Hi Taryn The only one I can think of off hand in Yeovil is Hinton House, but there are also several others in nearby villages eg Montacute House and Tintinhull House. I would also have thought that a browse around the Yeovil area using the old maps site might also give you a few more options as most of the large houses were marked accordingly: http://www.old-maps.co.uk/oldSite/index.htm If someone has access to a Kelly's Directory for that period for the Yeovil area it might also list the names and addresses of those of note who lived in the area! Kids today wouldn't know what "stepping out" was would they :-) Regards Paul Portland On Fri, 23 Mar 2001 17:47:24 -0800 (PST), you wrote: >Hello > My grandmother always told me that her mother >worked as a parlour maid in a 'big house' in Yeovil. >She met my great grandfather when he was visiting with >a friend who was 'stepping out' with another maid. My >gr grandparents, Lilian Clegg and George Burrows were >married in Yeovil in November 1914. The next day, >George went off to war. I have no idea what George >was doing anywhere near Somerset, as he was born in >Shoreditch, London. I'm wondering whose house Lilian >may have been working in at the time. Anyone know? > >Taryn Jones >Canada

Hi Taryn, Following on from what Paul has written, the following is from Kelly's Directory of 1889 and mentions the following house/Manors at Yeovil: "Newton House the seat of Mrs Harbin, is situated about half a mile from the town, in rich park like grounds, surrounded by fine woodland scenery, the river Yeo flows immediately in front of the house. The family of Harbin is of very ancient date, and was settled at Wyke, Iwerne and Blandford, in Dorsetshire, for more than three centuries, but removed to Newton in the reign of James I. A house is said to have existed here in the time of Edward I but the present mansion was erected by Robert Harbin in the early part of the reign of James I .............. Henford House, the property of Russell Aldridge M.D. is a large modern mansion, surrounded by fine lawns and gardens. Pen house , the seat of Jabez Bradford esq: is situated on an eminence, the gardens are laid out with great taste. The other principal residences are, Henford manor house, James Bernard Paynter esq: - Aldon, John Batten esq: - Hollands, Herbert Butler Batten esq: - Kingston Manor, Thomas William Dampier-Bide esq: and Swallowcliffe, Thomas Mayo esq:" Regards Roger Shirley Cairns, Australia (Searching for Shirley's in Dorset)