Tales of Witches
We wish you a Happy Christmas and a peaceful year to follow. As the nights grew darker people used to sit around the fire and roast chestnuts and tell each other old chestnuts! Some may like to tell stories of 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.
Riotous Behaviour
At this time of year, our streets become full of pixy merriment, especially after dark. However we are fortunate that we do not hear of the riotous behaviour or its causes, that was experienced in days of yore. This article Read more »
Harvest Home
As a small boy, my mother took me to evensong at our village church. My father was lead tenor in the choir with a strong voice. During festivals, the choir processed around the church and my father carried the banner, Read more »
The Dog Rose
Recently my attention was drawn to a line of poetry about the Dog Rose which we may not often see in these days when hedgerows are cut back by equipment on a tractor, but was more common in my younger Read more »
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 »
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 »