Godmanstone
Godmanstone maps (2 available)
Godmanstone books (13 available)
- 1 photos on Godmanstone appear in 1 Frith books - View photos of Godmanstone
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Godmanstone and Dorset
Godmanstone memories
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 the year earlier.
These sketches are a window to a place in a time long ago.
Contributed by Adaiha Evans
Dorset memories
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 the year earlier.
These sketches are a window to a place in a time long ago.
A memory of Godmanstone contributed by Adaiha Evans
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 7pm. We were 8 blokes and 6 girls and we were booked in at the Old Cerne Union workhouse, then doing bed and breakfast, now in 2007 a rest home. Torrential rain on the Saturday didn't stop us visiting Weymouth but on Sunday, when we went to Sherborne and Sturminster Newton the sun came out to allow us to don ...read more here
A memory of Cerne Abbas contributed by William Lovell
The 1st Hatch End Scouts camp at Piddletrenthide
THis view is EXACTLY as I remember this lovely village where the scouts from Hatch End spent a two week summer camp in 1957.
Although I no longer recall the name of the particular farm where we set up camp, I do remember our troop carrying out a good turn for the farmer. We were asked to demolish one of the ruined outbuildings and a month or so later we received an impressive scroll from him giving us the "right to call ourselves barnstormers and to march over his land forever with flags flying and knives unsheathed". A great impression on this 11 year old! The farmer's scroll was displayed in the Scout Hut back in Hatch End ...read more here
A memory of Piddletrenthide contributed by John Howard Norfolk
Extracts From Godmanstone & Dorset books
Once the village smithy, the inn at Godmanstone is said to be the smallest public house in England. The beautifully-thatched building measures only 20?ft by 10?ft; it is about 500 years old.
An extract from from"Dorset Pocket Album".
The sign reads ‘The smallest public house in England, originally a blacksmith’s shop. King Charles I stopped here to have his horse shod. He asked for a drink and the smith replied ‘I have no licence, sir’. So there and then the King granted him one’. The building measures some 20 ft by 10 ft.
An extract from from"Dorset Living Memories".
Close to the Top o’Town, Dorset’s most famous
son is commemorated in this life-size bronze
statue by Eric Kennington, set on a Portland
stone plinth. Unveiled by Sir James Barrie in
1931, the statue shows Hardy seated and
dressed for the country, wearing a jacket and
leather gaiters, with his hat on his knee. Around
the figure are plants and animals, symbolizing
Hardy’s love for his native countryside.
An extract from from"Dorchester Photographic Memories".
The river runs alongside the right
of the churchyard. The church
building includes parts of an
11th-century pre-Norman church,
with further additions being spread
over the next eight hundred years.
In the background is the war
memorial and several thatched
cottages . The church of St Mary
was recently damaged by flooding.
An extract from from"Dorchester Photographic Memories".
This footbridge is
still to be found in the
village. The young man
may be delivering post,
judging by his bag. He is
apparently travelling
on two wheels, as he
is wearing bicycle clips.
His straw boater is in the
fashion of the time.
An extract from from"Dorchester Photographic Memories".





