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Frome St John the Baptist
Via Crucis
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The Via Crucis, or 'Way of the Cross', is a unique feature at St John's. This
processional entrance route to the church was formed during the mid-C19
restoration of the church by Revd W J E Bennett. A number of small properties
had occupied this corner of the churchyard - their leases were bought out and
the church took possession of the land and demolished them to make space for
an impressive entrance route with statuary carved by Forsyth depicting the
journey of Jesus to the Cross.
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We know a little of the history of the properties which once stood here:
- 1785 Jul 6 - Lease of a Tenement near the Church Steps, Frome,
built upon waste ground (48ft x 20ft) in the manor of
Westwoodlands from the 1st Marquess to Elizabeth CHIVERS of
Frome Selwood, widow.
- Described as formerly in the tenure of Hugh EVANS, William
CHIVERS late husband of Elizabeth CHIVERS.
- Note on the cover: 'Entered folio 171', 'A reversionary
lease granted to John ALLWOOD, 31 Dec 1793', 'The above mentioned
lease cancelled and another reversionary lease to the said John
ALLWOOD, 1 May 1795', 'This lease expired by the death of Ann
ALLWOOD'
- 1793 Dec 31 - Lease of a Tenement near Church Steps, Frome,
built upon waste ground (48ft x 20ft) in the manor of Frome
Westwoodlands from the 1st Marquess to John ALLWOOD of Frome,
card maker.
- Described as formerly in the tenure of Hugh EVANS, William
CHIVERS, and late of Elizabeth CHIVERS.
- Was held by lease of 6 Jul 1785 (qv) granted to Elizabeth
CHIVERS for the lives of John STILES (son of William STILES of
Frome, butcher) and Jane his sister, now wife of James ALLWOOD
of Frome, slay maker.
- Note on the cover: 'Entered survey folio 171', 'Cancelled
and another reversionary lease granted to the said John ALLWOOD,
1 May 1795' (qv)
- 1795 May 1 - Lease of a Tenement near the Church Steps in
Frome Selwood, built on a piece of waste ground (48ft x 28ft) in
the manor of Frome Westwoodlands from the 2nd Marquess to John
ALLWOOD of Frome Selwood, card maker.
- Described as formerly in the occupation of Hugh EVANS, late
in the possession of William CHIVERS and since of Elizabeth
CHIVERS, both deceased, and now held under a lease dated 6 Jul 1785
granted to Elizabeth CHIVERS. (qv)
- Note on the cover: 'Entered survey folio 171', 'A reversionary
lease to Stephen TUCK & others the 23 Jan 1834', 'This lease
expired by the death of Mary TUCK (formerly ALLWOOD) the 15 April 1851'
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1813 - location of property on plan drawn for making of Bath Street
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- 1827 - Frome Parish rates show Stephen TUCK as occupier and John ALLWOOD
as proprietor of this property on Church Slope.
- 1830 - Pigot's Directory of 1830 lists Stephen TUCK as a Printer on
Church Slope.
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- 1834 Jan 23 - Lease and counterpart lease of a Tenement near the church
steps in Frome Selwood, built on a piece of ground (48ft x 28ft) in the
manor of Frome Westwoodlands from the 2nd Marquess to Stephen TUCK of
Frome Selwood, stationer, and Mary his wife (late Mary ALLWOOD) and Lydia
ALLWOOD of Frome Selwood, spinster.
- Described as formerly in the occupation of Hugh EVANS, and in the
possession of William CHIVERS and since of Elizabeth CHIVERS, now held
by two leases, one dated 6 July 1785 granted to Elizabeth CHIVERS,(qv)
and the other dated the 1 May 1795 granted to John ALLWOOD. (qv)
- Noted that Mary TUCK and Lydia ALLWOOD are the executixes of their
father John ALLWOOD of Frome Selwood, card maker, deceased.
- Note on the cover of the lease that on 18 Sept 1858 Stephen TUCK
surrenders all his right and interest in the lease to the Marquess of
Bath.
- Enclosed in the counterpart: Copy Agreement dated 25 Sept 1858 between
the 4th Marquess and the Vicar and Churchwardens of Frome Selwood, for the
purpose of enlarging the burial ground and widening the approach to the
New Mechanics Institution the inhabitants of Frome Selwood have subscribed
£150 for the purchase of the leasehold interest of the above premises.
- 1851 Census - Church Slope - property occupied by:
- TUCK Stephen 58 Stationer, born at Frome SOM
- TUCK Mary 62, born at Frome SOM
- TUCK Caroline 27 Governess, born at Frome SOM
- 1858 Sep 18 - Surrender by Stephen TUCK of all his right and interest
in the lease to the Marquess of Bath.
- 1858 Sep 25 - Copy Agreement between the 4th Marquess and the Vicar
and Churchwardens of Frome Selwood, for the purpose of enlarging the burial
ground and widening the approach to the New Mechanics Institution the
inhabitants of Frome Selwood have subscribed £150 for the purchase of
the leasehold interest of the above premises.
- "164 personss including dissenters subscribed to the purchase of a shop
which stood in the way of churchyard improvements, and presented the deeds to
him [W J E BENNETT]" (from short biography of BENNETT by G T DAY 1986, p16)
ca 1860 - Photographs of site after demolition of properties (composite from
two original photographs in Frome Museum)
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C20 - Via Crucis images
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