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Southgate Drive, WINCANTON, BA9 9ES

Wincanton has long been associated with the milk industry, having this site as the focus for the business. Cow and Gate were the main employer in the twentieth century and built a large factory and office complex here on The Tythings. However, industry changes have brought about the closure and the site is being run down. A few small opportunist firms have used some of the redundant units but they will have to go soon. The site will be converted to residential use and a large project is in hand. The new name for it will be Dancing Green.

The school was built in 1896 and for many years adjoined the cattle market. Note the frontage has a clock (with modern numerals) at one gable and a sundial at the other.

As the old Cow and Gate factory site is being cleared of any remaining businesses the preparation for the new work is already underway. Stacks of materials are building up as the clock starts to run out.

Wincanton's prime industry has traditionally been involved with milk products and distribution; indeed there was a factory here from the late nineteenth century. Cow and Gate came along in the 1930s and built a much larger operation here, which traded until takeovers and assorted industry changes in the early twenty-first century caused its end. The factory has since been closed and (a few small firms still using it nothwithstanding) it is due to be replaced by a housing scheme. The buildings are an interesting example of earlier industrial architecture.

Wincanton Fire Station, Southgate Road, Bennetts Field Trading Estate, Wincanton, Somerset.

Bypassing Wincanton, with a junction accessing the town ahead.

The building is recognisable as a cinema; it was opened on 22nd November, 1934, and prospered for a few decades. However, it fell out of favour and by 1970 it was used as a bingo club. That venture also faltered over time, the building reverting to films and then back to bingo in a series of hopeful changes. Sadly, the curtain lowered and the church took over in 1999.

Heading east on the A303.