Hello everyone, Reading about Alan's favourite place evoked my own riverside memories. As a child I was brought up in the railway keepers cottage between Sturminster Marshall and Spetisbury. My favourite place was behind our cottage down by the banks of the Stour.On summer evenings we would walk along the bank walking away from Stur towards Spetisbury. The path went along side the bank of the river rising sharply so that within a few hundred yards you were just looking down a steep embankment and seeing the river way below. The banks had trees whose boughs grew out over the river and beneath grew bluebells, wild daffodils, primroses and snowdrops. Often we saw otters, and foxes and badgers with their young. When we got to the railway bridge we would turn and make our way back along the railway line, keeping a look out for any trains. At certain times of the year we would pick the tiny wild strawberries that grew on the railway bank, before making our way home. Last year I went back, and I am sad to say it had all changed. Of course the railway line has long gone. Our lovely old mellow red bricked cottage had been extended and pebble dashed and where the old railway gates were now there are stone lions!! I tried to walk along the river and people had been dumping rubbish on the paths and the banks were all so overgrown I could not see the river.The path had all grown in and it was impossible to walk along there. It left me feeling very sad. Dorset is still very,very beautiful, and I hope my experience was an isolated one. Terri

Hello Ros You missed out Wareham fish and chips! For many years the best in Dorset, it was a regular ritual to visit the chippy opposite the "Bear" on the return from Poole Speedway some 30 years ago and they were still just as good fairly recently. Wareham was also the home of eminent historian Hutchins and the fire you mention almost deprived us of the classic "Hutchins History of Dorset". Ray Collins Weymouth, Dorset ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ros Dunning" <ros@archbishops.demon.co.uk> To: <ENG-DORSET-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 05, 2003 5:21 PM Subject: RE: [DOR-LIFE] Favourite Dorset Place - Wareham > I'll recommend Wareham as I am in Wareham at the moment. It is a lovely > sunny spring day although a bit breezy. Wareham appears in Hardy's novels as > "Anglebury". It is a Market Town with a population of six or seven thousand > I think. In King Alfred's time, around 800 AD earth walls were built to keep > out the Vikings and they are almost entirely intact today. > > St Martin's on the Walls is a small saxon church linked with Lawrence of > Arabia. The main church is Lady St Mary which is near the quay, on the banks > of the River Frome. There is also a nonconformist Meeting House which was > rebuilt in the late 18th Century. Also in the 18th Century Wareham had quite > a serious fire which burnt down most of the time > > Today is is a thriving small town - plenty to interest the tourists but not > taken over by them with lots of old fashioned small shops such as butchers > and greengrocers. Every Thursday there is a Farmers' Market and on Saturdays > there are stalls in the main streets.Well worth a visit! > > Ros > > > > > ==== ENG-DORSET-LIFE Mailing List ==== > For Looks Up in Dorset resources by list members, > http://www.melcombe.freeserve.co.uk/dorset/lookups.htm > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

Since this thread started I have given a lot of thought to where my favourite place is in Dorset; being my birthplace and home for more than 50 years I have many 'favourites' but today I actually visited the one I think is top of my list. It only covers an area of a few square yards, and is the river behind the churchyard at Charminster, 2 miles north of Dorchester. Why is it my favourite place? Well, I could go on about 'peace, tranquillity, changeless..' but the real reason is I spent so much of my formative years there playing with the other children of my age, it has become a part of my life. I moved away from the village 35 years ago, but when my father died a few years ago we had his ashes buried in the part of the churchyard reserved fro cremation, right beside 'my' river, and so after so many years I now regularly go back to my favourite place! Second on the list? Hardy's Monument, because from there I can see so much of my home county - especially on a really clear day like it was today. Alan A J Brown Living in Bournemouth, England http://www.ajbrown.eu.com

June (and Helen, (I did it again) and List) Many thanks. I had never heard of it until I purchased 4 Dorset Year Books on ebay last week. I understand there is/was also a Society of Somerset Men. The volume I was reading this week, from 50 years ago, commented, "................... we have decided for the present, against (inviting ladies to the Annual Dinner at The Dorchester Hotel) apart from the four Lady Mayors of Dorset" VVBG Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: AJow8@aol.com To: payman@blueyonder.co.uk Sent: Monday, May 05, 2003 9:59 PM Subject: Re: [DOR-LIFE] SOCIETY OF DORSET MEN web address http://www.dorsetmen.freeuk.com/ June Is there a Society of Dorset Women somewhere??? <VBG> --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.476 / Virus Database: 273 - Release Date: 24/04/03

> From: "Jim Parsons" <payman@blueyonder.co.uk> > Subject: [DOR-LIFE] SOCIETY OF DORSET MEN > > Does anyone know if this society still exists? > > Jim Parsons Hi Jim Here's their web site http://www.dorsetmen.freeuk.com/ regards Heather I transcribe for FreeCen. Interested? Check Out the Website - http://freecen.rootsweb.com __________________________________________________________________________ Join Freeserve http://www.freeserve.com/time/ Winner of the 2003 Internet Service Providers' Association awards for Best Unmetered ISP and Best Consumer Application.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Helen Jones" <hsj@melcombe.freeserve.co.uk> To: <ENG-DORSET-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 05, 2003 4:50 PM Subject: [DOR-LIFE] Favourite Dorset Place - MORETON > there is no harm in trying to make > this list more light hearted and fun for those who want to get away from > searching the census and finding out a little more about the times and > places in which their ancestors lived > > I'll start the ball rolling with MORETON since I went there today. > St Nicholas Church is a really tiny Church Helen and List, I too visited recently. I took some photos, including windows, snowdrops, graves and War Memorial. The pictures can be seen by members at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dorsomfamilies/ In Photos in the Bryants... Folder. Jim --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.476 / Virus Database: 273 - Release Date: 24/04/03

This will also be on DorSomFamilies. Seeing a posting recently by th OPC I was reminded of this poem by ANON. Church Feair in Glanville's Wootton (in the style of William Barnes) The vo'k down Glaville's Wootton way Thease vew weeks past be gone all mad, Slowly walken, briskly talken O' lively jumbles to be had An' things to do when Zaderdaay Do come in Glanville's Wootton An' zoo vo'k cross wold Blackmore Vale Vrom ev'ry quarter ov its ring Zeldom biden, swiftly riden, Vrom Bucklan' and vrom Cerne they zwing, An hwope to buy each thing vor seale Vor Church at Glanville's Wootton Vrom Middlemarsh an Hermitage Come friends an' kinsvo'k, young wi' wold, Gaily speaken, nimbly seeken The knacks that must be bought and zwold To set aright the flaws ov age In Church at Glanville's Wootton Aunt Zally, bobben lik' a cork, Do meake vo'k laugh wi gogglen eye: Laughter meaken, zides a-sheaken, Young Dick do miss wi' ev'ry shy, Till woone can't hear a naighbour talk By Church at Glanville's Wootton An' Tom a-skittlen vor the pig Do scatter all nine pins abrwoad; To viddle screapen, children jeapen Their little trips wi' axe an' zword Do bring all eyes on morris jig Vor Church at Glanville's Wootton Bwoth Girl and bwoy do zit astride The trotten pwonies' gli'nen flanks Zides a-slappen, han's a-clappen Do cheer the broken reelen ranks, As vo'k do jig vrom zide to zide By Church at Glanville's Wootton When Church Tower sheade do stratch a limb An' vo'k be chatt'ren vur awaay Never doubten that their outen 've a-brought the wherewithal to paay Vor sleates an' stwones to straighten prim Our Church at Glanville's Wootton Mid nwone vorget the willen han's The thought that plann'd thik happy tide: An' childern's childern, nigh the builden, Mid still look up wi' happy pride To zee the white hart where he stan's On Church at Glanville's Wootton This was copied from "The Dorset Year Book for 1955-56 It concludes -- "Contributions towards the cost of repairs of Glanvilles Wootton Church will be gladly received by the Treasurer............." Although this is 50 years old, I suspect the present Treasurer would not refuse donations. Jim --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.476 / Virus Database: 273 - Release Date: 24/04/03

>Think you meant this for the list not just for me, Jim! Forwarded for Jim Parsons, who is, of course, subscribed! >Helen and List, > >I too visited recently. I took some photos, including windows, snowdrops, >graves and War Memorial. > >The pictures can be seen by members at: > >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dorsomfamilies/ > >In Photos in the Bryants... Folder. > >Jim > > >--- >Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). >Version: 6.0.476 / Virus Database: 273 - Release Date: 24/04/03 Helen Jones, Weymouth, Dorset http://www.melcombe.freeserve.co.uk List Admin Rootsweb Eng Dorset & Scammell Lists, and British Genealogy Eng-Dorset, Surnames & Forenames list

At 20:43 05/05/2003 +0100, Jim Parsons wrote: >Does anyone know if this society still exists? > >Jim Parsons >Frome >Son of a Dorset Mother. > > > >Hi Jim They do indeed - they publish the Dorset Year Book, a copy of which I always buy and I also pick up second hand ones whenever I can. But I digress. I cannot see an address in the Year Book for membership or enquiries. I will read through the 2003 one and see if I can spot one! Helen Helen Jones, Weymouth, Dorset http://www.melcombe.freeserve.co.uk List Admin Rootsweb Eng Dorset & Scammell Lists, and British Genealogy Eng-Dorset, Surnames & Forenames list

Does anyone know if this society still exists? Jim Parsons Frome Son of a Dorset Mother. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.476 / Virus Database: 273 - Release Date: 24/04/03

I'll recommend Wareham as I am in Wareham at the moment. It is a lovely sunny spring day although a bit breezy. Wareham appears in Hardy's novels as "Anglebury". It is a Market Town with a population of six or seven thousand I think. In King Alfred's time, around 800 AD earth walls were built to keep out the Vikings and they are almost entirely intact today. St Martin's on the Walls is a small saxon church linked with Lawrence of Arabia. The main church is Lady St Mary which is near the quay, on the banks of the River Frome. There is also a nonconformist Meeting House which was rebuilt in the late 18th Century. Also in the 18th Century Wareham had quite a serious fire which burnt down most of the time Today is is a thriving small town - plenty to interest the tourists but not taken over by them with lots of old fashioned small shops such as butchers and greengrocers. Every Thursday there is a Farmers' Market and on Saturdays there are stalls in the main streets.Well worth a visit! Ros

There are now two lists for Dorset genealogy - the Rootsweb one and the British Genealogy one that I run, so there is no harm in trying to make this list more light hearted and fun for those who want to get away from searching the census and finding out a little more about the times and places in which their ancestors lived (recipes were great, Carole!). Since we in the Northern Hemisphere are into spring (and spring in Dorset has been especially lovely this year with lots of sunshine), I hope that some of you are going to brave SARS, terrorism and the rest and visit your ancestor's county. If not, maybe you would like to dream a little. With this in mind I wondered if those of us who live in Dorset, or who have visited Dorset , would like to recommend some of our favourite Dorset places. These won't necessarily be famous places (indeed better if they are not) but places which you think are special and which you think other people may enjoy. I'll start the ball rolling with MORETON since I went there today. We planned to go to Hardys Cottage but you couldn't get anywhere near the car park , as it was jam-packed so we drove along the country lanes to Moreton. Here you have a lovely river/woodland walk (lots of bluebells and water which is crystal clear) to Lawrence of Arabia's cottage at Clouds Hill, beautiful gardens, Lawrence of Arabia's grave - and most lovely of all, St Nicholas Church. St Nicholas Church is a really tiny Church and was severely damaged by bombing in World War 2 when all the stained glass was destroyed. The windows were replaced with clear glass engraved by Lawrence Whistler, all on the theme of light. There are candles, the sun, the galaxies, lightening etc The first were done in 1955 and the most recent in 1984 - and they are stunning. My 12 year old daughter found them quite magical. You just get an overall impression of lightness. (Don't expect a Medieval Church by the way - the original one was but the current one is Georgian, enlarged in 1840 and partly rebuilt in after 1940 - but all in the same style as the original and quite lovely in its own right). Even the notice on the church door was quaint - "Please close the door else a little bird may fly in and die of thirst" ! Haven't seen that one before. This will just be a quick trip, worth taking time out from the Record Office as it is fairly close to Dorchester. If you are out of the holiday season you could fit in Hardy's Cottage and Hardy's grave en route. Looking forward to other people's favourite places (and I can think of a few more myself!) Helen Helen Jones, Weymouth, Dorset http://www.melcombe.freeserve.co.uk List Admin Rootsweb Eng Dorset & Scammell Lists, and British Genealogy Eng-Dorset, Surnames & Forenames list

Good evening, everyone! For my two penn'orth, the area around Broadwindsor and Drimpton takes a lot of beating - so quiet and rural, so little changed from the area in which I had the huge privilege of living over 55 years ago. It seemed to me to be the last relic of feudal England then and the hamlet where we lived, Netherhay, remains as tranquil as ever it was to the young lad who delighted in its byways. As a place, it evokes wonderful memories and my returns there (alas, all too infrequent these days!) are always a joy to me. Nostalgia rules, OK? Regards, Iain in Brampton, Cumbria.

Just wanted to introduce myself as the Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for the parishes of Wootton Glanville (or Glanvilles Wootton) and Buckland Newton. My interest in these two parishes (as well as Holwell) is primarily through my DOWNTON family who have been recorded in these parishes for many years. My two parishes are online on my own site, or can be accessed indirectly from the main Dorset OPC site: http://www.dorset-opc.com/ Glanvilles Wootton can be accessed at: http://www.vectis10w.freeserve.co.uk/parish_of_glanvilles_wootton.htm I currently have transcriptions of several censuses online, including 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 & 1901. I hope to have 1841 & 1851 online before too long, when time and work permits. I currently have transcripts of the BTs for 1731-1812 for Christenings, Marriages & Burials. I have access to more but again not online yet. Buckland Newton can be accessed at: http://www.dorset-opc.com/ The information on Buckland Newton is limited at present, the 1891 census is online and I am currently working on the 1871. Baptisms, Marriages & Burials are also online for the period 1821-1835 only, courtesy of Christine Crawford. I have access to other Buckland Newton data but not yet online. I am constantly on the lookout for more information on the parishes and would be pleased to hear from anyone connected with them. I would be particularly interested to hear from anyone with connections to the DOWNTON or related families. If you have questions about either parish please let me know and I will try to answer, I am also happy to perform lookups for these 2 parishes, let me know and I'll always see if I can help. Jon Baker Calne, Wiltshire, UK Family History: www.vectis10w.freeserve.co.uk Calne & District Skittles League: www.calneskittles.org.uk Researching: RYALL (Isle of Wight/South Africa), DOWNTON (Dorset/IOW/NZ), KEEN (Gloucs/IOW), WALKER (Oxford/Nova Scotia), JOHNSON (Gloucs), BAKER (London/Hampshire), HAYTER (Hampshire), HUGHES (Co Armagh), STEWART (Co Down)

Greetings fellow researchers Dorset Parish Register Transcriptions Website Update New entries include Burials for Shaftsbury St James New Entries CMB's for Bradpole, Burton Bradstock, Sherborne Mappowder Marriages with single entries here and there for other Parishes. NB C- Christening/Baptisms M- Marriages B- Burials All entries from a single register page, one name transcriptions, period transcriptions and full transcriptions to the Dorset Parish Transcriptions Website very Welcome. http://www.rootsweb.com/~engdorse/Dorset.html click on this link should take you there. For those sending in single entries etc please be patient. Large Full transcriptions which help the most researchers take a while to format for uploading. As the website is growing radidly, it periodicly needs to be reorganised and this is also time consuming. I am adding entries to the site as soon as time allows. Preference now given to entries for Parishes currently with little or no entries to date on the website. regards Michael Cheeseman Webmaster Dorset Parish Transcriptions Website Descendant Dorset families: Bartlett, Bunter, Chant, Hile/Hyle, Noakes, Nossiter, Pike, Rogers, Weare --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.476 / Virus Database: 273 - Release Date: 24/04/03

G'Day fellow researchers Can SKS visiting the DRO check baptisms CHANT family in Sherborne PR for any of these years? 1826, 1837-1846, 1848, 1850, 1861, 1864, 1866, 1873, 1877-79 These years are not available in the Sherborne BT's. Especially seeking Wilfred Chant in 1861 entries as I have him in one UK Census, 1910 Ellis Island immigration arrival in US, US Social Security details. Just need to confirm my US cousins line ancestry through Wilfred Chant's parents. Have a good idea who his parents are but need to confirm it. Happy Searching all. regards Michael Cheeseman --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.476 / Virus Database: 273 - Release Date: 24/04/03

Hi everyone, I'm new to this list and my main interest at present is the local history of Winterbourne Stickland, Hougton, Clenston and Turnworth. I am researching my grandfather's (James G Morris born in 1880) family history. I believe he was a gardener in Turnworth and family gossip says he planted the beech hedge in Turnworth. Would be interested to hear from anyone who knows more about the local history of the area. Regards Barbara

On 1 May 2003, at 17:48, Heather wrote: > Transcribed by Heather Carbis from The Southern Times published Saturday 22 June > 1889 > An example of the courage and presence of mind of the weaker sex > took place at Julians on Friday last, A misogynist comments : Even in those days, a female exhibiting presence of mind was evidently a newsworthy item. ;) ;) ;) ;) Ian James, Torquay, UK THIS E-MAIL HAS BEEN SWEPT FOR VIRUSES BY NORTON AV 2002

I am forwarding this for Natalie as I know there is interest in the Swaffield name. I haven't seen Natalie's book yet but we did give her permission to use some of the Stoke Abbot Swaffield material on our website. Natalie's book covers more than just Stoke Abbot however. If you want to find out more, please contact Natalie direct or have a look at her website. Helen PS I am not researching either Swaffield or Stoke Abbot myself so please don't email me! If you want to have a look at our website, you will find a transcription of the Stoke Abbot Swaffield which my husband made as part of an Open University project. >>Announcing the Swaffield Family History - 'The Swaffs from the Shires' - >>by Natalie Wheatley nee Swaffield. >>This is a fully illustrated volume with extensive family trees dating >>from 1728 - 2002. It is indexed, professionally designed and of good >>quality. It starts in Beaminster, moves to East Chelborough and then >>spreads its wings to all corners of the world. It is a story of a >>family, their trials, their good fortune and their good humour. It could >>be used as a template for those considering writing their own family story. >>Self published by Natalie Wheatley (non profit) this 200 page book is >>available from her at 1 Doric Place, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1BT at £10 >>+ £2 pp per copy. Overseas price is UK £15 payable by postal order or UK >>cheque. Full details on <http://www.swaffield.org.uk>www.swaffield.org.uk >> >>Many thanks >>Natalie Helen Jones, Weymouth, Dorset http://www.melcombe.freeserve.co.uk List Admin Rootsweb Eng Dorset & Scammell Lists, and British Genealogy Eng-Dorset, Surnames & Forenames list

Transcribed by Heather Carbis from The Southern Times published Saturday 22 June 1889 Just a note to let Listers know these "Snippets" are exactly as they appear in the newspaper (except where I have capitalised surnames in mid report) and unless stated otherwise, I have no further information. Saying that, I hope there is still something amongst them that will help/interest someone. Heather A PLUCKY GIRL-An example of the courage and presence of mind of the weaker sex took place at Julians on Friday last, when Ada BRYANT, a servant, in the employ of Mr. J. Tilsed, saved a little girl named HOOPER, aged 10, daughter of Mr. Hooper, tailor, from drowning. It appears that the little girl was pushing an empty perambulator up the hill over the bridge, when the wind took it and forced it and the child through a gap in the hedge into the stream which runs into the river there. Ada Bryant, who was a little distance off wheeling a perambulator, heard the splash, and, having ensured the safety of her charges, rushed to the gap in the hedge and saw the hand of the child above the water. Without hesitation she plunged into the water, and succeeded in bringing the child safely back into the bank. It was however in a very exhausted state, and has had to be carefully attended since. There is no doubt that but for the prompt act of Bryant the child's life would have been l! ost in another minute or so. It is perhaps needless to state that the parents have made the girl a present as a token of their high appreciation of her conduct. I transcribe for FreeCen. Interested? Check Out the Website - http://freecen.rootsweb.com __________________________________________________________________________ Join Freeserve http://www.freeserve.com/time/ Winner of the 2003 Internet Service Providers' Association awards for Best Unmetered ISP and Best Consumer Application.