Peasedown St John, an old coal mining village, may not have been at its best on the rainy day I chose for my first visit.
The village saw significant expansion towards the end of the 20th century and is now a well-known dormitory village for those working in Bath and Bristol. As such, one might expect it to be rather quiet during the day.
Yet, even on a dreary day, I discovered a bustling village, alive with activity and chatter. People were out and about, grabbing a coffee, catching the bus, or perusing the charity shop.
I had the chance to chat with Andy Day, a Peasedown local who has travelled the world but was “drawn back” to his home village. Today, he runs The Meeting Place cafe, a name that perfectly encapsulates its role in the community
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Andy Day runs The Meeting Place, a cosy cafe in Peasedown St John
(Image: Somerset Live)
Andy shared: “When you look at Peasedown on the map, it’s a distinct place. It has its own identity, separate from the towns and cities around it.
“That’s exactly how it feels to live here – it has a big heart. I grew up here before moving to America and St Helen’s to teach IT in schools. But my faith brought me back to Peasedown and inspired me to create a space where people could gather.
“The church was going to buy a cafe and eventually this shop came up. I remember when I was growing up it was called Peggy’s, and then Mandy’s. We wanted to make it a place that was always open – as a lifeline for locals.”
By 11am on a particularly rainy Wednesday, The Meeting Place was teeming with both locals and visitors. However, this isn’t the only social hotspot in Peasedown. Just a short walk down the main street, you’ll find The Red Post – a substantial pub that has been serving the local community for many years. Nowadays, it’s a popular meeting point for tradespeople, particularly on Friday afternoons.
David Gower-Spence operates the bookshop at the other end of the village. David shared: “We have got everything we need here and I don’t often leave the village. I have lived here for 20 years and I’ve been a book dealer for 30 years, and this was the village post office back then.
David Gower-Spence runs the village bookshop and says he rarely has to leave
(Image: Somerset Live)
“I had a book business and then they closed the post office and left me the book shop. My book business is mostly online, but I like to keep the shop open so it looks occupied and it gives people a place to bring donations.
“I would say the village has improved in recent years. It used to be quite rough and ready, but it is a nicer, quieter place now. We are truly in the countryside here. I have three dogs and it’s heaven for them. You step out your door and you’re in the country.”
As I make my way back through the village, I pass a bustling charity shop with customers perusing the racks and a Tesco Express with a packed car park. While it may not hold the glamour of Bath or Wells, Peasedown is undeniably vibrant.
Long gone are the days when Peasedown was merely a place to rest one’s head. Nowadays, it stands as a destination in its own right, a locale where people desire to linger.
A version of this story was originally published in 2022
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