Getting Genealogically Waylaid

Whilst researching a Bridgwater family, the usual void that happens after the 1911 census occured.  Apart from a few WWI references to one of the males, there was nothing.  Extensive online searches and trawling through countless family trees on Ancestry was to no avail, I decided to see if there were any newspaper articles about them.

Whilst scanning The British Newspaper Archive for Bridgwater related articles for the 1920's, I became intrigued with the heading 'Bridgwater Through the Ages - Nearly 1,000 Performers in Great Pageant'.   

Weston Gazette – Friday 24 June 1927

Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive

You can view the whole article here (paid subscription needed, although all new registrants on the BNA site receive 15 free credits).

I read with interest a quote in the above article referring to 'The Spirit of the Bridge'.  As a born and bred Bridgwatertarian (if there is such a thing) I had never heard this quote.  I was now even more intrigued.  A quick (power) Google search pulled up something I didn't expect.  Bridgwater's Museum, which is also known as Blake Museum had transcribed an article from 'The Bridgwater Mercury' - dated 22nd June 1927 - listing all the performers and their part in each episode of the pageant.  You can read the whole transcribed article here. 

I recalled seeing the original film of the pageant on the British Pathé website so decided to revisit it to see if I could identify any of the episodes listed in the above transcribed article.  The film makes much more sense once you've read the above transcribed article.

Note - image is a Screen-shot

Image courtesy of British Pathé

 You can view the original film on British Pathé's website here

Remember the family I was searching for before being waylaid by my fascination of the Bridgwater pageant and 'The Spirit of the Bridge', well several family members took part in that pageant.  Maybe 'The Spirit of the Bridge' wanted to be awoken.

What a wonderful piece of history to have in your family tree.

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