IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Knightstone Road, WESTON-SUPER-MARE, BS23 2AN

The remaining section of a much larger house built as a rural retreat for Reverend Leeves vicar of Wrington this Grade II Listed building is thought to be the oldest building in Weston-super-Mare and along with Glebe House is all that remains of the 18th century village of Weston. Possibly built in 1774 as claimed on the sign, it was more probably built in or around 1791. The house was on the beach until 1885 when the sea wall was built and has now been a restaurant for over 50 years. An accomplished musician and composer the Reverend William Leeves was Rector of Wrington from 1779 until 1828. He entered Holy Orders by way of the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards having enlisted as an ensign in 1769. In 1779 he took Holy Orders and was appointed to the living of Wrington where he remained until his death, 49 years later. The cottage was sold to a retired East India merchant, Mr Clements. It was later used as a dairy and late 1950s or early 60s became The Old Thatched Cottage Restaurant.

The Thatched Cottage would have been a simple rustic affair that pre-dated the expansion of Weston-Super-Mare. The arrival of the steam train and Victorian preferences for seaside life caused the village to grow to over 20,000. Before then, this was a dairy. A stone is set into this old building's wall - see Image

On the sea front at Weston-Super-Mare

A fading marker stone in the wall outside what is now The Old Thatched Cottage restaurant. The latter proclaims to have been built in 1774, but there also used to be a dairy here in the nineteenth century. The initials 'WB' seem to be the only legible marks. See Image] for a positional look.

The Weston Arch

On the corner of Knightstone Road and Victoria Place. A notice on the wall states that Victoria Mansions are luxury serviced holiday apartments for just one night or longer stays.

See Image] for context.

Royal Parade

An open topped double decker tourist bus operated by First Bus.