The Blandford Express

Twenty-four years old leather breeches maker, Tom Hill has the unusual distinction of being condemned to be transported to both America and Australia for his crimes. On 13 th March 1783, Tom had been sentenced in a Dorchester courtroom to be transported to America for stealing a silver watch valued at one pound. At the time, this sum was the equivalent of three weeks wages for a Dorset agricultural labourer. The decision was a particularly bizarre one as America was no longer a British colony after the British defeat in the American War of Independence. However, the British were surreptitiously trying to restart the American convict trade as its prisons were overfull. Prior to this war, which had halted the scheme, around 50,000 convicts had been sent to the American colonies despite its unpopularity with locals. British authorities hired a London merchant who did a deal with a Maryland merchant to receive convicts and sell them as indentured servants. Consistent with the furtiven...

  Here are some now almost forgotten words from the Dorset Dialect. Acker – a mate or pal. Betwattled – confused. Bigitty   – ‘to big for his or her boots.’ Chattermag – a magpie or a woman who chatters like one. Clavy-tack – a mantelpiece. Clinker – an icicle. Cowheart – a coward. Diddicoy – a gypsy. Dumpsey – dusk. Faddle – a bundle. Glim – a feeble light. Glutchy – to swallow greedily. Girt – great Gooner – certainly. Huckmuck – dirty. Jopetty-jopetty – anxious. Loplolly – lazy person. Noggerhead – an idiot. Passon – parson. Puggled – stupid. Screws – rheumatism. Snoodling – drizzling. Square pushing – courting. Tiddyvate – to decorate oneself. Torrididdle – bewildered. Totties – feet. Twit – to tease. Wuss – worse Zummut – something. (Source: A Bit of a Bumble by Alan Chedzoy - 2003.)

Not a lot of people know this but in the 1890s, there were plans to make Blandford Station into a railway junction. Connecting Bath with Poole and Bournemouth, the Somerset & Dorset Railway had already opened stations in Blandford and Shillingstone. The Wilts, Dorset & East Devon Railway was an ambitious plan to construct a new and additional route from Salisbury to Exeter via Blandford. The first section of 21 miles would leave the existing Salisbury to Yeovil line at Wilton and open new stations at Broadchalke, Sixpenny Handley and Pimperne before joining the Somerset & Dorset line in Blandford. The second section of 11 miles would run through Blandford St Mary, Winterborne Whitechurch & Bere Regis and then join the London & South Western, Poole to Dorchester line at Moreton Station. The final 50 mile section would be built via Shipton Gorge, Bridport, Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Seaton & Sidmouth and would then join the London & South Western Line at Topsh...

Wilts & Dorset double-decker buses were red and Hants & Dorset double-decker buses were green and both companies operated in Blandford. This was during an era when there was a proper bus network in Dorset. Bus timetables rarely changed from year to year and apart from Summer Saturdays there were few problems of traffic congestion in the county. With their open platforms at the rear, each double-decker had both a driver and a conductor. Between Salisbury and Weymouth via Dorchester there was a daily (no.34) hourly service operated jointly by Wilts & Dorset and Weymouth based, Southern National. Blandford’s bus station could be found just south of the Salisbury Road railway bridge and right next to a fish & chips shop. Hants & Dorset ran two routes to Bournemouth. One from Blandford was via Corfe Mullen ( 10) while the other (24 ), originating from Shaftesbury, journeyed via Blandford and Wimborne to Bournemouth. However, the latter took an interminably long time to...

Dorset dialect is said to have originated from the Saxon invaders that landed in the county in the sixth century. Some less well-known ‘ Do’set ’ words include: ‘ Boris-noris’ meaning to go on recklessly without thought to risk or decency; ‘ Twanketon ’ meaning melancholy; ‘ Dumbledore ’ meaning a bumblebee; ‘ Torididdle ’ meaning to be out of one's  mind and ‘ God’s almighty cow’ which surprisingly is a ladybird! In June 1932, the following message was sent to King George V from the Society of Dorset Men; ‘Sire, Do’set Men at the yearly feast in the King’s Hall, Holborn Restaurant has ‘bidden woonce mwore to zend ‘ee their loyal and loven greetens. May ‘ee be spared vor years to zit wi friends avore the vierzide an’ dwell at hwome in peace. God bless ‘ee I d’bide your vaithful survint. Angus V Hamro; Society of Do’set Men.’ Radio fright claimed its first victim in July 1927 and deprived listeners of the opportunity of hearing the Dorset dialect over the radio for the first...

  Del boy, Rodney and Grandad, from the comedy series Only Fools & Horses, are normally associated with Peckham, South London. Yet one of their most memorable scenes was filmed at Iwerne Minster in North Dorset. The December 1982 programme ‘ A Touch of Glass’ attracted over 10 million television viewers. It is frequently regarded as Only Fools & Horses’ fans favourite scene of the show. Derek Trotter had been given the job of cleaning a valuable glass chandelier at country mansion, Ridgemore Hall. With Del and Rodney up ladders, and only an old sheet between the priceless chandelier and the floor, it was inevitable something would go wrong. Grandad detached the wrong chandelier and it smashed on the floor. As Grandad queried, ‘ Is it very valuable? ’ To which Del retorted, ‘Not really. It was bleeding priceless when it was hanging up there, though!’ Ridgemore Hall was in fact Clayesmore School at Iwerne Minster. However, as the school would not allow the floorboards to be ...

Some breweries are cherishingly remembered while others are now forgotten: Eldridge Pope  of Dorchester. Founded in 1837 by Charles and Sarah Eldridge, a new brewery was built near the railway line in 1880. Edwin Pope had joined in 1870 and was followed by his brother Alfred. The Huntsman   trademark (featured) was shared with Leeds based brewer, Joshua Tetley. Thomas Hardy Ale, a strong barley wine, was one their most famous beers. Eldridge Pope closed in 2003 and the site was sold to a property company. Bournemouth Brewery was founded at 117 Holdenhurst Road in 1858 in association with Heath Poult Inn.  One of its owners was a Mrs Hilda G  Ogden. The brewery was bought by Strong of Romsey in 1925 and survived just as a depot until 1973 when the site was redeveloped. Devenish of Weymouth. Originally the Flew Brewery, it was bought by William Devenish in 1824. In 1931,  Major J Devenish’s home was burgled but the stolen silver was discovered the next day by scho...

William Lawrence was a Dorset soldier who fought the French from 1808-1813 and again at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815. Yet, despite this, he married a French girl, Clotilde Clairet from St Germain-en-Laye some ten miles from the centre of Paris. Returning to civilian life at the age of 28, he ran an inn with his wife at Studland. Born in 1791, and from a large impoverished Briantspuddle family, he was compelled to seek out his own livelihood at an early age. Initially, he was paid just two old pennies (1p) per day to frighten birds off corn fields and then he worked as a ploughboy earning just six old pence per day. At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to Henry Bush, a Studland builder. Running away from a harsh master, William Lawrence joined the British Army. William Lawrence served in the war in South America in 1805 and through the whole of the Spanish Peninsular War. He was awarded a silver medal with no less than ten clasps representing the battles in which he fought an...

The Western Gazette once claimed, with 100,000 readers, to be the most read local newspaper in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. Affectionately known as the 'Western', among its earliest  and more unusual small advertisements were: Miscellaneous Wants . Wife wanted, a pious person without family, aged 50-56. Must possess small annuity of not less than £30 per annum. The advertiser has means, comfortable home and no family. Address to 5H, Post Office, Langport. (Western Gazette Friday 3 rd October 1873) £20 Reward. Whereas some evil-disposed person or persons did on Friday 6 th , about 6pm, & maliciously set fire to a barn and sheds situate at Sturminster Marshall in the occupation of Mr W Adams – beer house keeper. The above reward will be paid to any person or persons giving such information as shall lead to the conviction of the offender or offenders. (Western Gazette Saturday 14 th January 3 rd 1865) Shepherd Wanted . Liberal wages with cider, house & garden....

Despite a much smaller population, there is one global competition where the county of Dorset has matched the USA. In the now somewhat outdated Miss World Contest, Dorset has produced three winners. They are Ann Sidney, Lesley Langley and Sarah-Jane Hutt. The USA has provided Marjorie Wallace (1973), Gina Tolleson (1990) and Alexandria Mills (2010). Ann Sidney was a hairdresser from Poole, on a 30 shillings (£1.50) weekly wage, who won in 1964. She became an actress, married five times and for a short period was a girlfriend of Bruce Forsyth. The contest had an incredible 27.5 million television audience in the UK alone. When Ann returned to Poole she received a reception usually reserved for royalty. Her win led to British born, American comedian Bob Hope inviting her to entertain US troops in Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam. Her autobiography is entitled, ‘Surviving Miss World .’ Next year in 1965, Dorset achieved back to back victories when 21 year old Lesley Langley from Weymout...

Travelling along Dorset’s roads in the 1700s was hazardous. Not only was there the risk of being robbed by highwaymen, but as there were few signposts, an unwary traveller could so easily get lost. It was the Turnpike Act of 1767 which required trusts, who managed many roads and who charged a toll, to show the names of main towns. This was followed by milestones, often made of local stone, showing distances to the nearest town. Outside the Crown Hotel, Blandford there was a milestone which recorded the distance to Hyde Park Corner in London. Dorset has its own characteristic road signs known as fingerposts (see above). They are topped off by a circular finial or roundel which displays not only the place name but also a map reference. The latter was included at the suggestion of the Ministry of Transport in the 1930s. Worried about the prospects of a German invasion during World War II, the British Government ordered navigational signposts to be removed. After the war, to supplement the...

Here are some old Dorset countryside words now almost completely lost. Curleywig – earwig. Dumbledore – bumblebee. Flittermouse – bat. God ‘lmighty cow – ladybird. Hoss-tinger – dragonfly. Hoss – horse. Palmer – caterpillar. Rot – rat. Wops – wasp. Cutty – wren. Devil Screecher – swift Ruddock – robin. Spadger – sparrow. Tiddies – potatoes. Pissabed – dandelion Chipple – spring onion. Bithy-wine – bindweed. Daffidowndilly – daffodil. Snag – sloe. Culver – dove. Greygle – bluebell. Churry – cherry. Beetlehead - tadpole. Black Bob - cockroach. (Source: A Bit of a Bumble by Alan Chedzoy - 2003.)

He was the high-spirited parson initially of Lydlinch and then Chettle who was mad about sport.  However, these were the uncivilised ‘ past times’ of the 1700s such as bull baiting, cockfighting and owl hunting. It was said he hunted ‘everything from the flea in the blanket to the elephant in the forest.’   He was also an author and a magistrate although writer Desmond Hawkins reckoned he regarded the law as an inconvenience to be broken or upheld according to what suited him. William Chafin was a crusty character and rural eccentric who wore old boots and greasy leather breeches even when dining with royalty. Young William’s sporting career began when he accidently shot and killed an old lady called ‘Goody’ . Somehow, the future cleric avoided court conviction but his father insisted he spent a month in a loft as a penance on just bread and water. During this confinement, he passed the time trap baiting sparrows. Only four of his eleven brothers and sisters survived which...

There’s many a link between the county of Dorset and place names ‘ down under’ . On the Australian island of Tasmania, nicknamed ‘Tassie’, the Tolpuddle Vineyard can be found. Located in the Coal River Valley, some twenty minutes north-east of Hobart, it is reckoned to produce some of the country’s finest wines. It gained its name from the Tolpuddle Martyrs who were transported to Australia for forming an agricultural trade union. Leader of the Martyrs, George Loveless, served his sentence working on a property which is now the Tolpuddle Vineyard. A bottle of Tolpuddle’s finest can be bought at Fortnum & Mason in London for a modest £100 and a London restaurant can charge even more! While if your preference is for a beer there is a Dorset Lager produced in a brewery a few miles south of Bridport. Tasmania has its own Land District of Dorset  in the north-east of the island. Near the most north-easterly tip is Cape Portland , while some 50 miles to the west is the seasi...

Many Dorset towns and villages are twinned with places which can be found in the La Manche Department of Normandy. Such links include: Bridport is twinned with St-Vaast-la-Hougue  (population 1828 – 2015). In 2019, the latter gained an award as the prettiest village in France. A must place to visit in St-Vaast-la-Hougue is the fine quality grocery store, La Maison Gosselin famous across France which has successfully traded there for more than 130 years. Lyme Regis is twinned with Barfleur (population 564 – 2018). Both now are popular seaside resorts but in 1066 it was the port where William the Conqueror embarked before the Norman invasion of England. In 1944, its German commander evacuated Barfleur, prior to any battle with the Allies, to avoid it being damaged because he liked the small port so much. Sturminster Marshall is twinned with Sainte-Mere-Eglise (population 3074 – 2018). In June 1944, American parachutist, John Steele was caught on the tower of the town church...

  At Lydlynch, near Sturminster Newton on the A357 road there is an unusual but unassumingly modest yet strong steel bridge of some local historical significance. It crosses the River Lydden and can be found alongside an older and more traditional crossing which it is believed dates back to the early 18 th century. The more modern bridge takes traffic one way while the older stone bridge takes it the other way. This steel construction is known as a Callender-Hamilton bridge. It was assembled in 1942 by Canadian army engineers as it was evident that the old stone bridge would not be able to bear heavy loads. At the time, it was only envisaged as a temporary feature. It was a Canadian armoured regiment that was the first major military user of the bridge prior to the raid on Dieppe in August 1942. The same route was later used by tanks and other military equipment which moved south to Poole for the D Day Normandy Invasion. This Callender-Hamilton bridge was assembled on site and...

Where do these local place-names come from? Blandford Forum – a ford where ‘ blay ’ which are small fresh water fish could be found. ‘ Forum’ comes from the Latin for a market. In the 13 th century, the town was known as ‘ Cheping Blandford’ , from the Old English for market. Bryanston – from the Old English meaning ‘ Brian’s estate’. This is named after the man who held this estate in the 13 th century. ‘Tun’ is Old English and means ‘ farm, estate or village’ . Winterborne Stickland – ‘ estate on the River Winterborne with a steep hill.’ A Winterborne is a winter stream. Langton – a ‘ long village, farm or estate. ’ Tarrant Gunville – ‘ estate on the River Tarrant held by the Gundeville family.’ Pimperne – first mentioned in the year 935 and probably comes from the Old Celtic meaning ‘ five trees’ . Thorncombe – the ‘ valley where thorn trees grow. ’ Shroton – ‘ sheriff’s estate or farm. ’ The sheriff being Baldwin of Exeter in the 11 th century. Tarrant...

  Among Somerset & Dorset railway stations in Dorset was Broadstone, the county's most named station - at six times! Other stations were: Parkstone – opened June 1874: closed to freight September 1965. Poole – opened December 1872: closed to freight July 1966. Creekmore Halt – opened June 1933: closed March 1966. New Poole Junction (then Poole Junction, then Poole Junction & Broadstone, then Broadstone & New Poole Junction, then Broadstone Junction and finally Broadstone from July 1929.) – opened December 1872: closed to passengers March 1966/closed to freight September 1965. Corfe Mullen Halt – opened July 1928: closed September 1956. Sturminster Marshall ( Bailey Gate from November 1863) – opened November 1860: closed to passengers March 1966/closed to freight April 1965. Spetisbury – opened November 1860: closed September 1956. Charlton Marshall – opened July 1928: closed September 1956. Blandford St Mary (temporary station until September 1...

Long before cricket & football became nationally popular, English counties had their own favourite pastimes. In Dorset ‘ cudgel playing’ was a favoured ‘sport’ and there is a theory that there is a connection between this sport and the cudgel carrying Cerne Abbas Giant. Cudgel playing used to be a most popular feature at  race meetings, fairs and revels in Dorset during the 17 th & 18 th century. Betting, money prizes and rural rivalries to attain a sort of rural celebrity status, stimulated this most brutal of pastimes. Play would take place on a stage of rough planks about four feet high which would attract a large crowd of men and women. A challenger would ascend the stage and throw down his cap to be picked up by an opponent. With a leather thong to go around the wrist, each player would be holding a cudgel made of ash of about three feet long. A master of ceremonies would announce when the playing was about to begin. Object of cudgel playing was to ‘ break the ...

‘ Bunga Bunga’ is today associated with allegedly colourful sex parties attended by former Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. Yet more than a century earlier, the phrase originated and was linked with a different type of party in Weymouth Bay. In 1910, author Virginia Woolf, and her small equally colourful party of friends pulled off one of the most famous practical jokes in British military history. At the time, the British Navy was the most powerful and largest in the world and Portland was an important base. The Royal Navy was seen as one of the foundations of the British Empire and as a reflection of the nation’s power and wealth. The formidable HMS Dreadnought was the pride of the Royal Navy and flagship of the Channel Fleet and in February 1910 was berthed in Weymouth Bay. Pretending to be a VIP foreign delegation, Virginia and her friends obtained permission to visit the prestigious battleship. Four of the party, including Virginia herself, dressed up as fake Abyssini...