Hazelbury Bryan, Dorset

Small but pretty

I grew up here, a tiny hamlet underneath Bulbarrow Hill. My grandfather and father are buried in the churchyard. My mother still lives here and is a great stalwart of this tiny community.

Melcombe Bingham

I am from this family - my grandmother was a Melcombe.

Melcombe Bingham Chapel

For Kelly Bingham 28th Generation Bingham

Mother's memories

My mother Patricia Bingham visited Bingham's Melcombe probably in the 1950's and told me, her daughter, that the house was derelict and the hall was being used as a hayshed!  I do hope to vist the place at some time next year, and wonder who owns it now and if possible to  get in touch with the present owner.  Look forward... [more]

Drakes of Hilton

For many generations the DRAKE family lived in the Hilton area. My gg grandfather was George DRAKE a Woodman. His son, Charles left the village and worked as a domestic coachman in the London area. My grandfather Ben, Charles' son, had three maiden cousins living in Hilton during WW2. My Uncle Kenneth had stayed with them in August 1944. During... [more]

Weekends with the Jones

We used to vist Kim and Dave jones in Mappowder every weekend after we met them in Barbados in 1995. Great friends and good fun. Very special times.

Second World War welcome home plaques

I have lived in Shillingstone since 1977.  By default I seem to have become the village archivist.

In March I was given 14 brass plaques, still in named envelopes, which were meant to be presented to individual soldiers returning to Shillingstone after the Second World War. They were produced by the Parish Council Welcome Home Committee, under the chairmanship of... [more]

Coronation Day in Shillingstone plus other memories

I can remember Coronation Day in Shillingstone, the weather was not settled and there were showers, I can remember watching the crowning of the Queen on a TV which was in Mrs Fudge's house at the lower end of the village. In the afternoon we had a parade of fancy dress and walked to the recreation field where a fete was... [more]