Somerset Fire Brigade members being instructed in the use of extension ladders by the north front of Hestercombe House, undated

A Club Room with bar and dart board (now the Second-hand Book Shop), a billiard room (basement), pitch and putt course (Orangery Lawn) and croquet (Tennis Lawn) provided after hours recreation for staff. ‘Half a beer was normal at lunchtime in the 1970s . . . the whole building was licensed’, recalled former Fire Brigade Engineer, Steve Pike.