The Mount

We are informed that this building, located in the sand dunes at the top of what is now the junction of Pizey Avenue and Trinity Rise (top centre in photo below), was one of the first experimental buildings made entirely of concrete. It was built and occupied in 1911 by the Akerman family, concrete manufacturers of Bridgwater. Many of the pieces were pre-cast at Dunball and transported to the site  by horse-drawn wagon. The Ackermans were also responsible for the well known early concrete house in Bridgwater town centre.  There was said to have been a tennis court on the roof of The Mount .  It was believed that part of the reason for the choice of the site was the hope that the fresh sea breezes would help Mrs Ackerman’s asthma. However the extensive central heating system gave rise to excessive condensation problems. The Mount  was demolished after falling into disrepair.

When viewed from near the Colony.
When viewed from near the Colony.
Thanks to Steve Tanner for this image.
Image used by kind permission of Bob & June Thomas.
Seen from the beach with the Berrow Road in the top RH corner. and Gore Road in the LHS . Also in the picture is the back of Ellen's cottages and the ladies' Golf Course.
Seen from above the beach with the Berrow Road in the top RH corner and Gore Road in the LHS . Also in the picture is the back of Ellen’s cottages and the ladies’ Golf Course. Thanks to John Mackie for this image.

 

The Mount ( behind the Lighthouse, as seen from the beach. Thanks to Steve Tanner for this image.
The Mount ( behind the Lighthouse), as seen from the beach. Thanks to Steve Tanner for this image.

From Cynthia Boskett:

I have attached photos taken by my parents, Mr and Mrs Ellison, when they lived at “The Mount” Burnham on Sea 1949-1952. They loved living near the sea and in 1986 after thirty four years in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands they returned to Burnham on Sea. It was certainly a very grand house divided into flats at the time my parents lived there. I was only five when we went to the Midlands but I do remember playing in the sand dunes and on the beach next to the house.

Best wishes, Mrs Cynthia Boskett


 

GREYSTONES, Rectory Rd

This house stood in the grounds of what was at one time Beaufort House (once home of Gardenhurst School and latterly occupied by St Dunstan’s School). It was occupied by Edward Akerman in 1923 (Kellys Directory) until at least 1954 (Electoral Register). By that time it was occupied by Clara A G Perry and Susan Perry who are thought to have been sisters.

It appears that Edward was a brother of William Savidge Akerman who occupied The Mount. It is likely  that Greystones was of a similar construction.

It was demolished, probably in the early 1990’s, and replaced by Beaufort Court.

12 thoughts on “The Mount”

  1. My parents rented a flat in The Mount in 1961/2 before buying a house in Gore Road. Although I was very young I remember the underground car park at The Mount and the house itself, which stood overlooking the beach throughput my childhood. I remember the caravan park too and as children we’d walk through it to the beach. It was lovely to see the postcard showing Gore Road, the caravans and The Mount in the background.

    1. My parents Brian and Susan Bartlett rented a top floor flat which is where I was born in January 1964, I don’t know how long they lived there. They had a Samoyed dog called Troy who (I was told) would howl at the moon on the rooftop. So lovely to find some information on this amazing looking building.

      1. Hello Faith and thank you for sharing your childhood memory of this building.
        I can send you an image of this building if you want .
        John

  2. My house in the sixties, Sandy Lodge, in Grove Road ( still very much there ) , was a large square, two storey ‘Art Deco’ house, built from a framework of reinforced concrete – using coke from S Wales I believe – with brick walls. Tough as old boots. It was built in 1919, for Countess Kairns, as a weekend golfing lodge. It was sold on to Captain and Mrs Stokes in WW2, as their home and as dormitories for St Dunstan’ s school boys. I bought it ( for £3,400 ) in 1967

    1. Thanks for the information Chris. I will also add it to our St Dunstan’s School page which you have probably seen, but if not you will find it under the Places / Schools menu.

  3. I believe that The Mount was built by John Board and Co. for Mr W S Akerman who was a director of the company at the time. He was definitely living there with his wife, Katherine in 1935 when she died.
    It seemed very strange at the time when so much fuss was made over the ‘Castle’ prefabricated cement house in Bridgwater a few years ago that The Mount seemed to be of little interest when it was also constructed by John Board, made largely of cement and was built for an Akerman.

    1. Thanks for this information Peter. It does seem such a shame that this iconic building just seemed to disappear.

  4. My parents, Mr and Mrs Ellison used to rent a flat in the Mount from 1949-1952. They rented flat 4 in this building. I was only two years old when they moved to Burnham on Sea. We left the area when I was five years old .
    I do have several photos of the Mount I could send to you for your archives.

    1. Hello Cynthia,

      Thank you for sharing your early days in the Mount with us. We would love to see your photos please so I will contact again via my personal email. Is it OK to share your images on this website?
      Thanks again,
      John

  5. Hi
    I would like to find out more information about the mount, and its experimental construction. Where can i find this as information seems to be hard to come by.

    1. Hello Ben,

      The Mount is one of Burnham’s most talked about ‘lost’ structures. There does appear to be very little documented regarding construction and ownership. Many people have told me it was constructed entirely of concrete but I have been unable to confirm this. Hopefully someone reading your request may be able to help.

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