Back in the1880s, Blandford had as many as twenty nine public houses including seven that had opened following the arrival of the railway. In the surrounding villages there was another eleven. Some regarded this as too many and considered ‘ lawlessness, poverty and dirt abound more or less in proportionate to the number of liquor shops.’ Among those who campaigned against the ‘ demon drink’ was the Blandford Temperance Society. They believed that alcoholism was a major cause of poverty and crime. The Society had put in a petition in August 1884 to the Licensing Authorities and signed by 244 local people. This asked the Blandford Justices not only to refuse new licenses but to reduce also the number of public houses that it considered had become a ‘ prolific source of drunkenness and crime’ The Blandford Temperance Society had been founded in the early 1860s and was well-supported with well-attended meetings. It also organised social events and its Temperance Band would regular...