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Morcombelake

Morcombelake photos (7 available)

Old photo of Morcombelake

Morcombelake maps (2 available)

Old map of Morcombelake

Morcombelake books (13 available)

Morcombelake memories

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Dorset memories

My Dad

Whitchurch Canonicorum, Church of St Candida from west 1900

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!!

read more here

Great Great Grandpa

Charmouth, Village 1890

I was delighted to find this photograph as the Edward Archer Vince who owned the shop shown and mentionned in the text was my Great Great Grandfather and my Great Grandfather Frederick Harold Vince grew up here.....
A memory of Charmouth contributed by Sarah Sutton

Same family.

Eype, the Village c1955

My dad was Cyril Henry Sprake, I have memories of travelling to Eype to see my gran, she was Day then. As grandad and uncle Robert died during the war, I am interested in knowing which of the local Sprake families was grandad's.
I too think of the area as my spiritual home, I have said to my family that I should like to be returned there one day as we moved around the west country, Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, I always think of Bridport/Eype/Symondsbury as my home town, so to speak. I am now living in Peasedown St John, Bath, BA2 8PS, having remarried after my first wife died but when I go for a drive I often seem to end ...read more here
A memory of Eype contributed by LESLIE SPRAKE

Eype Cottages

Eype, the Village c1955

My Mum, Nesta Smith (nee Sprake) was born in No. 3 Eype Cottages and lived there up until she married my Dad (Ron Smith) in July 1949.  They met when he was stationed close by with the Royal Army Service Corp.  They used to do their courting by the old phone box apparently!  Dad proposed to Mum up at Golden Cap and they were married in Symondsbury Church.  I believe that my Great. Great Uncle made the wrought iron gates or the lock on the gates to the church?  Mum lived in the Cottage with my Nan, Aunts and Uncles - Betty, Barbara, Peter and my Grandad and Uncle are buried in Eype Church.  I love the area and would really ...read more here
A memory of Eype contributed by julie Gillibrand

Extracts From Morcombelake & Dorset books

Morcombelake, the Village 1904

Morcombelake, situated on the high road between Lyme Regis and Bridport, is now famous as the home of the Moore’s biscuit factory. The village itself is unjustly ignored by most travellers, who would do well to halt awhile to explore its buildings and the delightful countryside nearby.
An extract from from"Dorset Pocket Album".

Morcombelake, c1960

Morcombelake, not far from Charmouth, originated in the early years of the 20th century as a retirement place for the elderly. The village lies under the shadow of Hordown Hill, a prominent local viewpoint.
An extract from from"Dorset Living Memories".

Charmouth, Rivermead Caravans c1960

These holiday caravans are sited behind Rivermead House. This was among the ‘horror pictures’ used by the land agent John Cripwell in order to encourage Lord Antrim and the council of the National Trust to buy two thousand of acres from Lyme Regis to Eype. Mobile homes between River Way and Bridge Road, on the west bank of the River Char, have also been targeted by nature, notably in a flash flood in the 1970s.
An extract from from"Lyme Regis Photographic Memories".

Charmouth, the Beach c1960

There are sea defences (top left) where Lower Sea Lane converges with Higher Sea Lane. Below, a shingle beach with patches of pea-grit provides a spot for rest and relaxation between Raffey’s Ledge and the Mouth Rocks, where the River Char enters the sea. Evan’s Cliff is to the east (centre), followed by the higher cliffs of Cain’s Folly and Golden Cap (top right). Jane Austen writes in ‘Persuasion’: ‘Charmouth with its high ground and extensive sweeps of country, and still more, its sweet retired bay, backed by dark cliffs where fragments of low rock among the sands make it the happiest spot for watching the flow of the tide; for sitting in unwearied contemplation.
An extract from from"Lyme Regis Photographic Memories".

Charmouth, the Beach 1900

We are looking eastwards from the blocked mouth of the River Char, which ends its journey to the sea by having to break through a ridge of shingle (right). The coastal footpath from Charmouth (left) crosses to a shelter on Evan’s Cliff (centre), but is then subject to recurrent problems as it crosses the landslip zone at Cain’s Folly (central skyline). Here a Royal Air Force coastal radar station slipped down the cliffs on 14 May 1942. Its concrete and brick remains are entombed in the undercliff. The distant cliff, towards Bridport, is Thorncombe Beacon (towards top right).
An extract from from"Lyme Regis Photographic Memories".