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Mark Bullen, who has lived in Wrington for 31 years, has written a booklet about the village with all proceeds benefiting local charity, Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

The Little Book of Wrington Curiosities provides the story behind forty or so ‘objects’ that can be seen during a walk around Wrington and its immediate vicinity. 

Mark said: “Subjects in the booklet range from the death from the bite of a rabid cat, to a pony trapped in snow drifts rescued by the village voluntary Fireman; from a tall, solitary ‘stench pipe’, to a plastic buddha bought from H&M; from memorials to John Locke to a ‘Danger of Death’ sign for some unknown reason written in Welsh as well as English; from a wooden bench commemorating a keeper of pigeons to a silver-plated teapot donated by a Victorian Wrington rector, and many more!”

Mark hopes the booklet will encourage people to look around when they are out walking in the pretty North Somerset village and be educated by his knowledge of intriguing historical information and amused by the diversity of interesting details.

Proceeds from sales will benefit CHSW’s local hospice, Charlton Farm, which provides respite, palliative, and end-of-life care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families from across North Somerset. The charity relies almost entirely on voluntary donations to exist. 

Mark, who is a grandfather of 2, has donated profits from other booklets to a range of children’s charities so felt it was appropriate to donate the proceeds of this one to CHSW.

In total the local author has written eleven books about various aspects of Wrington history since 1998 including Wrington Drama Club, both World Wars, the Victorian school, the Fire Brigade and Crime and Punishment in the 19th Century. 

He says: “I am currently working on a history of Wrington Doctors 1840-1963, which I hope to publish for next Christmas.”

The Little Book of Wrington Curiosities is currently available to buy at £5 from The Mother Hen Cafe in Broad Street.