Blandford Throwback Facts XXII

In 1925, a Bournemouth man was sued for breach of promise by a 24 year old Blandford girl for failing to marry her. He explained he was already engaged to a Shrewsbury girl while another Bournemouth girl had successfully sued him for breach of promise. During the 1920s, Hall & Woodhouse had a football team nicknamed the ‘Tubbs’.

In 1926, twenty seven people were killed and 40 were injured in the Great Blandford Rail Crash. However, this was not in Blandford, Dorset but Blandford, New South Wales in Australia.

In 1927, Charles Hunt, the last surviving member of the Blandford Town Band which had won the National Brass Band Championship in 1863 died. Draper, A Cherry & Son of Salisbury Street published an apology in the Western Gazette newspaper stating that an employee had spread a false and ‘entirely untrue’ rumour that a Blandford doctor was leaving the town and giving up his local practice. Mr Warrilow, a blind organist and Director of Music for the National Institute for the Blind gave an organ recital in Blandford Parish Church.

In 1928, the first train that stopped at the newly opened Stourpaine and Durweston railway station halt was greeted by the two vicars and most of the population of the two villages. The halt closed in 1956.

In 1929, Frederick George Abberline died in Bournemouth. Born in Blandford, he was a Chief Inspector in the Metropolitan Police and was a key figure in the East London ‘Jack the Ripper’ serial murder investigations. Chief Scout Robert Baden Powell and Lady Powell attended the Blandford Scout and Girl Guide Rally. During their visit to the town they were granted the Freedom of Blandford. Dorset County Council took over responsibility for running Blandford Workhouse. During one month, during economic recession, 549 vagrants were admitted into the Workhouse. The early morning mail train was derailed at Blandford St Mary. Hall & Woodhouse acquired the Badger trademark from a Yorkshire mineral water producer.

In 1930, West Street outfitter, Alexander J Hicks became Mayor for the fourth time.

(Illustration: Stourpaine & Durweston Halt opens)

Comments

True Lovers Knot - a Tragic Tale

True Lovers Knot public house describes itself as a traditional inn set in a picturesque Dorset valley in Tarrant Keynston. Yet, this historical hostelry is said to have gained its name from a particularly tragic tale and still to be haunted by a distressed former publican. This publican’s son met and fell in love with the daughter of the local squire. Because the young lad was not from the gentry they decided to keep their relationship secret from her father. Unfortunately, a stable hand saw the two young lovers together and told her father. Set firmly against this friendship the squire made plans to send his daughter away from the district. Not able to face up to life without her boyfriend, the young girl decided to commit suicide and hanged herself from a tree in the village. So upset was the publican’s son of hearing of his girlfriend’s death he too hanged himself from the same tree. The Tarrant Keynston publican had, himself lost his wife at child birth and now losing his son b

Holton Heath's Tragic Explosion

Ten were killed and 23 were injured according to newspaper reports at the time. This made it one of Dorset’s worst ever industrial accidents. Holton Heath employees were blown into unrecognisable fragments necessitating a roll call of the factory’s entire staff before the identities of those killed were identified. Eleven men were originally believed to have been killed but when a roll call was held one turned up. A crimson red plume of acid vapour had towered into the sky resembling the shuddering eruption of a volcano. It was caused by the bursting of a sulphuric acid tank. Close by low buildings vanished and the shock affected houses for 20 miles with roof slates dislodged, ornaments knocked down and windows broken. The sound of the explosion could be heard at Shillingstone some 18 miles away. Closer to the factory, a hoe was wrenched from the hands of a gardener who was flung against a tree. One fortunate employee, Charles Rogers owed his life to having to leave, just before the

Tarrant Rushton's Nuclear Secret

Tarrant Rushton was a large RAF base used for glider operations during World War II. It was then taken over by Flight Refuelling for the conversion of aircraft for the development of aircraft in-flight refuelling. However, between 1958 & 1965, the Tarrant Rushton airfield had a much more secretive and less publicised role. This was in support of the nation’s nuclear bomber deterrent, as Tarrant Rushton airfield became a QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) dispersal unit. During 1958, contractors Costain reinforced the main runway and carried out other work to ensure the giant bomber aircraft could be accommodated. At times just a few miles from Blandford, there would have been up to four RAF Vickers Valiant bombers at Tarrant Rushton ready to become airborne in minutes charged with nuclear weapons. The bombers were from 148 Squadron at RAF Marham in Norfolk. As there was no suitable accommodation at the airfield, an old US Air Force Hospital building at Martin was used. At the time, the

The Blandford Express

Search This Blog