The attendance at our events continues to remain high;
I hope that this will carry on into 2006.
Many will know that I keep a database of those interested in receiving
notification of events. Since starting this, attendance has risen
dramatically. I am however aware that people's addresses and circumstances
change and there have been some problems with getting updates from the Museum.
I will therefore be sending details in the next mailing for people to contact
me directly if changes are needed.
Dr David Reeve
Chairman of Dorset Local History Group
2005 has been a busy and successful time for the Group. In February, 80 tickets were sold for the Day School on The Development and Growth of Settlement in Dorset. The day school introduced some of the themes in the study of the origins and growth of settlement in Dorset. Dr Peter Woodward discussed late Roman Dorchester as well as recent theories on the planning of the town in the 1st century. Dr Bruce Eagles had to unfortunately cancel (see September lecture). Dr David Reeve then shared his recent research findings on the foundation of the Saxon double monastery in 8th century Wimborne. After lunch Dr Karen Mew looked at the Domesday record and how it can be interpreted within the 11th century Purbeck landscape. Katherine Barker completed the day by looking at 13th century town plantations at Bridport and Newland Sherborne.
Following the April AGM, a sizable audience heard Dr Joanna Martin give a paper entitled Wessex Girls: Thomas Hardy and the ladies of the Fox-Strangways Family. The 1st Countess of Wessex and her daughters have left an exceptional record of their lives in the great Wessex houses of Redlynch, Melbury, Bowood and Lacock, into which the girls of the family married over several generations. Dr Martin also explored the connection with Thomas Hardy. He visited Mells and Melbury and some of his ancestors were tenants and employees on the Ilchester estate. He published A Group of Noble Dames set in the 1730s. The character Betty Durrell was based on the 1st Countess of Ilchester. Thomas Hardy was fascinated by Susan O'Brien, the daughter of the Countess. She lived at Stinsford House, close to where Hardy grew up, and his poem "The Noble Lady's Tale" was inspired by her.
The Summer Field trip took place at Lyme Regis. On a fine day Katherine Barker led a group of 15 around the town, looking at the division between the Crown land and Sherborne Abbey. We also discussed the possibility that Lyme was the location described in a poem by Bishop Aldhelm. Aldhelm's Carmen Rhythmicum describes his epic journey from Cornwall, across Devon into Dorset. It includes an account of a fierce storm that nearly destroyed the chapel that he was sheltering in. This may well have been referring to Lyme. The group finished the afternoon by looking at the nearby County boundary.
Dr Bruce Eagles agreed to give his paper to the group in September and an audience of 77 heard his latest theories on Saxon incursions into Dorset. There is strong place-name and archaeological evidence to suggest a 6th century Saxon enclave to the east of the Bokerly Dyke around Fontmell, close to the River Stour. The remainder of Dorset appears to have remained under Romano-British control at this time. However by the mid 7th century evidence suggests that the Saxons had settled into most of the county.