Four generations of Somerset cidermaking in words and pictures.

A new book, “Thatchers Then & Now” tells the story of four generations of cidermaking in Somerset by the Thatcher family, and traces their farming roots back even further.

There have been Thatchers in Somerset since at least 1806 and we know that by 1878 Benjamin Thatcher of Upper Langford was advertising his prime new cider at 30 shillings per hogshead.

Author James Russell traces the history of Thatchers’ cidermaking from those beginnings to the present day, while local photographer Neil Phillips has been capturing images of Thatchers cidermaking for many years. This book is a showcase for his fantastic pictures as he documents the orchard and cidermaking year, the traditions and innovations, and goes behind the scenes at Myrtle Farm to produce this unique body of work.

Martin Thatcher says, “We love our heritage as much as we love our cider – both are deeply rooted in Somerset. Over the last few years we’ve been able to unearth some fascinating insight into previous generations of the Thatcher family, and what life was like as a Somerset farmer. Thanks to the research of author James Russell, and local historian Maria Forbes, we’ve been able to gather all this fascinating information together to create a social history of cidermaking in Somerset.”

Thatchers Then & Now is available to purchase from Thatchers Cider Shop at Myrtle Farm, and also fromwww.bristolbooks.org; www.tangentbooks.co.uk and Amazon.

Thatchers Then & Now is published on 1 March 2015, price £25.00

ISBN: 978-1-909446-03-8

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For further information, contact: Penny Adair, Tel: 0117 9040173