Jimmy Stokes
Jimmy Stokes


Edward James Stokes, or Jimmy as he was known, was born at Redlands Farm in Capps lane which was a gated road until recent times. There were seven gates along the length of road and it was a user’s responsibility to open and close the gates as they passed through.

Jimmy spent his whole working life in the area of Redlands farm with Jimmy working on an adjoining farm with his mother running Redlands Farm as her husband had died at the age of 32 years. She was also a magistrate in Westbury making her a busy woman.

Although Jimmy spent most of his time at Redlands Farm, he would visit Bratton village to go to the local shops and Reeves the agricultural engineers. You only had to meet Jimmy once and you would never forget him, such was his strong personality. On the farm, they were a community to themselves. They lived to normal time and ignored British summer time saying the animals knew nothing of summertime.

The 22nd July 1950 was a date to remain in his mind forever. Taking a hay elevator across the main railway line, it became well and firmly stuck. An express train was approaching at speed and despite all efforts to halt its progress, it crashed into the elevator. At the time, it was not known that Winston Churchill was a passenger. It was said at the time that Jimmy had done what Hitler failed to do; he had stopped Churchill!

When Jimmy retired in 1974 the animals, household effects and farm machinery were auctioned making £5561.70 and Jimmy came to live in the last bungalow in Castle Road spending the rest of his life there. He died in RUH Bath of Bronchopneumonia in 1997.




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Bratton History Association.

The Bratton History Association aims to provide all those curious about local history with an opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, and discover more about the history of Bratton and Wiltshire. Activities include monthly meetings, talks by professional historians, visits to places of interest to historians, and our own local history project.

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