Dorset Allsorts

Bere Regis Writing Competition

2012-02-16T03:33:00.003-08:00

DORSET SCRIBBLERS

JUBILEE WRITING COMPETITION

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET INVOLVED

Just write a piece of fiction or a poem (not more than 1,000 words). The piece must include the following words...

“Queen” and “Diamond”

Entry Fee £2.00 All Proceeds to the village Jubilee Fund.

• Two prizes (i) Best Entry By a Dorset Scribbler

(ii) Best Entry By a Non-Scribbler

All entries to be submitted to Susan J Stone on susan.stone97@yahoo.co.uk by 1st May2012 or by post at 97 North Street, Bere Regis, Wareham, Dorset BH20 7LD Tel 01929 471933

Please ensure your name and address, telephone and email are written on a separate page.

The results will be announced at the Drax Hall, North Street, on 12th June at 7.30pm. The winning entries will be posted on Dorset Scribblers website, Village Website, Facebook and printed in the Parish Magazine

Dorset Writing Group

2011-12-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

Dorset Scribblers is a Creative Writing Group which has been running for a few months and is open to people of all abilities who want to have fun and develop their writing. They meet in Bere Regis every two weeks. Click the link or find their website for more information.

Sculpture by the Lakes

2011-10-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

We recently visited a sculpture park set in 26 acres of lakes, ponds and streams in the
Frome Valley at Fordington Lakes. The sculptures are by Dorset artist Simon Gudgeon, and most have a price tag of over £50,000. One, (can you guess which?) cost £250,000!

These are a few of the photos we took.

St Martin's Church, Wareham

2011-08-14T07:07:00.000-07:00

St Martin's is the oldest surviving church in Dorset and represents the most complete example of a Saxon church in the county. Its Saxon origin can be seen in the tall, narrow nave and chancel, late Saxon wall-arcading in the North West Isle and traces of a Saxon door. The building has been adapted and enlarged but the nave and a tiny window in the north side of the chancel are original to the church's construction in around 1030.

Fragmented 12th-century frescoes adorn the chancel, depicting events from the life of St Martin, whilst above the chancel arch is a Royal Arms of Queen Anne dated 1713, flanked by black letter scriptural texts of about 1600 which overlay earlier scripts.

A number of red stars have been painted on one of the walls, supposedly one for every person who died in the town during the great plague in the 17th century.

In the aisle is Eric Kennington's carved efficy of T E Lawrence in Arabian dress.

Scarecrow Festival Bere Regis

2011-08-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

It's nice to find something a bit quirky to add to our blog, so when we spotted that Bere Regis is holding a Scarecrow Festival as part of the Bere Regis Show 2011, we thought we'd investigate!

Scarecrows made by the locals have been dotted around the village, so we spent an enjoyable hour wandering around seeing how many we could spot! Here are some of our photos.

Red Post 883970

2011-08-06T02:51:00.000-07:00

We are not sure why this sign is red, nor do we know if there any others like it. But it's the first one we've ever seen!

If you have a theory about why it is red please let us know.

Kimmeridge

2011-07-18T04:48:00.000-07:00

Kimmeridge Bay lies within the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and is a popular place for fossil hunting and rock-pooling. The bay is part of the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve, managed by the Dorset Wildlife Trust.

Although it's hard to imagine now, the rocks at Kimmeridge Bay were once the floor of a deep, tropical sea rich in pre-historic life which formed in the Jurassic period, 155 million years ago.

The cliffs and foreshore contain a very thick sequence of Kimmeridge Clay. The sequence of rocks here provides such an excellent record of this part of the Jurassic that geologists have adopted Kimmeridgian as the term for rocks of this age all around the world.

Beneath the cliffs there is a large wave-cut platform (known as The Flats). The stone ledges make it easy to view life on the shore and in the shallow waters, and there is safe snorkelling for those who wish to have a go.

On the cliff towards the west is the BP "nodding donkey" oil pump which has been pumping continually since 1959, making it the oldest working oil pump in the UK. The oil formed in rocks that were laid down on a stagnant sea floor.

A little way inland from the bay is the pretty hamlet of Kimmeridge.

Purbeck Potpourri

2011-07-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

The Purbeck coast is one of our favourite places for walking and we often take photos which don't warrant a separate blog entry, so in this section we'll be putting a selection of images showing different aspects of this part of the Dorset coastline.

Warbarrow Bay

Looking towards Mupe from Warbarrow

These pictures are of Mupe Bay and the nearby coast. Mupe is a short distance from Lulworth Cove.

Rocks at Mupe

These pictures of Lulworth Castle were taken from the ridge above Tyneham.

St Mary's Church, Bridport

2011-07-10T05:43:00.000-07:00

We recently had a day out in the delightful town of Bridport. The church was particularly attractive in the sunshine. We learnd that the earliest remains of St Mary's date from the 13th century although much of the building, including the central tower, dates from the 15th century.

In the Victorian period considerable alterations and enlargement took place. In the ten months leading up to July 1860 a major restoration was carried out: the chancel was completely rebuilt, and the nave lengthened.

The author Thomas Hardy did not approve of the alterations - he wrote "The church had had such a practical joke played upon it by some facetious restorer or other as to be scarce recognisable...".

Despite this, the church continued to be much loved and late 19th and 20th century craftsmen continued to enhance it with stained glass and the organ we see and hear today. The Lady chapel was created in 1900. The east window is Victorian and depicts Queen Victoria as the Queen of Sheba.

Athelhampton House and Gardens

2011-06-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

Backing onto the River Piddle and surrounded by lovely gardens, Athelhampton is one of the finest houses of its period. Begun in 1485 by Sir William Martyn, a prosperous London merchant who later became Lord Mayor, the house has a beautiful facade of warm limestone, with rows of mullioned windows and an oriel. Inside you can tour many of the rooms, including the Great Hall which is at the heart of the house.

The house remained in the Martyn family for the next 4 generations, but in 1891 it was purchased by Alfred Cart de Lafontaine, who set about restoring the house and creating the formal gardens that can be seen today.

The house is currently run by the grandson of Robert Victor Cooke who purchased the house in 1957.

Athelhampton is reputedly one of the most haunted buildings in Dorset, with a pair of duellists, the Grey Lady and a pet ape apparently being amongst its ghostly occupants! All was quiet on the day we visited we're glad to say!

However, we met a visiting group of MG enthusiasts proudly showing off their cars with the house as an impressive backdrop!

Wandering around the grounds you can see the old dove cote which is still in use.

No visit to Athelhampton is complete without a stroll around the lovely 19th century Italianate formal gardens, which include the impressive court of yew pyramids.

Poppy Explosion!

2011-06-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

This seems to be a good year for poppies, which seem to be springing up everywhere around our local area. These are some photos we took in one of our nearby fields.

This picture was taken last Autumn near Compton Abbas

Crawford Bridge, Spetisbury

2011-05-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

This impressive medieval bridge spans two streams of the River Stour at Spetisbury. It has nine arches and was widened in 1819.

It's a lovely spot to stand and admire the pretty view
of the Stour and its riverside houses.

Tyneham Ghost Village

2011-05-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

Another Isle of Purbeck gem, Tyneham village is one of Dorset's truly unique features; a village evacuated in 1943 to allow the armed forces much needed firing ranges as the Allies prepared for the invasion of Europe and the D-Day landings. However, the evacuation became permanent, leaving an entire parish devoid of people.

There were reportedly 252 people in 102 properties in the village and surrounding parish who left their homes on that day in 1943.

Now a ghost village, Tyneham is a place of great historic curiosity and is a fascinating place to wander round. However, it's still located within the artillery ranges and access is limited to holidays and most weekends.

Many of the ruined cottage walls bear plaques giving information and pictures of their former inhabitants.

The cottages were owned by the Bond family who lived at Tyneham House further up the valley, and most of the villagers would have been employed by the Bonds, either working the land or in the 'big house'.

Although life here was in reality probably quite harsh, to us it seems an almost idyllic spot nestling in a green valley and close to the sea and Warbarrow Bay. It must have been a great place for children to grow up!

St Mary's Church houses a fascinating exhibition showing the history of the village. By the church wall is the village tap from which all the villagers got their daily water.

Attached to the church door is a poignant message left by the parishioners when they evacuated the village. It reads:

'Please treat the church and houses with care; we have given up our homes where many of us lived for generations to help win the war to keep men free. We shall return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly.'

The school building was opened in 1860 and is laid out inside as it would have looked in its pre-war days. Apparently it closed its doors to pupils in 1932, presumably as village numbers declined.

The rectory was probably the finest house in the village, although is not much to look at now! If you look at the plaque below, you can see how grand it looked in its heyday.

St Cuthbert's Old Church, Oborne

2011-05-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

This little treasure is located just outside of Sherborne and belongs to the Churches Conservation Trust, a charity that cares for and preserves English churches of historic, architectural or archaeological importance.

Over a thousand years ago the Saxon King Edgar gave Oborne to Sherborne Abbey (then a cathedral) in memory of Alfred the Great's elder brothers, who reigned before him and were buried at Sherborne. Nothing remains of the original building that was put up here in AD 970, but from then until the dissolution of the abbey in 1539, Oborne remained a 'chapel of ease', served by monks of the abbey.

The church fell into disrepair over the centuries and when a new church was built half a mile away in 1862, all of St Cuthbert's was destroyed except for the chancel, which is the building you can see now.

Maiden Castle

2011-05-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Maiden Castle is considered to be one of the greatest prehistoric forts in Europe, enclosing an area of around 47 acres and with massive triple ramparts over 18m (60ft) high.

It's a popular place for walkers and visitors and offers great views of the surrounding countryside.

Taking its name from the Celtic 'Maidun', the big hill, it's hard not to be awed by the massive amount of effort that must have gone into creating the fort.

The first hill fort on this site was built in neolithic (New Stone Age) times but, following its desertion by the Neolothic people, was then left dormant for 1000 years until it was re-occupied by Iron Age (Celtic) peoples.

They expanded the site, building ditches and ramparts as defences.

Within the defences, it is believed a settlement of about 4000-5000 people grew up. It was the headquarters of the Durotriges tribe, who fought a bloody battle here in AD 69 against the Roman invaders.

After the Roman victory, the fort declined and was superseded by the new Roman town of Durnovaria (Dorchester) which is situated nearby. The Romans built a temple on the site to celebrate their victory, the foundations of which can still be seen.

Some of the finds from the hill fort can be seen in the Dorset County Museum in Dorchester, but if you keep your eyes open whilst walking around Maiden Castle you may even spot something yourself. Karen is the proud owner of a very worn Roman coin found on a long-ago school trip to the site!

Hardy's Monument

2011-04-25T04:48:00.000-07:00

Most visitors to this monument assume it's dedicated to the well-known Dorset author, Thomas Hardy. It was, in fact, erected in honour of Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Admiral of the Fleet and the Hardy in whose arms Nelson died at Trafalgar after saying 'Kismet, Hardy' (or 'Kiss Me, Hardy' if you prefer the more popular version!).

Hardy was born in Dorset and grew up at nearby Portesham Manor. He left home at the age of 12 to become captain's boy on the HMS Helena and spent virtually the rest of his life at sea.

Although the 70 foot tower is quite imposing, we personally don't think it's particularly attractive! Apparently it's been described at various times as a factory chimney, a chess pawn, a pepper mill and much worse!

Hell Bottom

2011-04-24T02:47:00.000-07:00

While walking to Hardy's Monument we passed through this delightfully named place and Nick just couldn't resist posing by the sign!

Clavell Tower

2011-04-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

Standing on the cliffs above Kimmeridge Bay, and close by the South West Coast Path, Clavell Tower was built in 1830-1 by the Rev John Richards Clavell.

Originally an observatory and folly, it later became a coastguard's lookout before falling out of use in the First World War.

The original foundations of the tower

Endangered by cliff erosion, the tower was dismantled and rebuilt further back from the cliff's edge in 2005-8 by the Landmark Trust.

The tower has been fully restored and is fully furnished as a holiday let for 2 people, so if you fancy staying somewhere just a little bit different, this could be the place for you!

St Nicholas' Church Winterborne Clenston

2011-04-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

Winterborne Clenston is a quiet village with perhaps not a whole lot going on. But it has one of the finest looking churches we've seen in the area. The road approaching the church is a long one, giving wonderful views of the church's impressive spire from a long way back.

St Eustace - Ibberton

2011-03-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

This has to be the most difficult to access church we have visited – we had to walk up a steep dirt-path and some rickety steps. But it was worth it for the view!

The main part of the church is thought to have been built between 1380 and 1400. It appears dedication of a church to St Eustace is very uncommon in England, and there are only two others dedicated to this Saint.

During the second half of the 19th Century the building fell into disrepair, the final collapse occurring in 1889. The restoration was started in 1902 and the church re-opened by the Bishop of Salisbury on 17th July 1909. Despite the restoration, the church still has walls that lean!

On the porch floor there are some old tiles bearing the following inscription:
Die tijt is cort, Die doot is snel, Wacht u va sonde, Soe doedi wel.

Which translated means:
The time is short, Death is swift, Guard against sin, Then thou doest well.

Milton Abbey

2011-02-26T03:21:00.000-08:00

Milton Abbey occupies a beautiful setting, resting in a natural amphitheatre surrounded by landscaped parkland (designed by Capability Brown) and wooded hills. The first church was established here in 933 by King Athelstan, the grandson of Alfred the Great, to commemorate his brother lost at sea. In 964 it became the centre of a small Benedictine monastry, which grew in importance during the Norman period.

There was a catastrophic fire in 1309, caused by a lightening strike on the spire. Although the building of a replacement church was soon started, it took a long time and only reached its present size under Abbot William Middleton, who was elected in 1482. The delay was caused by a number of reasons, one of which was the fact that the Abbey had become exceedingly lax with the brethren failing to adhere to the monastic rules to the extent that they were even keeping women!

The church has an unusual uncompleted appearance because the nave was never rebuilt after the fire, and therefore comprises just the 14th century choir, plus tower and transepts. Monastic building continued until terminated by King Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539.

During the rebuilding work, a town called Middleton gradually developed and prospered alongside the Abbey. This is the 'town' that was famously relocated by Joseph Damer and became Milton Abbas.

Joseph Damer also demolished the monastic buildings to make way for his house, which is now Milton Abbey public school.

Milton Abbas

2011-02-25T07:39:00.000-08:00

The picture-postcard village of Milton Abbas has a street of thatched cottages that is featured on many an English countryside calendar!

The original village, known as Middleton, was situated in the valley south of Milton Abbey, but to improve the view from his new mansion, Joseph Damer (later Lord Milton and Earl of Dorchester) acquired all the property leases by fair means and foul, relocated the village and rebuilt it in its present form during the period 1773-80.

Almhouses

The rebuild included the re-erection of the 16th century almshouses opposite the church.

Milton Abbas is considered to be the first planned town or village in Britain. Sturdy cottages were built on either side of the main street, each with a lawn in front and a chestnut tree in between every house. Unfortunately these had to be felled some years ago because of disease.

Also in the village is a church, pub and post office (with an unusual grey telephone box!).

Church of the Holy Trinity - Turnerspuddle

2011-02-05T06:24:00.000-08:00

This church dates back over 500 years but was de-consecrated in 1974. Inside we found some richly carved pews that were much older than the rest and obviously date back to much earlier days. We also saw the Egyptian reed organ that dated back to about 1860. Even though it looks past its sell-by-date, it's still a lovely instrument.

Inside the church porch we found this useful information sheet which gives some interesting facts about the church.

St Nicholas' Church, Moreton

2011-01-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

St Nicholas Church in Moreton was built in the Georgian Gothic style in 1776. It was later enlarged and then restored after extensive bomb damage in the Second World War. The church is unique in that it is the only one in the world to have engraved glass windows, rather than stained glassed. Designed by Sir Laurence Whistler, the windows were put in after the original ones were blown out in WWII.

Having seen the windows with our own eyes, we can honestly say they are breathtakingly beautiful, although our photos don't really do them justice! They also give the inside of the church a refreshingly light and airy feel, which is quite unique.

St Nicholas Church is also where Lawrence of Arabia famously had his funeral, after he had died from a motorcycle accident at nearby Bovington. The guest list at the funeral included Winston Churchill and Lady Astor. Lawrence's grave can be found in the nearby churchyard.

The Fossil Forest

2011-01-09T03:57:00.000-08:00

Much of the coast through Dorset and Devon is known as The Jurassic Coast and is a World Heritage Site due to the 155 kilometres of dramatic cliffs, sea stacks and tumbling landslides, and of course the abundance of fossils to be found.

This section of the coast was near Lulworth and is known as the Fossil Forest due to the remains of huge trees that can be found there. The round structures are the trees, but we were even more impressed by the multitude of delicate strata layers in the rocks some of which were wafer-thin. Simply amazing!

Gold Hill

2010-12-19T06:22:00.000-08:00

Gold Hill, in Shaftesbury, is famous for being the street in a Hovis commercial in the 1970's It's the one where the Yorkshire lad is pushing his bike 'to the top of the world'. This is a clip of the Hovis Advert

St Nicholas Church, Studland

2010-12-19T05:12:00.000-08:00

This lovely little church at Studland is dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of sailors and fishermen.

The church itself is Norman, but is a rebuilding of a much earlier chapel established towards the end of the 7th century and later plundered by the Vikings.

The most striking feature of the church is its stubby tower. It is believed that the building of a full tower was abandoned at some point during the works. This may have been because the builders were not confident that the minimal foundations could handle the weight of a full tower.

Abbotsbury's Monastic Connections

2010-12-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

St Catherine's Chapel

Little remains of Abbotsbury's former monastic greatness except for the 14th century tithe barn, 82m long and claimed to be the largest in the country, and St Catherine's Chapel standing some 85m above the sea on a hill above the village.

The chapel was built around the beginning of the 15th century as a pilgrim's chapel for the nearby monastry and is constructed entirely of stone that had to be hauled up the hillside from the quarries below. It is noted for its rare stone, tunnel-vaulted roof.

After the dissolution of the monastries, the chapel was retained, probably because of its value as a landmark for sailors.

Tradition has it that, if you take a deep breath and run around the chapel without exhaling, you will dream of your future husband or wife that night! Karen did this as a child on a school trip, but sad to say it didn't work!!

Pynion End Wall

There is little to see now of the great Benedictine abbey which was founded in the 11th century by Orc and his wife Tola, followers of King Canute. Visitors can see a big gable end wall, called the Pynion End, dating from about 1400 and part of the abbey buildings, a gatehouse and a few houses which were converted from parts of the old abbey.

Abbotsbury's current church was built mainly in the 15th and 16th centuries next to the site of the old abbey.

Effigy of an abbot from about 1200 in the church porch

The medieval tythe barn

Snowy Dorset

2010-12-12T04:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, we've all had snow this year, but that's not going to stop us

posting photos of where we live at this magical time!

Tanks in Action!

2010-11-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

We have recently been to photograpgh and film some of the tanks that regularly wizz through the training grounds at Bovington. To see our photos look at our Tanks post.

Compton Abbas Airfield

2010-11-27T06:25:00.000-08:00

There is free parking at this tiny airfield were you can spend as long as you wish watching these quirky little planes - Mums, Dads and kids alike will love it. And they also have a cafe from which you can continue observing the action. If you wander into the nearby fields, you can watch the aircraft fly overhead too. Compton Abbas is famous for being the airfield from which Asil Nadir fled the country after the Polly Peck scandal in the early 90s.

Here are a few of the photos we took on a recent visit.

Green Phone Box

2010-11-14T02:47:00.000-08:00

It's not very often you see one of these, but I pass this one fairly regularly when at work. I believe there are only four green phone boxes in Britain, but I'm not sure why there are any!

This one is in Okeford Fitzpaine, a tiny Dorset Village.

Tales from the Grave

2010-11-08T03:27:00.000-08:00

Whenever we go walking and pass a church, we usually have a quick look around the graveyard to see what we can find. Here are a few of the interesting graves we've found to date with a bit of information about their occupants!

Thomas Hardy is, of course, one of Dorset's most famous novelists and poets. Born at Higher Bockhampton, near Dorchester, in 1840, he originally trained as an architect, but after a stint in London he returned to Dorset to dedicate himself to his writing. He died in 1928 and his heart is buried in the churchyard at Stinsford, while his ashes are interred at Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.

Not far from Hardy's grave at Stinsford, we discovered the grave of Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972), the irish poet and novelist who had been the British Poet Laureate from 1968 until his death in 1972. Lewis had been a big admirer of Thomas Hardy and had asked to be buried as close to his grave as possible.

Sgt William Lawrence is buried in the graveyard of St Nicholas of Myra church in Studland. He ran away from Studland to join the army in 1805, and served with the South American Expedition, and with Wellington in the Peninsular Wars and at the Battle of Waterloo. His experiences included being sentenced to 400 lashes for being absent without leave, and receiving 175 of them. After discharge in 1828 he returned to Studland with his French wife and together they ran the local pub, the New Inn, which was renamed the Wellington Inn.

Another famous Dorset inhabitant was Thomas Edward Lawrence, popularly known as Lawrence of Arabia. After his huge successes in Arabia in the First World War, Colonel Lawrence bizarrely re-enlisted in 1923 as a simple soldier and was posted to Bovington (home of the famous tank training centre). He rented and then bought a tiny gamekeeper's cottage called Clouds Hill, which he retired to in 1935. Unfortunately, he was killed only a few weeks later in a motorcycle accident near his home. The stone pictured below marks the spot near the road where he was fatally injured. T E Lawrence is buried in the graveyard of St Nicholas Church at Moreton and his funeral was attended by many famous dignatories, including Sir Winston Churchill.

John Hammett is buried in St John's Church at Tolpuddle and was one of the original Tolpuddle Martyrs - see our separate entry for more information.

We discovered this grave of Benjamin Jesty in the churchyard of St Nicholas' Church in Worth Matravers.

Jesty was a farmer from Yetminster who is the first known person to have given the first recorded smallpox vaccination. It was widely believed at the time that people who contracted cowpox became immune from smallpox, and Jesty himself knew 2 dairymaids who had contracted cowpox, but had then nursed relatives during a smallpox outbreak without any serious consequences. So, in an attempt to protect his family from the disease in 1774, Jesty deliberately infected them with cowpox by taking infected pus from the udder of a cow and, with the point of a stocking needle, scratching their arms and inserting the pus. The first authenticated vaccination had taken place.

Some 20 years later the process had become better understood thanks to Edward Jenner who had dedicated his life, money and reputation to spreading the use of vaccination. Jenner subsequently became known as the "father of smallpox vaccination".

Bombs and Bunkers

2010-10-31T02:46:00.000-07:00

Being on the south coast, Dorset was an important line of defence against invasion in WWII and these bunkers, known as Pillboxes, are to be found scattered along the coast.

This pillbox is on Chesil Beach near Abbotsbury.

We found this pillbox in a lovely position overlooking picturesque Warbarrow Bay near Tyneham.

We have also recently discovered that 'The Bouncing Bomb', made famous in the Damn Busters movie, was tested in the lagoon known as The Fleet, which is near Abbotsbury. The shell of one is on display at the local Swannery.

You might want to have a look at some of our tank photos too while you are here!

Abbotsbury Swannery

2010-10-25T06:11:00.000-07:00

On a recent walk near Abbotsbury, we paid a visit to the Swannery which is a popular tourist attraction in Dorset. It is the only place in the world where you are able to walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans.

This unique wildlife habitat is based on the Fleet lagoon near Chesil Beach, and attracts over 300 differents species of waterfowl besides the swans.

At this time of year, only about a third of the swans are still remaining on the lagoon - the rest have already departed for the winter. We will try to visit again in the early summer when all the cygnets are hatching.

The Swannery was established by Benedictine Monks who built a monastery at Abbotsbury during the 1040's. The monks farmed the swans to produce food for their lavish Dorset banquets (although we've been reliably informed swan meat is an acquired taste!).

Although the swans feed extensively in the lagoon, they are also fed twice a day at the Swannery, and visitors are encouraged to give a hand. As you can see from the photos, some of the swans have found out the quickest way to get to the source of the food!

Karen getting stuck into the feeding!

We were interested to see that the famous ballerina, Anna Pavlova, visited the Swannery in the late 1920s with members of her corps de ballet, as they were preparing for a performance of Swan Lake. The swans look a bit bemused by all the strange activity!

And finally....some of the less exotic birdlife we spotted at the Swannery!

The 'Enchanted' Gardens - Abbotsbury

2010-10-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

Abbotsbury Suptropical Gardens are a special place to visit at any time of year, but we decided to drop in the other evening to experience 'The Enchanted Floodlit Gardens'. For a couple of weeks each year, a section of the gardens are open to visitors after dark, when lanterns and special lighting create a magical spectacle. We hope you enjoy the photos we took.

Nick couldn'd resist this one!

Fungi Foray

2010-10-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

We hope you enjoy looking at these pictures of some of

our favourite fungi we've discovered this Autumn.

Rocking around Studland

2010-10-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

Taking advantage of the Indian summer yesterday, we headed off from Studland on a circular walk which took in some of the more prominent features of the area.

First stop was Agglestone Rock on Godlingston Heath, which was an impressive sight. From a distance it looks like the rock has just fallen out of the sky to land in the middle of the heath, but it is in fact a relic of tertiary sandstone, the Agglestone Grit, which has been left exposed by the denudation of the soil around it. Or, if you prefer the more romantic version...legend has it that the Devil threw the rock from the Isle of Wight intending to hit Corfe Castle!

The rock weighs about 400 tonnes and is 17ft high. It was previously an anvil-shaped pedestal rock, but it has since toppled over.

The heathland around Studland is the largest surviving area of unspoilt heathland in Dorset, a fragment of the 'Great Heath' that once covered much of the eastern part of the county.

Leaving the heathland behind, we made our way up onto Ballard Down which is a chalk ridge that separates the Isle of Purbeck from Dorset's eastern heathlands. You get great views from here of Swanage on one side and the bays of Poole and Bournemouth on the other.

Our last stop before returning to Studland was the chalk stacks of Old Harry and the stump of Old Harry's Wife.

The name Old Harry is a synonym for the Devil and the gap between the land and the stack is called St Lucas's Leap. The original Old Harry's Wife crumbled into the waves in 1896.

The land around the foreshore of this area is called "Old Nick's Ground", so not a good place for Halloween night!

The stacks are formed by the action of the sea eroding the soft chalk; caves are formed which widen and eventually collapse leaving an isolated stack of chalk.

Wareham Forest in Autumn

2010-10-09T06:54:00.000-07:00

Wareham forest is a lovely place to wander for an hour or two, particularly in Autumn when the bracken is changing colour and there is fungi to find!

We came across this imaginatively-named pool, but there wasn't a monster in sight! We did spot a kingfisher, however, but weren't quick enough with our camera unfortunately.

We also found a wide range of fungi, most of which we can't name, although we know the red one above is Fly Agaric. If you want to try and find it yourself, it grows near birch trees, but beware it's poisonous! If you want to see more fungi, see our separate posting Fungi Foray, where we feature pictures of the many fungi we've spotted on our rambles.

Badger Watching

2010-10-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

We recently went badger watching at Old Henley Farm, Buckland Newton, near Dorchester. There are 2 hides positioned near 3 badger setts and you are almost guaranteed to see some badger activity. It was very exciting watching the badgers forage for food and it felt like our very own "Autumn Watch"!

Here are a film and some photos we took; the quality is not that great because of the low light, but it should give you a flavour of the evening.

Monkey World

2010-09-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Monkey World is located near Wool and is a private concern which does great work around the world rescuing apes which have been abused or maltreated. The centre was founded by Jim Cronin in 1987, and has expanded over the years to become one of the most popular family attractions in England. Sadly, Jim passed away in 2007, but his work is continued by his dedicated wife, Dr Alison Cronin, and he has left a legacy which will survive for many years to come.

We spent half a day at Monkey World and had a brilliant time. These are some of our favourite photos from that day.

Tanks

2010-09-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

Bovington is home to a tank training centre and the world famous tank museum. However, you don't have to actually go into the museum to see tanks as there are parking areas along the nearby roads from which you can watch tanks trundle past for free! These are some of the ones we saw in the short time we were there recently.

Moreton Ford

2010-08-21T04:03:00.000-07:00

Moreton is a tiny village that has many connections to T.E. Lawrence, which we will no doubt tell you about when we feature its church. But for the time being, admire the Ford which is the largest in the south of England. The day we were there it looked quite deep and I wouldn't fancy driving through it! Great for paddling in on a hot summer's day though!

The ever popular Moreton Tea Rooms

Row of Moreton Cottages

St James Church, Kingston

2010-08-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

Often described as 'The Cathedral of the Purbecks', this magnificent gothic revival church is visible from miles away as you approach the small village of Kingson near Corfe Castle.

Completed in 1880, the church was built for the Third Earl of Eldon and was designed by the architect George Edmund Street.

Most of the stone and marble used in the building was quarried locally and the work provided valuable employment in the area during a time of depression.

Lulworth Cove

2010-08-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

Another popular spot for visitors to Dorset, this natural horseshoe shaped cove is situated on the Jurassic Coast (a geologist's dream!) and was formed approximately 10,000 years ago by the power of river and sea. The cove's unique shape is a result of wave refraction.

Nearby is Stair Hole, which is how Lulworth Cove probably looked thousands of years ago. It has one of the best examples of limestone folding in the world, caused by movement of the Earth's crust millions of years ago.

Fishing boats at Lulworth Cove

About a mile along the coast is the famous rock arch, Durdle Door. It's a lovely walk from Lulworth to Durdle Door and is a deservedly popular stretch of the South West Coast Path, with some beautiful coastal scenery. And once you're back in Lulworth, try out one of the local ice creams - you won't be disappointed!

Two mills and a manor house.....

2010-07-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

Our ramble today took us on a circular route starting and ending at Fiddleford in the beautiful Stour valley. Walking in this area is like walking through a landscape where time has stood still and is a real treat.

First stop was Fiddleford Manor, which is one of the oldest buildings in Dorset. It is thought to date from around 1355 and was built for the Sheriff of Dorset. Parts of the original house no longer exist, or have been replaced, and a new house was also tacked onto the side in the 18th century. This is privately owned and not open to the public.

However, the truncated remains of a great hall, complete with screens passage, service rooms, a Solar and two 14th century roofs, can still be viewed by the public free of charge and is well worth a visit, as you can get a good feel of what it was like to live inside a medieval manor house.

The Solar was intended for use as a bedroom and was used by the lord and lady of the house. It is a partitioned room which overlooks the Great Hall. The walls of the Solar at Fiddleford Manor were once covered with wall paintings. One of the paintings, which depicts the Angel Gabriel, is still partially visible. As you can see from the photos, the original magnificent beamed ceilings still exist.

Next stop was Sturminster Newton Mill, which is still a working flour mill, and dates from the 17th and 18th centuries.

You can have a tour of the mill, do some fishing or have a picnic by the mill pond - it really is a beautiful spot to while away some time on a summer's day!

Our walk took us onwards through the unspoilt market town of Sturminster Newton, known locally as Stur. Thomas Hardy lived here for 2 years and wrote The Return of the Native during that time.

The Dorset poet, William Barnes, was also born and educated in Stur.

After crossing pretty river meadows, we arrived at our last stop, Fiddleford Mill. This is a former corn mill, which was apparently also once used as a hiding place for contraband liquor which was consumed by factory workers from Sturminster Newton.

All is quiet these days though, and just the ivy-clad buildings remain.

Tolpuddle

2010-07-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

Tolpuddle is, of course, home of the famous Tolpuddle Martyrs.

In 1834, in an attempt to halt a systemic reduction of their wages, 6 men from the village of Tolpuddle established the Friendly Society of Workers. They frequently met under an old sycamore tree, now known as the Martyrs Tree. The men were subsequently arrested and convicted on consiprary charges for having sworn a secret oath. They were sentenced to 7 year's transportation.

Tolpuddle Martyrs Tree

Their sentence caused such a public outrage amongst the working classes, that the men were eventually granted a free pardon. They returned to a heroes' welcome and their names live on as martyrs in establishing the right to free association among workers. An emotive sculpture stands as a memorial to the 6 men outside the Martys' Museum.

A festival is held in Tolpuddle every year to commemorate trade unionism and remember the sacrifice of the 6 villagers.

Five of the martyrs subsequently emigrated, but James Hammett's grave can be found in the graveyard behind St John's Church in Tolpuddle.

St Aldhelm's Head - A Walk in the Purbecks

2010-06-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went for a lovely circular walk from Worth Matravers, near Swanage, in the Purbecks. The walk included a section of the South West Coast Path which passed by many of the old Purbeck stone quarry sites, such as the one above at Winspit. The quarried stone used to be lowered from ledges on to boats to be transported to Swanage and then on to London.

Another point of interest on the walk was St Aldhelm's Chapel. This isolated Norman chapel stands on cliffs 108m above sea level at St Aldhelm's Head and occupies the centre of a pre-Conquest Christian enclosure.

The 7.77m square shape of the chapel is most unusual for an ecclesiatical building. It is believed the chapel was originally a chantry, where a priest would celebrate mass for the safety of sailors, and it might well have been used for rest and prayer by kings, who often hunted in Purbeck.

The chapel has impresseive 12th century vaulted ceilings but is nevertheless simple in design. A quiet place for reflection and a welcome cool respite from the heat outside!

As we approached the last point of interest on our walk, the lovely bay called Chapman's Pool, a sea mist came rolling in, which was quite surreal and made for an interesting photo. Unfortunately, the mist obscured our view of the bay itself. The path leading up the hill on the right is where we had to walk - not an easy feat on a hot summer's day!

Shitterton

2010-06-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

Ok folks, for everone who enjoyed the Scratchy Bottom post, here is another to amuse and delight. This heavyweight sign in Purbeck stone is a recent instalment that has replaced the usual metal signs which were regularly stolen for some strange reason! The name is probably derived from a river called Shiter, "a brook used as a privy", but we can assure you the brook is crystal clear these days!

Shitterton itself is charming; a tiny hamlet filled with lovely thatched cottages. One house is even appropriately named Pooh Corner! The place is sometimes referred to as Sitterton, so as not to offend those of a more delicate disposition...

Hill Barn Shelter

2010-06-20T05:16:00.000-07:00

Karen and I were walking near Milton Abbas when we came accross this shelter for walkers. On closer inspection we discovered it had been built by the friends and family of a young man who had died a few years ago. We thought it a lovely tribute and you can see Karen signing the visitors book.

Scratchy Bottom

2010-06-06T02:30:00.000-07:00

The wonderfully named Scratchy Bottom is a cliff-top valley in the Purbecks and was used for some of the scenes in the 1967 film Far from the Madding Crowd. We walked through the valley on our way to Durdle Door and just couldn't resist taking a photo of this milestone as it really made us chuckle (childish as we are!) We've been pondering ever since how it may have got its name.....

St Stephen - Kingston Lacy

2010-06-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

If you are ever visiting the beautiful stately home of Kingston Lacy, be sure to have a wander around the surrounding estate which has many pretty buildings, including its very attractive church, St Stephen. It was built in 1904 and has a tree lined path running up to it.

As you can see, the day we visited, we were treated to a fine display of blossom on the trees which really added to the whole experience!

Sherborne Abbey

2010-05-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

Sherborne is a lovely town with many sights to impress the visitor, not least its abbey which dates from 988 and is one of the main attractions. The abbey is a superb example of Perpendicular architecture, noted for its magnificent fan-vaulted roof in both nave and choir.

Some of the former domestic buildings also remain in the nearby Abbey Close and just to the east is the well-preserved Abbey Conduit, the lavatorium or washing-place of the monks, that formerly stood in the cloisters.

Whilst in Sherborne, take the time to stroll around the town and look at some of the lovely golden-coloured stone buildings dating from between the 15th and 18th centures which line the narrow streets. The town also boasts two castles; the ruins of the Old Castle date from the 12th century whilst the nearby New Castle incorporates Sherborne Park which was designed in the 18th century by Capability Brown.

All in all, a great day out!

Bluebells

2010-05-16T06:15:00.000-07:00

We're lucky enough to have some ancient woodland nearby and at this time of year they're filled with bluebells, making a wonderful sight (and smell!). It's nice to see that we still have the British variety, rather than the Spanish ones which are starting to take over.

Young lime green ferns add another dimension to the scene and make a lovely colour combination.

Corfe Castle

2010-05-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

The dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle tower above the picturesque greystone village of the same name. No matter how many times we go there, the sight of the ruins suddenly hoving into view as you approach the village never fails to impress.

The castle's shattered walls and towers, occupying the steep slopes of a conical hill, reflect the stormy history of the castle. The existing ruins are mainly of the original Norman castle, plus 13th-century extensions carried out by King John and Edward I.

The ruins are a great place to explore and enjoy fine views of the surrounding countryside, so don't forget your camera. If you're really dedicated, get up at dawn and photograph the early morning mist swirling around the castle (we haven't managed it yet!).

Regular events are held at the castle and in the village, making it a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. The village is a lovely place to wander around, and the tiny museum and model village are well worth a visit.

There are plenty of good walks around the Corfe area, including the impresseive Purbeck Ridgeway which stretches between Steeple and Swanage.

Cerne Abbas

2010-05-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

Cerne Abbas was once an important centre for the leather and brewing industries, but is now a quiet village furnished with a fair sprinkling of quaint pubs and tea rooms; just what the weary walker wants!

Also in the village are the ruins of an Abbey which are definitely worth a look. The abbey was first established in 978, but all that now remains is a 15th century gatehouse and the guest house, which you can see in these pictures.

Of course, what most people want to see is the Giant, a turf cut figure which is best viewed from the valley below. We tried walking up the hill by the side of the Giant, but it disapears from sight when you do that!

The giant is about 180′ high and nearly 170′ wide. It’s thought to represent either a Celtic warrior god or the Roman deity Hercules. Although its age and origin are unknown, it has become a popular part of local culture and folklore, which usually associates it with fertility (for obvious reasons!). It’s also become a favourite target for pranksters; most memorably, in 2007, a large image of Homer Simpson holding a doughnut was spray painted next to the Giant as a publicity stunt for the upcoming Simpsons’ Movie.

Durdle Door

2010-05-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

Durdle Door is one of our favourite places and is probably the most photographed spot in Dorset. But with good reason; it's a lovely sight and visiting it, with a camera, is an absolute must!

Located on the Jurassic Coast, this natural limestone arch is near to the equally popular Lulworth Cove.

There is a sweeping beach at Durdle Door, but also worth visiting is the pretty little Man of War Bay on the east side of the promontory.