Bridport, Dorset

Visitation Convent Bridport

Since my blog of 2007 concerning my time as a boarder at the Visitation Convent school 1942-1947, I have noted with interest that other former pupils (though not from the years I was there) have commented on their experiences of the place. Mostly, their memories are sad and bitter ones. It has made me think back again at my years there.... [more]

Visitation Convent -Bridport-contd.

We soon got back into the routine and before long the summer holidays came along. The last day of school was a big event. That morning we got eggs for breakfast. That was so, when we got home and our parents asked what we had for breakfast we said, we had eggs.  That was the only time in the entire term... [more]

Visitation Convent, Bridport

I was saddened to read the blogs of boys that had such an unhappy experience of days as a boarder. I was there from 1951 until 1957 and whilst I also remember the less than idyllic food and discipline, I tend to believe that was a reflection of the societal norms of the immediate post-war period. Are we in danger of... [more]

Convent of the Visitation - Bridport - Dorset

CHAPTER TWO

School Years - Convent of the Visitation 1939-1945

One’s school years leave an indelible impression on one for good or bad. My views over these years in this regard, have modified considerably. The older you get, the more you tend to look at your youth with rose tinted glasses. So in relating to my school years... [more]

The Convent of the Visitation

I was a boarder there for about a year aged about nine or ten in about 1957. It was the unhappiest period of my life before or since. I don’t recall a moment of kindness, sympathy, or humanity from any of the nuns. As a lonely rejected child I received nothing from them but harshness, punishments, and cruelty. And I was... [more]

VISITATION CONVENT

I was sent to the Visitation Convent at the age of 6 and was there for four terrible years. Like others who have written their memories of their time at the school, for me it was a very severe, cruel, harsh enviroment, devoid of any love or affection from the nuns. The punishments were frequent, for messing my pants or wetting... [more]

The Convent in Bridport

I was disturbed to read the Memory posted in early September from a contemporary about our common primary school, Bridport Visitation Convent. It was reprinted in the Bridport News of October 1st so needs to be balanced I feel. That gentleman clearly doesn't remember his time there with relish but I wonder why he didn't put his schooldays into the context... [more]

In memory of F.A. Brake, born 1895

This is where we played as kids - all eight of us! Our grandad was born in one of the houses on the bottom left-hand side. He lived there all his life and my father plus my eldest brother, sister and my nephew was born in the same house. Five generations lived there for over 100 years. It was sold out... [more]

Dorset Coast Pocket Album

As long ago as the reign of Edward the Confessor, Bridport was a town of considerable importance, boasting over a hundred dwellings, a priory of monks and its own mint.As its name implies, it was once the port on the River Brit or Bredy, though the original harbour silted up long ago, forcing the construction of the new anchorage at West Bay.

Dorset Coast Pocket Album

From early times, Bridport was famous for the growing of hemp and the manufacture of rope. In the small streets and alleyways off South Street, the old rope-walks can still be seen. Much of the cordage for Royal Navy vessels was produced in and around Bridport.

England in the 1880s Photographic Memories

This is looking northwards up South Street, to Stag House at the top end of West Street and the Town Hall (centre). The town`s main north-south thoroughfare was then largely residential with the only prominent shopfront being that of Turner`s Corn and Seed Stores (left), advertising Lipton`s Teas above the door. Street cleaners stand back from their wheelbarrows and a drayman delivers to the Ship Inn (right), with the Cross Keys and a striped barber`s pole... [more]