Image courtesy of Roger Flower. His cousin, Mary Jewell, was the signal woman at Pensford through the war. Here she is with stationmaster Mr Fred Smewin who kept a strict watch on things.Being a single line for most of the route, safety was paramount, controlled by the block system. Using the key taken from the machine, only one train could be in a section at any one time. Image courtesy of Roger Flower.Image courtesy of Roger Flower.Here is Mary Jewell again on the signal box steps with her sister Daisy Jewell who was a porter on the station. Image courtesy of Roger Flower.Mary loved her job and lodged with Roger Flower’s grandmother Polly Jewell in the little cottage in Publow Lane. Image courtesy of Roger FlowerAt the end of the war when the men returned home, Mary received this letter from Mr Smewin saying her services were no longer required. Image courtesy of Roger Flower.Roger took this picture when he was just 14 on 31st October 1959, the last day of passenger trains. Rushing to get the picture he caught his trousers on the barbed wire fence you can see, and ripped them badly, getting into trouble when he got home. Goods trains, mostly coal, continued until 1964, with the occasional special running for enthusiasts when it finally closed a few days after the Great Flood in July 1968. Image courtesy of Roger Flower, formerly of Westleigh, Publow.
We are always pleased to receive contributions of historical photographs of Publow and Pensford. We will happily add these to the Parish website with an acknowledgement to the contributor. If you are able to send in new material please simply email your photos to webmaster@publow-with-pensford-pc.gov.uk with as much background as possible.
