The Blandford Express

  In 1781, the British Army fought in the Battle of Blandford. However, this was not in Blandford Forum in Dorset but Blandford, Virginia in the USA. It was during the American War of Independence. However, if in 1940 a German invasion of Britain had taken place it is almost certain a Second Battle of Blandford would have taken place but this time on Dorset soil. Operation Sea Lion was the code name for a plan by Adolf Hitler to invade Britain in 1940. Some 2,400 barges had been collected from around Europe to enable the German Army to cross the English Channel. Suitable landing points had been identified by the Germans between Dover and Lyme Bay. The small seaside village of Burton Bradstock, near Bridport was considered as particularly suitable because of the profile of its beach. The British authorities had decided to make Blandford Forum a key point in the defences against a German invasion. The town was on what was called a ‘ stop line’ which ran along the River Stour from Ch...

One of Dorset’s oldest hotels, the Crown Hotel in Blandford has a long and colourful history. Highwayman John Poulter and his five companions were unwelcome visitors to the Crown Hotel in 1752. After spending the day at the Blandford Horse Races, they decided ‘ to go on the sneak’ and in the dusk of the evening stole a ‘ porte-manteau trunk’ from the Crown Hotel. Taking it to a field to search, they discovered it contained eighteen guineas, several gold and silver coins, a gold watch, a pair of gold buckles, a gold girdle buckle, a great quantity of jewels, a white petticoat and a great quantity of apparel. All were taken to London and sold. (Source: John Poulter’s own account published in 1764.) A young chimney sweep was suffocated and burnt to death in a chimney at the Crown Hotel which had been on fire a little before. He went up one chimney and attempting to go down another was in a narrow part and could neither get up nor down. (Source: Salisbury & Winchester Journal 27 ...

In June 1936, the people of Portesham, near Weymouth came up with an ingenious way to promote their village - cat racing. For newspapers it was the ‘silly season’ and there was a shortage of serious news, so Portesham’s cat racing exploits spread like a wild fire. Daily Express thought it was a good enough story to send a photographer to the village, so several stray  cats were rounded up for him at the inn. The newspaper announced that the 440 yards four-lane track would be open in August and that the Dorset moggies would be chasing an electric rat. If challenged, the licensee of the King’s Arms agreed to confirm that a well-attended experimental cat race had already taken place. It was said that female cats were the better chasers and that tailless cats were not allowed to enter. The cats would wear different coloured ribbons around their necks so that punters could more easily recognise their favourites. Owners would have to pay a two shillings and sixpence (12.5p) fee to enter ...

Elm Tree Inn, Langton Herring in South Dorset is a 400-year-old hostelry with a colourfully checkered history - that includes smugglers, bouncing bombs, espionage and knicker bunting. Originally leased by the Prince of Wales, it became a known haunt for wreckers and smugglers. Wreckers plundered cargo from shipwrecks. The dangerous shingle banks and deep waters off nearby Chesil Bank led to many local shipwrecks. Folklore has it that wreckers would tie a lantern to a cow’s tail and the gentle up and down motion would simulate that of a ship at anchor. Passing captains would mistake the false light for a safe harbour. Disaster would follow. A fisherman who had cheated others on the size of his catch was chased through the village in 1780 and was hung from a beam at the Elm Tree Inn. In 1834, William Whittle was sentenced to death for smuggling and for assaulting a Revenue Official. Following a petition for clemency, signed by more than 600, he was transported to Australia. The village’s...

  At around eight feet tall, Chang Woo Gow was Bournemouth’s tallest man. Although born in China in 1841, he moved to Bournemouth in 1890 for health reasons. Here, he opened a tea shop and an Oriental Bazaar which sold imported Chinese goods. He made his home in Southcote Road, Bournemouth. To ensure his privacy, he built a ten feet high wall around the garden. A bed nine feet long and six feet wide was specially constructed for him. Far from overweight, nevertheless he still weighed 23 stone. On one occasion, a horse drawn carriage collapsed under his weight. It is said he travelled around Bournemouth in a rickshaw. Chang Woo Gow was a highly educated man who reputedly could speak ten languages. Most difficult language for him was English. He had travelled the world as ‘Chang the Chinese giant’ but his real name was Zhan Shi Chai. Under his stage name, he made circus and variety show appearances. He first appeared in London at the Egyptian Halls in 1865 with his wife, known as the...

  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.)

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...

  Blandford’s 1891 Census lists the following people in Alexandra Street: Ambrose Tiller            (48)      Head               Marionette  Proprietor Elizabeth Tiller            (61)      Wife Ambrose Tiller             (22)      Son                  Musician Lucy Tiller                    (19)      Daughter         Costumier   Walter Tiller               (25)      H...

Thrilling scenes were witnessed at the top of a hill just out of Charmouth towards Lyme Regis when a fully-grown lion escaped from a van belonging to Chapman’s Zoo. The lion, known as Pasha, was in transit with three tigers between Bridport and Lyme Regis. This all occurred around a Friday lunchtime. The van was being coupled to a tractor when it suddenly ran backwards and crashed into a tree. This caused the doors of the van to burst open which enabled Pasha to escape onto the roadway. The animal did not look overjoyed and just settled down along the roadway. Points of vantage of the spectacle were taken up by the men, women and children of Charmouth. However the best view was obtained by a gentleman who ascended a telegraph pole. An unsuccessful attempt was made to lasso Pasha. A motorcyclist starting his engine startled Pasha causing him to move onto a field belonging to Mr. Goodland of Lilly Farm. There the animal espied some cows. The lion bounded up to them seizing one by the thr...

James Shatford was the talented but quite eccentric actor/manager of Blandford’s Theatre. He was a clearly recognisable character around the town. Typically, he might be wearing an outfit of a spangled waistcoat, peach coloured silk stockings, a hat with gold tassels and red slip on slippers. One of his foibles was an utter distaste for umbrellas. He preferred to get wet to the skin rather than hoist an umbrella above his head. Likewise, he would wear ill-matching clothes and shirts with huge frills and deep ruffles on his hands.  Usually, he would take breakfast around midday. While in a barber’s chair, he might impatiently write some half a dozen letters and then stand up and quit the chair half-shaven with his chin bleeding. He might then go shopping to buy a pie and wine for his evening dinner. Despite being an exceedingly slim young man with his taste for the good things in life he soon acquired a bulky appearance as he grew older. Theatre tickets could be bought from him ...

At the time the giant German airship, Hindenberg was the largest aircraft ever built – it was an awe-inspiring sight. With its Nazi emblems, it was the pride of the Nazi Party when it flew over North Dorset during the morning of the 5 th July 1936. However, was the Hindenberg on a spying mission? That was certainly the view of a reader’s letter to the Somerset Standard (11 th July 1936) : ‘Are we in future when this country has been suitably photographed from the air by the Hindenberg to expect showers of bombs and poison gas wherever she has been? That is in the event of a future war. In case the Nazis should at any future date take exception to this letter, I think it more prudent to sign – AYZ.’ Returning from the United States to Germany with passengers, it was not taking the most direct route. It was also making its way contrary to an undertaking between the British & German Governments. This was that the Hindenberg would avoid flying over Britain except when forced to do so...

Dorset clergyman, Henry Moule’s claim to fame was the invention of the earth closet toilet. Born in 1801, he was the sixth son of twelve children of a solicitor, went to Cambridge University and was appointed Rector of Fordington in 1829 -  now part of Dorchester. In 1860, he patented his invention. At the time, Fordington had an inadequate water supply from polluted shallow wells. All the closets in the village were cesspits or privies and as a consequence fever was hardly ever absent. Conditions were ripe for the spread of cholera and he became convinced that its spread was caused by appalling sanitation. Cholera outbreaks in Fordington in 1849 & 1854 had a devastating effect on the clergyman. The village suffered in particular from crowded dwellings, filthy courtyards and a poverty stricken population. When administering to a dying man, Moule witnessed sewage bubbling up through the cottage’s floor. Within a space of no more than five acres some 1,100 people were congregat...

  Lent Crocking was an old Dorset custom that used to take place on Pancake Day. It was similar to ‘ trick or treat’ although some would say it was ‘ just blackmail’ . Boys would gather in the evening and parade through the villages each armed with a collection of relics of broken pots, washing pans, jugs, dishes & plates. The broken pots originally signified that as Lent was beginning they were of no use. A lead youth would step forward and knock on a door. As William Barnes wrote: ‘When the door is opened, the hero, who is perhaps a farmer’s boy, with a pair of black eyes sparkling under the tattered brim of his brown milking hat covered with cow’s hair and dirt like the inside of a blacksmith’s nest, hangs down his head and with one corner of his mouth turned up into an irresistible smile pronounces in the dialect of his county.’ ‘I be come a-shrovin’ Vor a little pankaik, A bit o’ bread o’ your baikin’. If you’ll gi’ me a little, I’ll ax no more If you don’t gi’ me nothin’...

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.)

  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...

Crown Hotel, Blandford is probably the oldest hotel in Dorset as a local historian found a reference to the ‘ Crowne’ dated as far back as 1465. Yet there are some who reckon it is also the county’s most haunted hostelry. A horse’s head severely shocked a seated gentleman. This occurred when this equine apparition burst through a wall in the unlikely location of the gentleman’s toilet in the Crown Hotel’s Sealy Suite. It had been built on the site of the hotel’s former coaching stables. In some terror, the unfortunate man fled the hotel. Mrs Gordon was an eccentric old lady who was a Crown Hotel resident for a number of years and   a member of the Gordon’s Gin family. Her familiar appearance was apparently witnessed by staff on several occasions after her death. Appropriately, bearing in mind her family pedigree, one of these appearances was at the hotel bar. A lady in black wearing a long crinoline dress, said to inhabit the first floor, seems to be the apparition that has ...

At one time, Shroton Fair was a most important event in the Dorset calendar. It was reckoned to be one of the finest in the West of England and became well-known for its sale of horses, sheep and dairy products. It also served as something of an employment exchange for the hire of agricultural labourers, grooms and servants. There were also entertainments such as roundabouts, swings, shooting galleries, fortune tellers and jugglers.  In 1261, Shroton had received a grant from King Henry III allowing it to hold two annual fairs, one in May the other in September. While the former lapsed, the latter continued for many years. The Portman Hunt would meet regularly at Shroton and participate fully in the Fair’s entertainments. Old North Dorset men would recall bygone events by the number of months that had occurred either before or after the event. Both Thomas Hardy and William Barnes wrote of Shroton Fair as did the Reverend RW Bennett in 1926: ‘What an idyllic meeting place! The...

At the end of World War II, North Dorset Councils had a waiting list of around 1,250 families wanting affordable housing. Many of these applications came from families with service personnel who had fought in the War. Councils responded in two ways. Prefabricated ‘ temporary ’ homes, intended to last for ten years, were built. They were called ‘prefabs’ . Thirty five were planned by Sturminster Newton Rural District and another twelve by Blandford Borough. They would provide comfortable accommodation for many families and they lasted so long they were proven to be far from ‘ temporary ’. Secondly, many publicly owned houses were built that became known as ‘ council houses’ . Neither the council houses nor the prefabs were constructed to be easy on the eye but they were well-built and designed to be practical rather than attractive. They had both indoor toilets and bathrooms which many of the new occupants had not known before. However, the ‘ council houses’ and ‘ prefabs ’ looked ...

Blandford's first hospital opened in 1883 and was financed by Miss Portman, a member of Bryanston’s Portman family. It could be found adjacent to the Corner Coffee House near the junction of Salisbury Street and White Cliff Mill Street. The Coffee House was run by the Church and was a sort of welfare centre. One of its earliest patients was a man who had been involved in a wagon accident at Tarrant Hinton. According to the Blandford Express of 17 th March 1883, he was taken to ‘ the new Cottage Hospital.’ From 1885 to 1887 it became known as ‘ Nurse House’ but did not take in-patients. They were sent to hospitals in Bath, Dorchester, Weymouth or Bournemouth. In September 1887, Blandford Hospital Sunday took place when members of friendly societies and public bodies joined a procession to Blandford Church. The service collection and other donations were passed to local hospitals including the Nurse House. While the previous week the village of Pimperne had passed on the veget...

Francis Fane was the silent but rather mischievous Dorset MP who loved a joke and can  also  be regarded as the founder of the village of Spetisbury. Francis Fane was born in the village in 1750 and served as the Member of Parliament for Dorchester from 1790-1807. In line with his taciturn reputation, there is only one record of him speaking in Parliament where he raised just a single question. One day Frances Fane was travelling up to London sitting comfortably inside a horse drawn mail coach when sitting above, in the open, was a barber from Dorchester. The latter’s heavily laden coat pocket hung temptingly over the MP’s open coach window. Francis could not resist slitting the inviting pocket and salvaging its contents which turned out to be a large bundle of bank notes. These had been entrusted to the barber to deliver safely to London. When the Dorchester hairdresser realised his loss he was in a state of apoplexy and extreme desperation. The mischievous MP then produced...