Ryall, Dorset

The Love Family

My grandfather William Love was born at the cottage attached to the butcher and slaughterhouse at the foot of Love Lane. This Lane was named after his father (my great-grandfather). William Love worked at the Moore's bakery for 30 years. I have never lived in this area and would love to hear any memories anyone may have. My father was Howard John Love.

My Dad

My Dad
The church at Whitchurch is a lovely place to wander and muse. My father died out shooting at Mapperton when I was 11, and what a terrible shock it was.

What is nice for me now, 25 years later, is to still be able to walk down through the village past the 5 Bells pub, or over the lovely rolling fields, to the church yard where his grave lies amongst the rustling of the trees, birds chatting to each other, gentle sunshine making patterns on the grass as it peeks through the trees, and a general sense of timelessness and peace that I have found over recent years to be so soothing.

What a special place!!

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

I was about 3 years old when the present Queen was crowned. Us children went up to the manor house where they held a party outside. I remember someone with a cine camera filming the event. I have always wondered what became of that film which almost certainly showed me enjoying the party. I lived at the village post office and general store and knew everyone in the village as I used to serve in the shop from the age of about six. The post office and shop have long since gone and the vilage school has closed. They still have the village club but they never had any pubs. However, researching the village's history I have found out that Knapp Farm was origially a coaching inn called The old Knapp Inn. That closed in 1910. I used to play in that farm house with the farmer's daughter Kay Huxter. I was alway's puzzled as to why they had two separate staircases in that house and a bay window which had a built-in seat (just like in many pubs). It was only 50 years later I found out the coaching inn connection. There were postcards showing Wootton Fitzpaine in the 1950s. I don't have any but I did use to sell them in our shop, my parents commissioned a firm to print them.