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Minchington
Minchington maps
Historic maps of Minchington and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Minchington maps
Minchington photos
We have no photos of Minchington, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Sixpenny Handley| Ashmore| Crichel House| Berwick St John| Witchampton| Bowerchalke| Cranborne| Iwerne Minster| Ludwell| Compton Abbas| Langton Long| Blandford Forum| Mannington
Minchington area books
Displaying 1 of 18 books about Minchington and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Minchington
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Dorset memories
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
Crichel House During The War Years
Dumpton House (Preparatory) School was evacuated to Crichel during the Second World War from Broadstairs in Kent. My older brother (Paul Cremer) was already at the school and due to the war my parents sent me (Jonathan Cremer) to the school at Crichel House in May 1940 when I was only seven years old. I loved Crichel. Everything about it seemed magical to me as a 7-year-old - the house itself, the village, the lake with its quaint boathouse and swans' nests, the beautiful cedar trees with their very special smell, the grass tennis court with all the sweet smelling camomile flowers on the grassy banks surrounding it, the crystal-clear stream with all its wonderful watercress, the dining hall with its enormous chandelier, the wonderful portico where we did PE, the beautiful Italian Garden so good for relay races, the unbelievably squalid 'ink room' in the basement, the fantastically beautiful and elaborately decorated lavatories with seats 4-feet wide, the majestically long gallery on the top floor, the sumptuously red-carpeted... Read more
School Days
Dumpton School had moved to Crichel from Broadstairs in Kent on the outbreak of the Second Wolrd War. I have vivid memories of my time as a schoolboy at Crichel, attending Chapel, rambling in the grounds, swimming in the large round canvas fire tank, lots of cricket and of course the wonderful interior of the house itself. We ate in a large dining room and slept in large rooms on the first floor. I recall overlooking the beautiful Italian gardens to the side of the house facing towards the huge lake. The sight of the geese and swans coming in to land was magical. I remember the air raids and having to go down into the basement. I was slippered for running. Many years later I returned to Crichel and was allowed to pick up for Toby Martin. Shortly after the end of the war Dumpton moved to Gaunts House near Wimborne and the girls school Cranborne Chase moved in.
3 Tons to Blandford.
I was 8 years old when I arrived in Blandford. It was lunchtime on a Sunday a week before the Somerset and Dorset Railway closed on the 6th March 1966. My dad was in the Royal Signals and he was being posted to the 30th Signal Regiment which was stationed at Blandford Camp. My dad and I and a friend of my parents travelled down on the Sunday morning in an Army Bedford 3 tonner with all our belongings from Windsor where my dad had been stationed at Comberemere Barracks where he was attached to the Blues and Royals. Though it was only about 90 miles from Windsor to Blandford this was in the days before the M3 and Bedford 3 tonners do not have very good suspension! We had some lunch in a cafe next door to the 3 Choughs pub just along from the Crown Hotel. We then made our way up to the camp where my parents had been allocated a married quarter which was in Valley Road. Our house... Read more
Happy Days
The best years of my life, I loved Blandford Camp and everything about it, swinging high on the swings singing songs, going to Blandford primary school (as it was callled then), roller skating around the camp, bike rides to the NAFFI, it was the second time round for me, we lived at Racedown Road when I was born, then when we came the second time we lived in Collage Road, number 32 or 37, I can't quite remmber the number lol. We were so carefree, and all the army kids looked out for each other. Oh God I just remembered, Mr Parrish, I think that was his name, he taught all my family at school, there were 6 of us, me being the youngest, Mr Robert Wish was my favourite teacher ever. My sister Julie and I used to spend our bus fair and walk down that really long hill into town to go swimming in the outdoor swimming pool, then on the walk back we used to call into the... Read more
