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Dorchester
Dorchester maps
Historic maps of Dorchester and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Dorchester maps
Dorchester Jigsaws
We have just a few copies left of a 1,000 piece Jigsaw of Dorchester. The featured photograph is King's Arms Hotel 1913, Dorchester.
Why not create your own Jigsaw for Dorchester from 4 favourite Frith photos of the area? Available as 520 piece or 1,000 piece Jigsaws, you can choose any four Dorchester photos, or choose photos from other places too.
Dorchester area books
Displaying 1 of 16 books about Dorchester and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Dorchester
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Dorchester.
There are 10 shared memories to read.
Add your memory of Dorchester
or of a photo of Dorchester.
Parallel Parking in South Street in The 1960s
I had recently passed my driving test and drove a Morris Minor Saloon, to practice my parallel parking I used to drive down South Street after work or on a Sunday and park outside of Woolworths or Marks and Spencers and try various manoeuvres with the aid of the reflection of the car in the plate glass windows.
A Family Business
To anyone local to Dorchester this was a familiar scene day in and day out for almost 50 years. My grandfather Ben Courtney started selling 'fruit and veg' in 1947 from hand-carts on the roadside. His son Doug started in 1950 and various members of the family helped out through the week.
This picture shows my Aunt Isabel serving a regular customer with his two sons. Her father Ben is behind in his hat, serving, and her brother Doug is extreme left, carrying a box. My father (Doug Courtney) tells me his wife Joan was not at work at this time because she was expecting me to be born, in the June of that year!
Doug took over in 1960 and Trevetts worked alongside from the mid 1960s. Doug, Joan, Win, Isabel and Glad were the familiar faces that served. I did my fair share, working on busy Saturdays to ease the load. Everything was seasonal, and spring into summer brought a surge of fruit and... Read more
Wollaston House
Wasn't this building once called Wollaston House wherein were educated the first two years of Hardye's boys? I was there in 1953 - 54 when Mr Hale was head of the lower school. My first form mistress was the Duchess.
The Milk Bar in South Street
We used to go in there often, and I remember one time being very confused when asked whether I wanted lemonade, cherryade, limeade or Whipsnade, 'cause I knew that was a zoo and I didn't quite get the idea of puns. Another time, being sent to the greengrocer virtually opposite there for a pound of grapes, I was asked whether I wanted red or white and I replied that I'd like the green ones! The age of innocence?
Judge Jeffery's Restaurant
I recall being taken to JJ's on many an occasion over the years during the 1960s /70s by my parents and great aunt Chris, went back in late 1980s or early 1990s with my mum, son and step-daughter and the waitress that worked there when I was a kid was still working there, which was amazing. As kids, Frances and I used only to manage starters and puddings.
South Street
I was 10 years old when this photo was taken, and I always remember South Street being busy. There was a market stall just up a bit from Kay's almost in front of the Antelope Hotel. My mates and i always used to hang out in the "Milk Bar" cafe a bit further down the street. There used to be a lot of good "hang outs" then, the Wimpy Bar, the park. The cars used to come all the way down the street then.
Thomas Hardy
I don't have a specific memory of anything except that my ancestor is Thomas Hardy, author and poet. I am in awe of his writing abilities and his life. I hope to find many things here about him. My search will continue and hopefully I will get a dream visit to England and see his cottage.
'When we Were Young'
‘I remember when’ - yes, I remember market day in Dorchester very well – when your picture was taken I was 10 years old, and could well have been one of the children in your picture. On Wednesdays, during school holidays Mum took my brother and I to Dorchester on the bus and we would go'‘into town’ first to do the weekly shop.
This photograph shows South Street (facing south) where they also (and still do) had stalls selling vegetables everyday - Dorchester Market itself is still held in Weymouth Avenue, which is approximately half a mile from South Street.
I think the stall holder was called Neville (Trevitt?), the lady could well be his wife. I also recognise the gentleman on the right with the cap, I think he was someone 'important in Dorchester' in those days, but his name escapes me, he must be now long gone, 54 years later!
On leaving school at 15, I work in 'Boots the Chemist' which is the... Read more
