The Circus is 250 Years Old
Hurray—The circus is coming! Yes, the circus more or less as we know it was first created in 1768. Philip Astley a retired cavalryman and war hero was its creator and he marked out a ring on an abandoned piece Read more »
Cecil Amor
Cecil Amor is the Founder Chairman of Bridport History Society. His background is in design, techonology and engineering, being a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and a European Design Committee Member.
Cable and Wireless
This is the title of what grew to become a large company working in communications by either means. But it made me think of two unrelated local stories. Technology had to be established first to enable either means of communication Read more »
Spring Time
It has been suggested that my recent articles have been full of doom, with invasions and so on. Recently I saw a sundial dated 1767 with the inscription “Let others tell of Storms and Showers—only count Your Sunny Hours”. An Read more »
Invasion and threats of invasion
Over the years there have been occasional concerns about possible acts of aggression wrought across the seas onto our local Dorset shore. In February we considered the Grand Old Duke of York with King George being prepared for possible invasion Read more »
Two or Three
I recall from my early days two elderly farmers when one said “Ow many vields ‘ast got down to ‘ay?”. The other replied “Tu’ Dree”. “Dree” is still recognised by some as “Three”. This came to mind as I am Read more »
Oh! The Grand Old Duke of York
One day some years ago when our son was at primary school he came home one day brimming with excitement. Later we all sat down to listen and he recited: “Oh! The Gwand Old Duke of York He had Read more »
Slavery
Have you ever heard the phrase ‘I have been working like a slave’? The abolition of the Slave Trade Act was passed in 1807 in the UK and USA, although it was overlooked for some years in some places. For Read more »
The Spirit of Jack Daniels
During the festive season we have the solstice and then on the 24th we may think of a roaring log fire, a half-eaten carrot and glass of sherry on the hearth, perhaps with a smattering of snow marked by reindeer Read more »
The Cut
I regularly look at a painting on my wall of a very tranquil watercolour of a canal scene with which I was once very familiar. The centre of the picture is a closed canal lock gate, with its walk way Read more »
From Dorset village to Government Minister
In the 19th century Bradpole could reasonably be called a “sleepy Dorset village”, but now it is virtually connected to Bridport by ribbon development. William Edward Forster was born in Bradpole in 1818, the only child of William and Anna Read more »