Piddletrenthide, Dorset

Easter 1962

I was one of 14 cyclists from Sussex who descended upon Cerne Abbas on Good Friday 1962, staying until Easter Monday.  We literally descended, as the route we used was to come over the hill from Piddletrenthide swooping down the narrow lane into the village.  We had left Sussex that Friday morning at about 7am and arrived in Cerne at about... [more]

A tiny sketch by Judges 1958 found in Brisbane Charity Shop

I found a delightful pair of sketches beautifully framed 16cm x 11cm - one of the subjects was a skillfully crafted sketch of the Smith's Arms at Godmanstone - almost identically as it appears in the above photo - it was a real place.
The artist signed his/her name Judges.
The second sketch is of a Dorset cottage in Cerne Abbas... [more]

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]

As a child I lived in the estate office.

As a child I lived in the estate office in the square, my father was estate bailiff for W J Brymer for all of the war years. I remember many of the troops were billeted with us in the house, at one time we had fifteen staying in the attic. We also had two American officers with us, one was Captain... [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]