New Buildings, Blandford Forum

[EmmaM]

I've come across several census and trade directory references to ancestors living/working in "New Buildings" Blandford Forum in the mid-19th century.

I'm planning to visit Blandford later this month and would love to know where New Buildings are/were.

Googling has drawn a blank - does anyone out there know if they still exist ??

[Bambino]

Hi Emma

I used in live in Blandford but the name does not ring any immediate bells.  I still have connections there, so will see what I can find out and get back to you.

Louise

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi

I would be interested in this answer too 

The name sounded familiar, so I checked my website and discovered my BENSONs in 1861:

1861 CENSUS RG9  Piece 1333 / Folio 93/ Page 37

Dwelling       : New Buildings
Census Place: Blandford Forum, Dorset, GB

I wonder if it has anything to do with this:

Blandford Forum

In 1731 a catastrophic fire destroyed a large part of the old town of Blandford, rendering 480 families homeless. Over the following 30 years much of the town was rebuilt under the supervision of John and William Bastard and subsequently has remained largely untouched by re-development. The centre of Blandford Forum therefore remains a near perfect example of Georgian building style from 1731–60.
on Images of Dorset at http://www.imagesofdorset.org.uk/Dorset/019/intro.htm
along with a bit more text and lots of photos

Bob

[EmmaM]

Postscript :

On my visit to Blandford Museum in Sept 2005 I discovered that "New Buildings" was the general name given to  development east of Damory Road as Blandford Forum expanded rapidly in the early Victorian era.

The name seems to disappear from Trade Directories from shortly after that time which suggest it was indeed a temporary name.

A few 19th century cottages survive, but much of the area has clearly been redeveloped recently. There is also a possibility that buildings were demolished in the 1860s as the railway came through - the 1901 map seems to show a cutting close to the junction of Damory Road and East Street.