A SPECIAL plaque commemorating the 150th anniversary of one Burnham-on-Sea’s greatest benefactors has been unveiled.

Burnham’s mayor Cllr Andy Brewer was joined by mayoress Lorna Brewer and a representative from Watermark Wealth Management on Saturday (June 22) as they revealed the blue plaque in memory of George Reed in Manor Gardens.

Mr Reed was the town’s biggest benefactor during the Victorian period and was responsible for a number of changes in Burnham including installing improved sanitation in land, producing plans for gas lighting and opening Manor House Gardens.

John Strickland, a local historian who is part of North Sedgemoor Local History Group which organised the event, spoke at the ceremony about the contribution Mr Reed made to the town and described him as ‘a very public spirited man.’

He said: “In 1836 Joseph Haythorne, George’s step-father, bequeathed £2,000 to him with the balance of his estate to George’s mother Susanna.

“This amounted to sixteen million pounds in today’s money. Susanna purchased lands including the title Lord of East Brent which George inherited on his mother’s death. She also bequeathed all her money to George.

“In 1841 records show George as living in Church Street (now Manor Road) in Burnham. In the same year he had the first Manor House built as his new residence. He built stables and employed gardeners to tend his orchids in his several hot houses in the gardens we see today.

“He funded the building of many properties including: Lucerne Cottage built on the Berrow Road, Catherine and Julia Terraces, the new national school on the sea front which was later named St Andrews, The Reed’s Arms and he was involved in many other property transactions.

“He funded and was pivotal in building the jetty for a steam ship service from Cardiff and in bringing the Somerset Central Railway into Burnham on May 3, 1858.

“George opened his Manor House Gardens to the public in 1859.

“The Burnham Guide of that year says he opened his ‘gardens and extensive hothouses... every Tuesday and Friday between the hours of 11am and 4pm upon application to the head gardener.’

“ He continued to live in his home here with this daughter and son –in law Catherine and John Fryer.

“He had been found to have a heart condition and died in his bedroom here on June 22, 1869 by natural causes.

“We are grateful to Watermark Wealth Management for donating this plaque. “