798]

YARP!

[@jimjolly4560]

The greater good!

[@simoncullum5019]

Recently stayed in the Crown they serve a Hot Fuzz IPA

[@ianhudson2193]

The greater good.....

[@fightersweep]

As a current resident of Weston Super Mare, I was bracing myself for a mauling ala Stevenage. Quite restrained this week Jon! Even Yeovil escaped lightly. Maybe the cheese was drugged. Anyhoo, at least the A371 goes nowhere near Bridgwater.

[@johniksushibar165]

howdy neighbour

[@ianemery2925]

Do the locals no longer call it Weston Super-Mud ?? (Lived there in the early 70s. MAY have derailed a freight train).

[@johniksushibar165]

@@ianemery2925 super mud is the logical name for the place so yes, freight train eh ?....tell me more

[@fightersweep]

@@johniksushibar165 Howdy! Escape committee anyone?

[@johniksushibar165]

@@ianemery2925 logical name for the place so yea still called supermud, derailed a train eh ?....tell me more

[@HighWealder]

You remind me of my Dad! In the 50s and 60s he drove round Britain using his old Dad's pre-war AA maps. When I asked him why he didn't get a new map, he replied 'they don't make them like this anymore ', and of course he was right 😂

[@haggielady]

They don't make them like that anymore. I have a copy of the British Road Atlas from sometime in the early 90s. Every trip was a different ink or marker. There are roads on it that don't show up on electronic maps. And Jon, I agree with you wholeheartedly that the best cheddar is from Cheddar. Wonderful cheese!

[@skylarius3757]

@@haggielady Even though it's possible to buy the cheese online, there is nothing better than going for a drive and perhaps stopping somewhere new that you haven't been to before.

[@NordicAxe]

“Oh they don’t make ‘em like they used to……” Jack Napier, 1989

[@linedwell]

Wheston Super Mare... Richie and Eddie's favourite holiday venue.. 😁😁

[@worldofresin]

2 week blistering sex rampage!

[@backbone666]

Yes, Yeovil is that dire looking

[@tns5044]

Not many shops left, are there?

[@Bardghost_Isu]

@@tns5044 Nope, its gradually got worse over the last decade.

[@EthanThomson]

@@Bardghost_Isuthats the UK as a whole really

[@olbird7647]

The closed shopping centre shown is thankfully due for demolition and regeneration.

[@jrhartley6742]

Sadly nowadays, it seems most uk shopping centres resemble shit holes, thats Amazon for ya. I remember when Yeovil's Quedam shopping centre was built and busy meet up with mates for a coffee and when Pitards was thriving. Just better hope they keep making helicopters

[@nickbannister775]

Well that’s rare, talking about Yeovil and not mentioning Westlands and Helicopters. Both my Grandfather and Dad were Westlands men as were a large proportion of Yeovil, the rest were in the gloving, railway and leather industries.

[@roberthindle5146]

I love Hweston super Mare!

[@SandraGreen-sq6qq]

You've outdone yourself. Well done!

[@blaze1148]

Nice plug for Yeovil showing the most run down areas - thanks 👍😆

[@binarydinosaurs]

I do believe that Birbeck pier is going to be fully restored which is great news.

[@marieascot]

Cool

[@Mr_G977]

@marieascot Jon, You missed the story of Birbeck Pier during WWII. It became a secret development and test centre (Directorate of Miscellaneous Weapon Development ) for all sorts of strange devices, including solid fuel rocket braked heavy drops from aircraft. They used to test drops out on the mud. One day the scientists wanting a better view asked the pilot if he could do a test drop a bit closer. The pilot was a bit annoyed by this and put the next drop through the walkway out to the island, leaving the scientists stranded.

[@Jayrusss]

There's been rumours of a full restoration for the last 40 years,its never going to happen.

[@marieascot]

@@Mr_G977 Excellent snippet of history

[@Mark1024MAK]

The old pier has been prised out of the hands of the owner that let it get in this dire condition. And now at least some funds have been made available. So there is hope that enough restoration work to reopen the main part to the island will go ahead. Then the lifeboat station on the island can recommence operations.

[@Rob.Coleman]

Extra cheese with this weeks puns, top work 👍👍.

[@harlamTK]

Well, well, well. I never thought I'd find a well in Wells

[@barneypaws4883]

Well said

[@davidwelch6796]

At the risk of being a pedant I thought that the well looked suspiciously like a spring.

[@chrishartley1210]

Well, it isn't. 😏

[@harlamTK]

@@davidwelch6796 Well I did also notice that but I though it was a well put together joke about a well in Wells so at the time I thought to my self "oh well, it's still well funny that he found a well in Wells that wasn't a well but while it wasn't a well it was still well funny."

[@Broke_Motorsports]

As someone who grew up and went to school in wells, also spending lots of time in all the places visited, this video makes me extremely happy.

[@benpc1794]

Did it make you "well" happy? 🤔😂

[@David_Crayford]

And having established worst possible building practices, we have been erecting settlements on floodplains ever since.

[@Forevagrey]

Yeovil is a bit odd. The most understated comment on a KZbin video

[@fmassa02]

Birnbeck Pier is the only pier in the UK that links land to an Island. It was bought by the council in 2021 and they have secured an amount of money to allow the pier to be restored, and has already started. It is due for completion in 2027

[@sandwichbar8226]

Hello Jon, how the devil are you, have you had a good week?

[@topmark99]

It's fun at last to watch a road trip where I've visited every location, being a Somerset boy, an all that.

[@Corky341]

I live in Street and have worked a lot in Yeovil over the years. I too enjoyed this video thinking 'oh, I ridden up that road' etc :-)

[@captinbunt]

@@Corky341 I also live in street and even saw my house in one part of the video.

[@truckerallikatuk]

You forgot to mention that Birnbeck pier was known as HMS Birnbeck during the second small disagreement. It was used for the testing of the bouncing bomb.

[@Sarge084]

The land of many memories for me, and some bloody great potholing caves. I was recruited into the RAF at the Weston Air Day, and during my 15 years of service I went back to find some other mugs! Sadly Jon, you missed Thatcher's Cider and the Helicopter Museum at RAF Locking, which was also home to the shadow factory of the Yeovil company Westland famous for helicopters. Okay, so next episode you're going to do the A38, the holiday route for millions of Midlander's over the years.... aren't you!?

[@Jon-em4kc]

I've just got back from the museum! It's fantastic. Can't imagine how Jon did an episode on Somerset and didn't mention helicopters!

[@adrianrutterford762]

Sunday Lunchtime Viewing Sorted!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@Pjs75]

I was born in Weston-super-Mare. Well someone had to be. I remember the offices of the Commercial Cable Company, it was in Richmond Street, but that closed in 1962. The building & area has been extensively redeveloped, but I do remember the impressive ‘original’ ornate Victorian sign-painted glass in the window & doorway.

[@markonemusic]

The building is still there. It's a smokehouse restaurant now, but if you look closely at the stonework above, you can still see the Commercial Cable Co seal there.

[@Pjs75]

Thanks for the info. I was born in WsM but left in the mid-sixties: (swinging or what?). So I haven’t & probably won’t be visiting the haunts of my childhood.

[@Chrisranthony]

You should have gone into one of the caves in Cheddar. There you would have seen genuine Cheddar Cheese maturing in huge racks. It is kept in locked cages.

[@davidwelch6796]

Its kept in cages to protect it from raiding parties of ploughmen and with pickled onions.

[@GordonGibbons]

BEST ONE EVER. you could just see my house in Street. THANK Jon

[@unklesannjay]

thank you

[@nickbarber2080]

Sunday isn't Sunday without "How the devil are you?" Have a good week,Jon,whatever it is you get up to.

[@Skorpychan]

When in Weston-Super-Mare, you should check out the helicopter museum. It's really very interesting, and being a small museum it's absolutely crammed with helicopters. They've got one from th Royal Flight, a world speed record breaking Lynx, and a Mil Mi-24 Hind all the way from Russia. Yeovil has the Fleet Air Arm museum. Also interesting, but a lot more formal. Lots and lots of aircraft to look at, and you can even go look through the windows at Fleet Air Arm helicopters operating out of the airfield next door.

[@JimGDMAC]

The Fleet Air Arm museum is actually at Yeovilton near Ilchester around 8 miles from Yeovil. I made the mistake of going to Yeovil the first time I visited it.

[@ex48bw]

The FAA Museum has a Concorde, that trumps most things in Somerset.

[@JimGDMAC]

@@ex48bw The problem is Concord never flew off a carrier in the FAA. Takes up a lot of space that should be used for proper FAA aircraft many of which are stored away instead of being seen by the public.

[@cheekychappy1234]

Regarding the Weston Super Mare toilet. Looking back at the old OS maps it has been marked as a lavatory since the 1884 OS map for the area, so I think it's unlikely to have been anything else.

[@ianhart4990]

Well, well, well, another Stirling video! One which will be liked with a button especially for that! Also love the pause after Glastonbury festival is 6 miles from Glastonbury lol! Nearer Shepton Mallett! 😂

[@rhl__]

7:56 My grandpa used to live just around the corner from there. We used to go and see him every month, but it's been over 10 years since I've been there now. I recognised the area instantly and it really brought back some memories

[@aleccoates9094]

A well wells well pun *and* a cheddar gorge pun. Thanks for the usual laughs Jon!

[@wozwoz-w3w]

Great video 👍 we haved moved back and for between Coventry and Somerton. I love Somerton it's such a special place but our birth home is Coventry. For those who do not know the film Hot Fuzz was filmed in Wells. This was where the director Edgar Wright is from.

[@TheThejpmshow]

Uphill beacon that you were stood in front of at the end there, fantastic views from it And yes, you can see Glastonbury Tor from there

[@archiestar7016]

Surreal to see my local pub and the restaurant I worked in at 16 in this episode!! Big up John and big up Somerton 😂💪

[@adamjolley8552]

I liked this video so I pressed the button specifically for that 👉🏻

[@cullyn]

I liked this comment so I pressed the button specifically for that

[@terryhoath1983]

It is always a good idea to click the "like" if you like but also especially if you liked the video. I got a double go. I clicked the like for the video because I liked it and I clicked the like on your comment because I liked your comment concerning liking the video. Very likeable.

[@mikejennings7779]

I like everything, especially chocolate hobnobs with melted chedder

[@SierraNovemberKilo]

I gave this video some consideration and pressed the button for that. And the other one.

[@petedig5809]

You can press the button too, if you want to. Whatever.

[@MultiVogon]

I know Yeovil well. I'm impressed you managed to find a filming location that made it look so lively and prosperous in the town centre! 🤣 I actually have an old pair of motorcycle gloves made from Pittards leather. It really was quality stuff.

[@EdgyNumber1]

*Cheddar Gorge in an open-top TVR.... AWESOME!!!!*

[@chrispenn715]

Last week's episode reminded my wife that she hadn't drunk a Babycham for 30+ years - cost me a tenner for a couple of 4 packs 😂

[@brianartillery]

I have climbed Glastonbury Tor twice: once in the 1980's, and again in the mid 1990's. Both times, on getting to the tower, I was struck by two things: (1) The overall smell of piss, and (2) Some people on the floor, at it like knives. Not the same couple, obviously. Although you never know. The last Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey was sent a charmingly worded threatening letter from King Henry (Lardarse) VIII, telling him what would happen if he didn't cough up a large amount of money by a certain date. The Abbot must have put the letter in 'File 13', and forgotten about it, because ten days later, he was dangling from a rope on a gibbet on the Tor. Henry's HR skills were sorely wanting, I fear.

[@mattsoutherden]

These are fast becoming my favourite 10 minutes of the week. Shame the episodes are not longer, that would be fwicked sweet awesome.

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

This is what Sunday is for, great video Jon

[@rubberduck3y6]

Wow, that C14th street with the cathedral footbridge in Wells is pretty!

[@anonUK]

"Still no luck catching them swans!"

[@arryc3947]

Can't believe you said all that about Wells and not a single Hot Fuzz joke!

[@markoarkaina8656]

Probably for the greater good.

[@worldofresin]

THE GREATER GOOOOOOOOD

[@Simbo-qj8fu]

Yarp

[@lloydcollins6337]

@@markoarkaina8656 The Greater Good

[@alanmichael5619]

If you don't like it you can "duck" off to the model village!

[@alanm6454]

My family and I lived in Yeovil in the late 60s to the early 70s. I chose to move here to Sydney and my brother moved to Somerton. It was a thrill seeing his house on the aerial drone shot. Another video that reminds me that it is time to make a visit to the old country, but then again, breakfast is ready so that thought wont last long.

[@petedig5809]

Yeovil or Sydney. That’s a tough one.

[@patmoore1875]

No mention of railways this week but that doesn’t detract from a great video as ever !

[@paulboyle6857]

Yes(!) a Cheddar Gorge mention & Wells;Did'nt know about that street leading to the wonderful cathedral.Weston-Super-Mare ran a sprint event along the Marine Parade until 1992;I did it in 1970.

[@jumpferjoy1st]

I was just going, "Been there, and there, and there." Brilliant. Could have added Brent Knoll, which is a funny little hill with a great view. But I guess you already did Glastonbury Tor, so a bit samey, samey.

[@jameswestgate416]

I preliked this video so I could feel smug when I got to the end

[@alanbrown8296]

Thanks John, that felt like an action packed episode.

[@tangerinedream7211]

WSM was a decent holiday pace many moons ago, remember going as s kid, mid seventies. Interesting thing was we had a day trio to Bristol docks to see Brunels great Western, nice enough, but there was a power boat race going on in the docks, madness,all that power, speed snd fibreglass within inches of very solid stone dock walls. Seem to remember theres an aircraft museum Yeovil area. Looking forward to the updates on the Beemer and the trio to lovely Harrogate.

[@nonexistent-77]

Why thanks Jon...Ive had an awful week, but now its better 😎

[@annetteconroy6921]

7th generation New Zealander. My gt gt gt grandparents came from Charlton Mackrel, Somerset in1841. Hollard and Acreman

[@iancharlton678]

Jon, Jon, Jon…….. I found the button and pressed it……. However, I find myself a tad put out 😢 your meander took you close to the wonderful RNAS Yoevilton, a working Royal Naval Air Station and home to a spiffing collection of artefacts, both pre and post the small disagreements this country have involved themselves in…….. My Father was denied his place in National Service, following the second small disagreement, owing to a football/head/kicked in damage incident at his school. Suitably miffed, he joined the NAAFI and managed the facility on Yoevilton Airbase, thus feeling like he was doing a thing and being close to big engines, big planes and the spunky fellows that flew them 🙂🇬🇧 Back when this proud, not pride 🌈 Nation flew the mighty Harrier, a visit to the Museum would almost certainly be accompanied by the Fleet Air Arm turning aviation fuel into loud noise for appreciative little boys 😊 Keep up the fine work you do……. but please, don’t drive past Airfields without a glance, there’s a good chap. As you were……. 🇬🇧

[@fredericksaxton3991]

Excellent. Well said that man.

[@SebNutter]

I made a proposal of marriage to my (now fiancee) atop Glastonbury Tor five days after this video was released. I am a Yeovil boy and feel very glad to live in Somerset.

[@90vanman]

In my otherwise misspent twenties, I was engaged to build for a firm in Essex, a machine to rake and sift the sand in Weston-s-mare. It had the grand name of the Weston beach cleaner. The second iteration was very successful and I was told that it was still going after the firm responsible for it went bust but I have no proof. Does anyone remember a sizeable machine towed by an even bigger tractor trundling up and down the beach?? I am now 72 y o, but still remember that time fondly.

[@neilmackinnon3371]

You were in my neighborhood in todays excellent episode and having watched the entire series so far, I think your were extremely kind to my home town of W-s-M. To be fair to Birnbeck, it was deliberately left to rot.... but, good news, the Council recently purchased it and the lottery fund and the RNLI have given them lots and lots of money to restore it. Anyway, thanks for not slagging off Weston... best leave that to the locals, eh!

[@pauleff3312]

All things considered - this is actually quite educational and entertaining.

[@FinnDeacon]

Thanks

[@AutoShenanigans]

Cheers buddy!

[@jonmarshall1502]

Well, well, well that was interesting.

[@chrisblay]

A transatlantic cable hut. We’ve got one of those in East Sussex as well.

[@jonathonbrett-qn1ic]

Brilliant Jon

[@d33dub]

They did the same with the GWR in swindon, convert a load of it into a retail park.

[@colinrobinson7869]

The willow arch at Glastonbury was The best bit as it looked some what like my hair on a windy day.

[@glenjones6980]

Having owned some Pittards products I can vouch for the quality. Long term thy were way better value than replacing cheaper alternatives on a regular basis but that's what people do now thinking they are saving money.

[@unklesannjay]

extra long wave today thank you

[@pixe1refr35h]

Finally, weather where the hat makes sense 😂

[@TalesFromTheBlahSide]

We had a teacher at our school called Boggy Marsh.

[@captinbunt]

I can see my house in this video, haha, awesome.

[@SteveMonk1956]

Well, Well, Well yet another great road trip 🙂

[@adamclark6756]

Well, well, well! Another fascinating video.

[@thetimelord999]

Yes, You're in my town!

[@blisteringbarnaclesmagnets6364]

Happy Sunday John 👍⚓️🧲

[@jimwintersgill9099]

Your closing comment questioning why the Americans might want to communicate with people in Weston-super-mare was brutal but hilarious 😂

[@dangerousandy]

I laid cable in that public convenience back in 2002. There was a motocross event happening on the beach that day, but it was cancelled due to extremely high winds.

[@buggs9950]

Oh no! I have to go to Yeovil tomorrow, the same as every Monday for the last three years. I'd almost blocked it from my consciousness as I try to every weekend. I used to think it only seemed _that_ bad because it's always on a Monday and Monday makes everything shite. But I went there on Thursday the other week and it was no less wretched.

[@flickpad]

Yeovil is also where Screwfix started trading. Back in the day, I used to mail order from their catalogue and it would be sent from there. Most of the catalogue was screws and other bits of small ironmongery.

[@turbo.panther]

Cheddar is gorgeous!

[@Dutch-vj2eg]

Going to be in SW England with my family for the year-end, great to have these two videos about somerset to have a few places to visit. Thank you, pressed the button specifically for that :-).

[@shaunwest3612]

Great video John, cheddar and wells really are stunning 👍👌

[@nonsequitor]

Mate, I'm still recovering the Baby-Cham revelations and associated excitement.. . not sure I can handle more just one week later 😵‍💫😵😁

[@northseawolf]

Shame you didn't get a chance to visit Cheddar Gorges whacky and slightly weird cousin, Wookey Hole...who also make cheddar 😅

[@bartsimpsonhead2790]

Although you might want to go down Cheddar Gorge to see the rock formations (remember "you (stalag) mite go up if the (stalac) tite's come down") you certainly wouldn't want to enter a Wookie's hole - Chewie doesn't like it.

[@northseawolf]

@bartsimpsonhead2790 true, also gorges don't pull people's arms out of their sockets if they lose

[@freesaxon6835]

Love the talking head shadow @ 3:33 ISH 😆

[@alexisdespland4939]

the first ransatlantic cabelended in canada in newfoundland in st john at aplace called singnal hill.

[@zeb3144]

Jon-the sharp man of wit.

[@tims9434]

Reminds me been meaning to visit Wells now I know what to look at when I visit. Thanks Jon

[@OllieV__nl]

That first shot just made my room temperature go down several degrees.

[@GrahamMacdonald-w9o]

I was last in Weston-Super-Mare in August 2008. The promenade parking spaces were virtually all unoccupied which I found surprising, as there was a good view over the Bristol Channel to Penarth and South Wales. When I got to pay at the meter, I realised that the minimum amount payable was £4 - even for the ten minutes I had planned. I presume other visitors were put off by this high charge, when £4 was £4. Therefore, having a Scottish attitude to spending money, I immediately got back into my car and drove round the town centre a couple of times and headed off to nearby Sand Point, where parking was free (at least then).

[@CakeboyRiP]

Sir. Yet another great video. Many thanks for that. Love from The Netherlands

[@PhilipMurphy8]

Sunday viewing sorted

[@abarratt8869]

I think that the cable operating companies realised quite early on the huge significance and importance of being, er, circumspect as to where their cables came ashore. Their entire operation was (still is) vulnerable to vandals, unscrupulous competitors, and other "enemy action". So, for a long time the on-shore infrastructure has been exceedingly anonymous, non-descript. The only real way of knowing where the cables were in Weston would be if some local described in their diary whereabouts the cable came ashore, or if there was a news cutting about it somewhere. Though I'd bet that the newspapers were encouraged to "underreport" these things. BT or some other descendant company may have archives, but then again they may still be wary of letting such information out; they may still be using the facilities.

[@ruadhanmaceoin-b8m]

Best yet. Inspirational. Don’t burn out:-)

[@gerrimilner9448]

i ran up the tor, when i was 6months pregnant i was so fit before children. my step mum was the clerk at clarks for 20yrs

[@0skar9193]

Oooh Weston-Super-Mud

[@tomarse99]

Can't believe you were stood in front of the fountain at Wells and didn't crack a hot fuzz line.

[@freesaxon6835]

Packed full of info. and interesting to boot 🥾 ha ha

[@El-Tel63-Terry.]

Superb as usual ! Thanks for brightening a miserable day 😉👍🏻

[@JackParfitt04]

I live in yeovil!

[@kevelliott]

Love these videos, but you omitted the salient fact of the connection between Glastonbury and Joseph of Arimethea - the Holy Grail!

[@portlandfester7510]

Very enjoyable Jon