Ferne Animal Sanctuary, Somerset

From the collection of

The Box
Established in 1992, the South West Film & Television Archive collection spans from 1893 to the present day containing more than 250,000 items. Formed from a variety of depositors, including broadcast news and programmes material from the Westward and TSW archive. In 2018 the archive collection transferred to The Box in Plymouth.

Ferne Animal Sanctuary, Somerset (Westward Diary)


Feeding time: Westward Television presenter Clive Gunnell reports from Ferne Animal Sanctuary at Wambrook in Somerset.

Westward Television presenter Clive Gunnell interviews the Manager of Ferne Animal Sanctuary, John Bryant. The Wambrook sanctuary was established by the Duchess of Hamilton & Brandon at the beginning of the Second World War and continues to thrive as an important animal refuge. Gunnell is also shown how the sanctuary cares for animals in need which include chickens, dogs, donkeys and horses.

In 1903, Nina, the Duchess of Hamilton co-founded the Animal Defence and Anti-Vivisection Society. At the beginning of the second world war, she realised service men and women would not be able to take their pets with them and put out an appeal on the BBC's national service for suitable homes. Pets were cared for on the estate and as many owners never returned, the Ferne Animal Sanctuary was born.


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