In 1731, the Great Fire of Blandford
destroyed the greater part of the town. It started at about 2 o’clock in a soap
boiler’s house. Only forty out of around five hundred houses escaped the fire.
To add to the troubles, the town was suffering from a smallpox outbreak
affecting around 150 people.
Following the Great Fire of Blandford
an appeal for funds raised £16,151-10s-3d £16.151 51p) which included £1,200 from
King George II and his wife, £200 from Bath and £136 from the Isle of Wight.
Drury Lane Theatre in London put on a play to raise money for ‘the poor unhappy sufferers from the late
fire.’
The practice of ducking ‘incorrigible shrews and scolds’ was
discontinued with the burning of the town’s ducking stool in the fire.
In 1733, there were thirty inns in
Blandford.
In 1735, Blandford Church was
constructed at the cost of £3,200 and it cost four years to complete.
In 1738, because of the number of disorders in the town, the bailiff, vicar and 22 leading residents petitioned the magistrates to grant licenses to only 20 local innkeepers.
In 1739, one shilling & sixpence
(7p) was paid by the Overseers of the Poor for curing John Pottle’s wife of the
itch.
(Illustration: Blandford Fire 250th Anniversary stamp)
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