Mendiplodocus Daily — Issue #52 — Tuesday 25 August 2026
Issue #52 | Tuesday 25 August 2026
Good morning, Mendips! Street's Strode Theatre hosts a beautiful launch night of music this week, while Wells braces for a Bank Holiday medieval takeover at the Bishop's Palace and Shepton Mallet turns over to big trucks. There's magic shows, badger walks and a Frost Fayre already stealing headlines too — plenty to get through, so let's dive in.
📅 Featured Event — Josh Atkinson Trio & the Shailangs launch night
🔤 Uxbridge English Dictionary — today's entry
📰 Hot News - Mendips Style — Sunday Market · Frost Fayre · Truckfest · Medieval Bank Holiday
📆 What's On This Week — across the Mendips
🌡️ Weather — Wells BA5 forecast
Featured Event: Josh Atkinson Trio & the Shailangs
Street's Strode Theatre Studio hosts a launch night on Thursday when the Josh Atkinson Trio take to the stage alongside fellow local favourites The Shailangs. Bristol-based singer-songwriter Josh Atkinson blends indie folk and jazz, his distinctive vocals backed by Daniel Shaw on double bass and mandolin and Richard Jenkins on keys and violin — think Bon Iver meets Ben Howard, with a very English attention to melody.
The Shailangs, a duo built around Alice Laing's soulful voice and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Shaw's guitar work, will use the night to launch their first vinyl release, Love Conquers All. The Central Somerset pair are popular in their own right, so pairing both acts on one bill makes for a genuinely special evening.
Tickets are a modest £12, and the Studio's full air conditioning should make it a comfortable escape from whatever the weather does this week. Doors are at 7.30pm — a good excuse for a proper night out in Street without the West End prices.
📰 Hot News - Mendips Style
🛍️ Wells Sunday Market Pilot Rolls Into Autumn
Wells' experimental Sunday markets return to the city centre on 13 September, the first of three more dates before the year is out. The pilot began in June alongside the historic Wednesday and Saturday markets, and will culminate in a two-day Christmas Market on 12-13 December.
🎄 Glastonbury Frost Fayre Draws 250 Stall Bids In A Day
More than 250 traders applied for a pitch at this year's Glastonbury Frost Fayre within 24 hours of applications opening, town councillors heard this week. The festive favourite returns on Saturday, 28 November, with stalls across the town centre from 10am to 6pm and the Christmas tree lights switched on at 5pm.
🚚 Truckfest Revs Up For A Shepton Mallet Bank Holiday
The Royal Bath & West Showground turns over to big rigs this Bank Holiday weekend, as Truckfest South West returns for two days of custom trucks, monster-truck action and live music. Expect vintage and American rigs alongside car-crushing displays from Swamp Thing, freestyle motocross, family wrestling and a late-night disco on Saturday.
⚔️ Medieval Camp To Take Over Bishop's Palace This Bank Holiday
Archers, swordsmen and a full medieval encampment descend on The Bishop's Palace in Wells from Saturday, as re-enactment group Bowlore brings its History Alive programme to the grounds for three days. Expect archery and weapons demonstrations, hands-on displays of medieval crafts and battlefield medicine, and a sword school for visitors brave enough to try it themselves.
English Lessons from the
Uxbridge English Dictionary
M
Mandrake
A mythical creature, half man, half duck.
Manganese
A condition affecting the leg joints of Japanese comic artists.
Manhattan
A light brown hat worn by men.
Martinet
Australian crash helmet.
Mascarpone
To conceal a small horse.
Matrimony
How much a wedding costs.
Matrix
Practical jokes executed by your best friend.
The Bishop Who Piped Water to Wells — a Free Supply That's Been Running Since 1451
Ever wondered about that little channel of water gurgling down the side of Wells High Street? It's not a drain, it's not a leak, and it's certainly not on any mains network. It's a medieval bishop's Christmas present, still running, and it has quietly outlasted every drought since Henry VI.
While much of the West Country sweats under Wessex Water's first hosepipe ban in fifty years, Wells is watching with a certain calm detachment. Our drinking water comes from Bristol Water, which currently has no restrictions and none planned. And on top of that, the city has a spare water supply — one it has been running, free of charge, since 1451.
Thomas Beckington (or Bekynton, if you're feeling medieval), Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1443 to 1465, wasn't your average clergyman. He'd been Henry VI's private secretary and Lord Privy Seal, and had a diplomat's eye for a deal. In 1451 he made the city a remarkable offer: he would pipe fresh spring water — free, forever — from St Andrew's Well in his palace grounds, along an underground lead conduit, to a fountain in the Market Place. The chapters of Bath and Wells rubber-stamped it on 20 September 1451
The catch? In return, the citizens bound themselves to visit his tomb in the Cathedral once a year and pray for his soul. Forty days off Purgatory for every attender. A canny bishop indeed — he had his own transi tomb built and consecrated by 1452, ready and waiting for the arrangement to kick in, though he wouldn't actually need it until 14 January 1465.
Almost six centuries on, both sides are still keeping their end of the bargain. The conduit still flows, gravity-fed from the palace springs, and its surplus still runs visibly along the little channels at the edges of the High Street — the medieval city's original street-cleaning system, and rather more picturesque than a wheelie bin. The original 1451 conduit head in the Market Place was demolished in 1797 and replaced by the fountain you can see today.
And every January, on the Sunday nearest to Beckington's death on 14 January, the Mayor of Wells processes to the Cathedral behind the Town Crier and mace bearers, lays a posy of flowers on his tomb, and the Dean makes a symbolic offering of water. The most recent ceremony was on Sunday 12 January 2025.
Prayers for a bishop's soul, in exchange for a water supply that has now outlasted the Wars of the Roses, the Reformation, the Civil War and two world wars. Best deal Wells ever did — though as Bristol Water gently reminds us, every drop still counts.
All week (Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 August)
Mythical Creatures Trail — Wells Cathedral. Daily family trail through the cathedral, 9am-4.30pm, included with admission. More info
Summer Fun on the Farm — Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury. Meet the animals, browse the galleries and get creative with wood-inspired crafts, Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. More info
School Summer Holidays at The Bishop's Palace — Wells. Trails and family activities running throughout the school holidays alongside the Dragon's Lair play area. More info
Tuesday, 25 August
Family Activity: Leaf Print Tote Bags — 11am-1pm, Abbey Museum, Glastonbury Abbey. Drop-in family craft session making a leaf print tote bag, included with admission. More info
Wednesday, 26 August
Magique - Magic and Illusions Show — 6.30pm, Wookey Hole Theatre, Wells. "Fire and Water" family magic and illusion show, £10, bar open from 6pm. More info
As You Like It — Valley Arts Centre, Yeo Valley Organic Garden, Blagdon, Chew Valley. Shakespeare's comedy performed live. More info
Illyria, perform “As You Like It” at Blagdon
Wild Wednesdays — 10am-3pm, Somerset Earth Science Centre, Stoke St Michael. Final forest-school session of the summer run — den building, crafts and campfire cooking for ages 5-10. Full day £25, short session £16. More info
Mini Beast Hunts — 2-4pm, Glastonbury Abbey. See All week above.
Thursday, 27 August
Josh Atkinson Trio & the Shailangs — see Featured Event above.
Abbey & Town Building Stone Walk — 10.30am-12.30pm, Glastonbury Abbey. Guided walk exploring the geology behind the abbey and town's building stones. More info
Family Activity: Craft a Viking Helmet — 11am-1pm, Abbey Museum, Glastonbury Abbey. Make your own Viking helmet from cardboard. More info
Badger Walks at Glastonbury Abbey — 7-9pm, Abbey House, Glastonbury. Final evening walk of the late-summer run, learning about the wildlife on site after hours. More info
Walk & Wine Thursday — 6-7pm, Wells Market Place (meet near Penniless Porch). Free weekly circular walk for women, finishing at Fosso Lounge for those who fancy a drink. More info
Stories, Myths & Magic! — 11am, Yeast Scrapstore, Glastonbury. Final weekly storytelling and craft session of the summer run with Rainbow Roots CIC, £10 per child.
Friday, 28 August
The Toasters – Live at the Tree House — 7pm, Cheese & Grain, Frome. US ska pioneers play the Tree House stage. More info
Kinda Dusty Presents: Meatloaf by Candlelight — 7.30-10.30pm, Wells Cathedral. Candlelit tribute concert, part of the Concerts by Candlelight series. More info
Bishop's Palace Summer Late Openings — 6-8pm (last entry 7.30pm), Bishop's Palace, Wells. Final late opening of the summer — bring a picnic and enjoy the gardens after hours. Adult £8.75, Child £4.40. More info
Beats 'n' Bites — 5.30-10pm, The Island, Midsomer Norton. Live music and community feasting outside the Town Hall — bring your own food and drink from local traders, free entry.
Saturday, 29 August
Truckfest South West 2026 — 9am-5.30pm (day one of two), Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet. Big rigs, monster trucks and family entertainment — see Hot News above for the full picture. Continues Sunday. More info
History Alive: Bowlore Medieval — 9.30am-5.30pm (day one of three), Bishop's Palace, Wells. Archers, swordsmen and a living medieval camp — see Hot News above for the details. Continues Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. More info
Glastonbury Last Saturday Market — Market Place, Glastonbury. Monthly artisan market with local food, crafts and producers, free entry.
Late Summer Mini Wellness Retreat — 10am-1pm, Abbey House, Glastonbury Abbey. A gentle wellness session with Thalia Brown to slow down as summer draws to a close. More info
🗓️ Coming Up
Truckfest South West 2026 (day two) — Sun 30 Aug, Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet.
History Alive: Bowlore Medieval (continues) — Sun 30 Aug-Mon 31 Aug, Bishop's Palace, Wells.
Vicky Jackson: Pink — Sun 30 Aug, 5.30pm, Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Summer Sundays at Wells & Mendip Museum — Sun 30 Aug, 10am-4pm.
Open Afternoons at St Hugh's Church — Sun 30 Aug, 2-5pm, Charterhouse on Mendip.
Wells Moat Boat Race — Mon 31 Aug (Bank Holiday), Bishop's Palace Moat, Wells.
Starsailor — Thu 3 Sep, Cheese & Grain, Frome.
🎬 This Week at Wells Film Centre
Spider-Man: Brand New Day [12A]
Spa Weekend [15]
The End Of Oak Street [12A]
Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie [U]
Coyote Vs. Acme [PG]
Sunny Dancer [15]
Moana [PG]
Toy Story 5 [PG]
Minions & Monsters [U]
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🌡️ Wells BA5 Weather — Week of 25-29 August
A largely unsettled week after today's sunny spells. Tuesday stays light and cloudy (high 25°C), but drizzle and rain move in from Wednesday through Friday, with highs easing to around 21-24°C. Saturday brings further showers and a fresher breeze, so it's worth keeping a light waterproof handy alongside the sun cream.
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Paul Branston, Editor
Hi, I'm Paul Branston and I publish the Mendiplodocus every morning, Monday to Saturday. Each issue goes out to a growing base of thousands of local residents who want to keep up to date with events and local news. If you have events or news to share or you have a local business to promote, please get in touch.
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