Cload’s Railway Hotel

This invoice to Mr Cload was from the Blacksmith for shoeing etc, presumably Mr Cload sent a horse and carriage down to the station to collect passengers arriving and staying at his hotel which became the Catherine Wheel much later. He may have operated a taxi service. The hotel was separate from the Pub which was called the Star, until 1928 when it was burned down.

Charlie Choke Blacksmith.

Charlie Choke at work making a horseshoe in his blacksmith’s shop. These premises were behind Fore Street.

“Charlie had one of the most contagious laughs I’ve ever heard! Lovely man. His Austrian born widow Margaret survived him for many years, living in Chard. Lovely lady as well. She died around 2005 or 2006.” from Steve Doble.