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Category: Local History

Hanford School’s nativity –unchanged for over 60 years

A local school has performed the same nativity since 1960 – even using the same costumes!Every school’s nativity play is a special highlight of...

The coffin in the crypt | Looking Back

Almost 250 years after the funeral of the young Milton Abbey heir, questions remain about whose “body” was actually buried. Roger Guttridge reports According to...

A conduit to a past era | Then and now

Roger Guttridge explores the history of a Sherborne landmark These days its main raison d’être is ornamental, although it can also serve as a temporary...

A Rose family’s place in history | Looking back

Roger Guttridge recounts a Sturminster Newton family’s pioneering contribution to Australian history Two hundred and thirty years ago this month, a Sturminster Newton family was...

The rise and fall of the Union | Then & Now

Roger Guttridge revisits the hillside site of Shaftesbury Workhouse A century ago, it was one of the dominant buildings on Shaftesbury’s southern slopes, but today...

Blandford’s Baroque B’Stards

A recent clean of William B’Stard’s portrait revealed an intriguing detail, says Rupert Hardy, chairman of North Dorset CPRE The brothers, William and John B’Stard...

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Kingston Maurward shines at Eventing debut

The inaugural event saw almost 300 competitors, and was praised for its beautiful setting, challenging courses, and exceptional organisation Kingston Maurward hosted its inaugural British...

Benefits, visas and British jobs: the Reform UK plan

September has been an extremely busy month for the party, with our annual conference in Birmingham, a number of key policy announcements, and the...