When we first began at Nub News everyone told us to 'talk to Dennis' , or 'Dennis will know the answer'. Indeed we were very much looking forward to catching up with the founding member of the award-winning local museum, but then, as historians are often quoted as saying, events overtook us.

But we still wanted to interview the sprightly Dennis Chedgy, so with a third coronavirus lockdown upon us, we posted questions to this Writhlington resident and he was kind enough to post some answers back.

Dennis, who was born on November 17 1937, was born and raised in Radstock, and was schooled at the Radstock Board School.

But Dennis' history goes much further back than just his decades of experience. All his family were involved in coal mining, back to 1790 when his great, great, great grandparents arrived from Cornwall . Both his paternal and maternal grandparents worked in the mines, and Dennis' father was one of the local colliery carpenters and later a saw mill controller.

But he himself did not follow the coal, he followed the sole. Working at Clarks for 35 years, starting as a seventeen year old in 1952, until early retirement, when he was in a managerial role in 1993. (With a three year gap in 1956-59 in the Royal Air Force).

So why did Dennis get interested in local history?

It mainly started at school, Dennis told us. Fuelled by an excellent teacher Dennis Rendell and the late Victor Foster who got Dennis involved with American enquiries into a local connection of the Fairfax family of Virginia USA and their residence of the now demolished Writhlington Manor House.

So thus began a life-long love of history - and a connection to the first president of the United States

This all coincided with Dr Chilcott forming Radstock's Museum Society, and Dennis became a founding member in 1984. It was agreed that the Society needed public awareness of what may be achieved so that to that end a small committee was formed to produce the Museum's Five Arches Journal in 1985. That was also the year the American friends celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Fairfax residents at Writhlington Manor House and importantly their friendship with George Washington. (The first US President) . The 200th celebration became quite a big attraction here and in the USA and helped in its way to promote the new young Museum Society.

So what about the Museum's magazine Five Arches ?

Dennis told us : The Museum needed more local awareness so Five Arches Journal would be used with local history articles on people and industry. To create more area interest, two of us decided to have a go at The Rambles which involve most of Somerset coalfields, people and events and its pleasing to say they are still very attractive to our many readers. Requests started to grow from many readers from Australia, Canada, France , USA and several other countries mainly from local people who has made their homes in new countries. From the information we gathered from The Rambles developed into illustrated talks which would attract large audiences and in turn news of the Radstock Museum spread.

A real heritage treasure house

So what about today and the amazing museum? From humble beginnings in converted farm buildings at Haydon Dennis now refers to "Our marvellous Museum".

And told Nub News : " I feel that to have been a part of what has developed so far, is reward in itself. (Plus being invited with my wife for a month's holiday in Washington to see the other side of the Fairfax story). Many people have given so very much of their time and money to make our Radstock Museum their own heritage treasure house - with continued support may it have a great future."

You can buy a subscription to the Five Arches Journal;

Securely on-line is the best and quickest way. Please send an email to [email protected]

State in your email message:

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You can also buy a subscription by sending a cheque, made payable to Radstock Museum, plus your name and address (or that of the person to whom the subscription is to be sent) to: Radstock Museum, Waterloo Road, Radstock, BA3 3EP. If you are able to include an email address that will assist us in communicating with you and reduce our admin costs too.