Dorset History
Contents
- Introduction
- St Aldhelm's, Branksome, Parish Magazine 1896-97
- Mary's Memoirs - A Poole Childhood, Dorset War Work and Post-War London, 1925-1950
- Stoke Abbott - The Memories of Fred Swaffield, Stoke Abbott
- A Brief Explanation of Settlement Examinations in Dorset
- The Keep Military Museum
Introduction
These pages are a miscellany of articles on Dorset history. Follow the links in the summaries below to find the full articles. Some are linked to our family history or personal interests and others to voluntary and acadmic undertakings. More pages will be added later.
St Aldhelm's, Branksome, Parish Magazine 1896-97
This article is written using material from the original parish magazines for St Aldhelm's Church, Branksome, Dorset covering the years 1896-1897. My mother's family were very active in St Aldhelm's church, its sister church, All Saints (the Church in the Wood, Branksome) and St Aldhelm's school. The magazines have been bound and handed down through the family because they contain a report of the wedding of my great grandparents, Frank Scammell and Sarah Allerton. The magazines provide an interesting glimpse of church and school community life over one hundred years ago.
Mary's Memoirs - A Poole Childhood, Dorset War Work and Post-War London, 1925-1950
These pages contain the memoirs of Helen's mother, Mary James nee Norman. The article was written by Helen and is based on an Open University Oral History project undertaken by Stephen. The memoirs cover Mary's childhood and primary school days in pre-war Poole; the 11+ exam and transition to Grammar; school, home and social life in Poole during World War Two; and teacher training in post-war Poole and London. Helen wrote the article partly in memory of her mother and partly to emphasise the importance of oral history. The section on Holton Heath was written by our youngest daughter, several years ago, as her entry in a competition for young Genealogists organised by the Federation for Family History Societies - so family history can appeal to all ages!
Stoke Abbot - The Memories of Fred Swaffield, Stoke Abbott
This is a transcription of the diary of Fred Swaffield of Stoke Abbott,Dorset, transcribed by Stephen Jones from the original diary held at the Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, reference D.459/1 The diary gives a description of the village of Stoke Abbott, in rural West Dorset in 1895-1924. The transcription was undertaken as part Open University course on Family and Community History.
Read memories of Stoke Abbot »
A Brief Explanation of Settlement Examinations in Dorset
This page gives a brief explanation - with examples - of the settlement and removals process in Dorset. The same process would apply in elsewhere in England and Wales.
Read about the Settlement Examinations »
The Keep Military Museum
An illustrated guide to the Keep Military Museum in Dorchester, including the history of the barracks site.