This post features: Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Poole, Wimborne, Dorchester, Weymouth, Wareham, Bournemouth and Blandford Forum
Shaftesbury
Looking down Gold Hill, ShaftesburyLooking up Gold Hill, Shaftesbury
Sherborne
Sherborne Abbey – there was a funeral underway so I couldn’t go in…Sherborne Abbey was founded by St. Aldhelm in 705ad as a cathedral, it became an abbey in 998ad. Nothing remains of the Saxon cathedral and the current church dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 1540s, following the dissolution, the abbey became the parish church. SherborneThe history of Sherborne school dates back to the 12th century, when boys were educated in the monastery. In the 1550s, following the dissolution, the former monastic land was used for re-founding the Free Grammar School of King Edward VI – now Sherborne School.
Poole
The Old Town:
The old town is really niceLooking up Market Street to the Guildhall, PooleHenry V, eh? He lived from 1386 to 1422 – so there have been Almshouses on this site for around 600 years…West End HouseBenjamin Skutt 1727 – a mayor of PooleThe Custom’s House, Poole and an old churchThe King Charles Pub: one part dates from 1350 and the other part dates from 1770 – it is named after King Charles of France, who hid here when fleeing to Edinburgh…The Poole Arms claims to be the oldest pub in Poole – the tiles are intriguing and those 3 chimneys look as if they are purely decorativeThe old town of Poole is not short of old pubs and there are 3 microbreweries, too…Marston’s Poole Ales was the trading name of the Dolphin Brewery, founded in 1750 – they merged with Strong of Romsey and stopped brewing in 1928 – The Swan Inn is closed and empty…This Wetherspoon pub is in a lovely Victorian building dating from 1887 and was the free library for the townIf you need some Scotch Glue or Garnet Paper…
The Harbour:
Two swans a sleeping…
Wimborne
Wimborne: the sign inside the (locked) glass entrance doors indicated that the Minster is open to visitors until 17.30 on Sundays – at odds with being firmly locked at 14.30 on this particular SundayThis is the site of the original free grammar school built in 1497 – this building, however, dates from 1849 – it is still a grammar school, though…WimborneWimborneWimborneWimborne
Dorchester
St Peter’s Church:
St Peter’s Church, DorchesterMemorial to Denzelh Holles, Baron of IfieldSt Peter’s, DorchesterSt Peter’s, Dorchester
The Old Brewery:
The old Eldridge Pope Brewery closed in 2003The old breweryThe ‘pale ale brewery’ in High East Street, Dorchester, was a brewery in the 19th century. It was acquired by Eldridge, Mason & Co in 1854 and used together with the Green Dragon brewery. It was small but helped to increase beer production especially in the 1870s. It closed around 1881 once the new Eldridge Pope brewery was built.
Town Centre:
This building dates from 1616Dorchester MuseumDorchesterThe Corn Exchange designed by local architect Benjamin FerreyDorchesterDorchester Castle & Museum – closed on MondaysStatue of Thomas HardyWilliam Barnes – famous Dorset poetDorchesterDorchester
Weymouth
Sea Front:
Weymouth sea frontMonument to King George III on Weymouth sea frontMonument to Queen Victoria on Weymouth sea frontThe Royal HotelThe house where the French lieutenant’s woman lived…
The Town Centre:
Weymouth got the contract to supply the then-new colonies of Labrador and Newfoundland and legend has it that the landlord of this pub had the first black Labrador dog in the country and renamed the pub in its honour…WeymouthThe old JA Devenish Brewery – it closed in 1985…The old JA Devenish Brewery
The Fort:
Looking out to sea from Weymouth’s fortThe fort with gun worryingly pointing inlandThe fort is only open to visitors on Sundays
The Harbour:
Weymouth harbourWeymouth harbour
Wareham
Intriguing sign on the bridge over the River Piddle, WarehamThe rampant waters of the River Piddle – it is also known as the North River and Trent River…St Martin’s on the Walls, built around 1020 – it was locked, so I couldn’t go inWarehamWarehamThe Town Hall, WarehamWareham has lots of sweet little houses and cottagesWareham has lots of sweet little houses and cottagesWareham has lots of sweet little houses and cottages
The River Frome:
The River Frome also flows through Wareham
St Mary’s Church:
The Lady St Mary’s Church…The Lady St Mary’s Church…
The Town Walls:
The remains of Wareham’s west town wallsWhile to the east it looks more like a ditch…Wareham
Spotted in Wareham:
Locomotive 34070 “Manston” being transported by road…Following a shunting collision in July 2017, it was withdrawn for overhaul in addition to repair of the crash damage. It is hoped it will return to the Swanage railway in 2021…
Bournemouth
Churches:
St Peter’s Church, BournemouthThe tomb of Mary Shelley in St Peter’s graveyardThe United Reform Church near the stationThe Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart – also known as the Oratory…The Oratory’s interior is impressive… The Oratory’s interior is impressive… The Oratory’s interior is impressive… St Stephen’s Church, BournemouthSt Stephen’s is a bit of a gem inside… St Stephen’s is a bit of a gem inside…
Sea Front:
The view from Bournemouth pierThe view from Bournemouth pier
The Town Centre:
1943 saw the deadliest bombing raid on Bournemouth causing extensive damageNot much of Bournemouth’s architectural heritage survives Brewhouse and Kitchen turned this listed former Eldridge Pope pub into a bar and restaurantBeer Bottles of LightThe Royal Norfolk HotelThe Town HallThe Lansdowne campus – part of Bournemouth University
England’s Art Deco Capital:
This Art Deco Wetherspoon is named after its famous neighbour…Bournemouth does have quite a lot of fine Art Deco buildings
The Central Gardens:
The Bourne Stream runs through the Central Gardens..The Bourne Stream runs through the Central Gardens – a lovely green space
Blandford Forum
n 1731 a fire swept through Blandford Forum and destroyed most of the town. The task of rebuilding was given to two memorably-named brothers, William and John Bastard, who combined the roles of architect, surveyor, carver, and designer of plasterwork. The Bastards created one of the most beautiful town centres in England, with a Market Place lined with finely detailed houses, a grand Town Hall, and a large church at one end. The present church dates largely from the 1730s and 1740s, built after the old church was badly damaged in the Great Fire of Blandford that began on the 4 June 1731 and destroyed much of the town. It was designed by John & William BastardThe church is undergoing major restorationWork to establish the current Town Museum in Blandford was started in 1974 by John and Sue Tupper. The building, which had originally been the coach house connected to the Bastard House, was acquired in 1979 through the generosity of the William Williams Trust. After substantial renovation work, the Museum was opened in April 1985. Like the church, the museum was closed. Unlike the church, I couldn’t get in for a sneaky peak but, in fairness, the museum is run by volunteers and closes during January. There is also a fashion museum in the town but that was also closed…The Bastards’ House was rebuilt after the great fire for them to live in Originally the Greyhound Inn, it was destroyed in the fire of 1731. It was rebuilt by the Bastard family and been completed by 1753.Hall & Woodhouse was started in 1777 when farmer Charles Hall started his brewery in Ansty – about 11 miles from Blandford. Edward Woodhouse joined the brewery in 1847. In 1882 they bought Hector’s Brewery in Blandford St Mary, which was expanded but then devastated by fire. By October 1900 the new brewery was up and running
