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Ferne
Ferne maps
Historic maps of Ferne and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Ferne maps
Ferne photos
We have no photos of Ferne, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Berwick St John| Ludwell| Ashmore| Shaftesbury| Compton Abbas| Sixpenny Handley| Bowerchalke| Fontmell Magna| Fovant| Sutton Waldron| East Knoyle| Iwerne Minster| Teffont| Compton Chamberlayne
Ferne area books
Displaying 1 of 18 books about Ferne and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Ferne
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Dorset memories
Hovis Hill
This is the hill that appeared in the Hovis television adverts - supposedly in a northern town, but in reality in deepest Dorset! At the top it is about 700 feet above sea level. It is now the scene of the once a year Gold Hill Festival in July.
Shaftesbury's Bad Reputation!
Shaftesbury's position high on a hilltop with only a meagre water supply meant that water had to be brought up to the town from wells at the bottom of the steep slopes, usually by horses and donkeys carrying barrels. Water sellers then went round the town's houses selling water by the bucketful. However, Shaftesbury's position at the crossroads of several main coaching routes meant that it was abundantly supplied with inns and beer houses. This scarcity of water and preponderance of inns, together with the fact that the churchyard for the now vanished St John’s Church (on St John’s Hill) was set on a steep slope high above the church itself, prompted Thomas Hardy's famous description of the town in his novel 'Jude the Obscure' as a town 'remarkable for three consolations to man ... It was a place where the churchyard lay nearer heaven than the church steeple, where beer was more plentiful than water, and where there were more wanton women than honest wives and maids'.
My Childhood Memories
My memories of Silton are that I was a young boy of 4 years old when I moved there with my parents, my dad was a dairy man, making cheese and my mum twice a week would make butter with another lady. I loved living in Silton. I loved the school's summer holidays because most of my time when not helping my mum was spent on the farm where my dad worked or going to the other farms in the area. Silton was and could be very close when it came to helping those in need, such as when the weather was so bad that roads were not accessible because of the snow in the 1960 approx. I used to go to Zeals with my dad every six weeks to have my hair cut, not in a barber shop but in a big works building which was right next door to the pub. I liked to go exploring across the fields in the area where I lived. I saw and... Read more
I Was Born in Shaston (Thomas Hardy) in 1951
Moved around a bit. Can't remember. But I remember going to school at Buckhorn Weston primary school near Gillingham at the age of 5 and I was May Queen. There were photos. Does anyone out there remember what happened to Buckhorn Weston primary school? Because I was on the internet a couple years ago and it was still up and running. I know it's a very small village so where did the school go? And where can I find info about the school? It's just a part of my past.
Coombes of Church Farm
I believe my Great Grandparents Annie and Maurice (Frank) Coombes lived and farmed at Church Farm during the 1920s. My father Thomas (Aubrey) Coombes used to spend most of his school holidays there as a boy. This was a very happy time in his life. Long summers helping his grandfather and being spoilt by grandmother Annie.
When they gave up the farm, they moved a few doors down into The White House. Both are buried in the churchyard along with one of their sons who died as an infant.
Annie lived all her life in Sixpenny Handley where she was born, leaving only once to visit Salisbury for a day out!!
I am researching my family history, I understand that the Adams family in Handley are cousins of the Coombes. Any information would be appreciated.
Does anyone remember the 'cheese making' competitions held in Handley in the 1930's and 40's. My mother tells me a relative won the title for best cheese maker 3 years... Read more
Alexander Charles Day
This photo is of my Grandfather, whom I have such lovely memories of. I understand that Grandad used to work with the heavy horses in the days before tractors, so for me this picture is a wonderful find. He was married to Gladys (nee Smith) who was not a local girl, originally a Londoner. They had 6 children, Edgar (Gary), who has recently passed away, was my father. Are we sure about the date of this photograph because I know that after the Second World War, the family moved into Salisbury, when Grandad worked in the saw mill. I understand that, as a carpenter, Grandad was involved in building the pews for the church, and believe that he also played in a Silver Band.
If anyone is interested I have some information recorded in the form of a life history of my father's experiences as a young child in Sixpenny Handley during the Second World War, which I undertook whilst studying for a degree. It provides a wonderful insight... Read more
Sixpenny Handley, The Roe Buck Inn
My ancester Edward Dutch built and ran this hotel after the village fire in 1892
- as recorded in the censuses of the time. Take a look at my family history at www.thedutchfamily.co.uk/h_dutch.htm
