Does Anyone live in Shaftesbury?

[trish251]

I did indeed        Thank you so much - bit of a worry that I get my own address wrong - a rare event she says    

thanks again

Trish

[Mobo]

Hi all,
I think they used Gold Hill in the famous Hovis advert with the little boy  ("It were just arter t'war...") where it represented the industrial North!
I've got a feeling it was also used in "Far from the madding crowd" with Alan Bates and Julie Christie- I seem to remember Troy's troopers there but I might be wrong on that one.  

Fred.

 

I think you're right on both counts Fred.

 

[trish251]

Hello Fred

Thanks for the information - interesting - I remember Julie Christie in the movie but don't remember Gold Hill 

I'm sure your photos are fab - I am waiting impatiently. I'll pm my email and hopefully get it right on the first attempt   
- So glad it wasn't too thundery.

Trish

[trish251]

Hi all

Fred just sent me some photos of Salisbury Street - and he has more to send

and I am just so thrilled - fabulous - many many thanks

                   

 

                        

Trish

[stockman fred]

I saw  one of the famous Dorset "Bridge plates" near Melbury Abbas  telling us all how to get to Australia on the cheap! I'll take a pic and post it on here for anyone who hasn't seen one.
Fred.

[trish251]

Hi Fred

I haven't seen one - and I have no idea what you are talking about - but most interested

Trish

[stockman fred]

I think a photo might overload the system here, but I'll send one for the album. 
Most of the old County bridges in Dorset have cast iron plaques bearing the following message:
"DORSET 
 Any person wilfully injuring any part of this county bridge will be guilty of felony and upon conviction liable to be transported for life. By the Court.
7&8 Geo4 C30 S13.   T.FOOKS"
I think the date equates to 1827/8 and I always wondered why Mr. Fooks was so bothered about injuries to his bridges? Perhaps if you were passing with an empty cart, the temptation was too great? More likely, the bridges were threatened by the unrest among the farm labourers of the period.
Fred.

[trish251]

Living in the land of convicts - I should have realised that      
I hope Mr Fooks got his just reward.

My Dorset folk were free settlers but we do have a convict in the family - from Yorkshire - took quite some persuading to get the older family members to discuss same.   

My book is looking much better with the photographs. Your plaque will be a noteworthy item for an Australian Story.

Trish

PS Wonder if we can threaten to send the folks back who throw rocks off our road bridges today 

[stockman fred]

Some other evidence of those times is the "Red sign post". There is one on the main road to Dorchester. Apparantly, after the trials at Dorchester assizes, prisoners were marched off under guard to the ships at Portsmouth and it took several days, so they slept in certain barns on the way. The red sign post pointed to the barn.
All sorts of legends grew up around it though- Grandad told us that a highwayman had been shot at the post. No matter how hard they tried, the authorities could never  scrub his blood off so in the end they gave up and painted it red! I've heard  similar stories from friends.
Even into the 19th century, there was a strong folk memory of Judge Jefferies and his Bloody Assizes, it caused huge resentment in the West Country.
Fred