The Blackmore Vale logo

Category: Local History

When Dickens came to Sherborne | Looking Back

‘Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.’ So began the greatest occasion in Sherborne’s literary history, and there...

Child Okeford Co-op – 100 years on | Then and now

One of the commercial stories of the 20th century centres on the gradual decline of the village and corner shop as supermarkets took over...

Dorset’s first woman driver | Looking Back

She was Dorset’s first woman driver, and she documented her motoring adventures in a diary written almost 120 years ago. Roger Guttridge shares the...

A tale of two changes at the Old Rectory | Then and Now

Happily tucked away from the passing A357 traffic is this magnificent example of Georgian architecture – the Old Rectory in Holebrooke Lane, Lydlinch. The...

The intelligent poltergeist | Looking Back

On January 11, 1895, the Western Gazette published a story about strange goings-on in a Dorset village. The paper described ‘considerable excitement’ at Durweston...

The rich history that makes Yetminster a unique village

Tucked away on the western edge of ‘The Vale’ is a village with a very unusual history, indeed, possibly unique – Yetminster. Situated about five...

Popular

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...

Levelling up … the John Deere way

Oats have frustrated George Hosford this year … almost as much as politicians and DEFRA and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme Everyone loves working on the...