Blandford Throwback Facts VI

In 1759, John Ayliffe, who had a house built in East Street, was executed for forgery at Tyburn in London.

In 1760, Dr Dansey was paid six pounds and six shillings (£6.30p) for cutting off Samuel Tucker’s leg.

In 1761, the Court of Records in London threatened to fine Blandford forty shillings (£2) if the pillory, sixty shillings (£3) if the stocks and five pounds if the pound were not all immediately put into good repair.

In 1762, highwayman John Poulter, with five companions, stole items of gold and silver from the Crown Hotel which they took onto London.

In 1766, a ticket on the horse drawn ‘Blandford Flying Machine’ cost twenty-five shillings (£1.25p) and it took two days to travel from Blandford to London.

In 1769, fines were imposed on a number of Blandford householders for throwing filth into the streets.

In 1770, a cockfighting contest was held between the gentlemen of Dorset and Wiltshire in the Red Lion Inn.

In 1771, the Sergeant at Arms and the Clerk were both paid six pence (2.5p) for putting up notices in Blandford warning against throwing fireworks.

In 1773, the population of Blandford was 2097.

In 1776, clockmaker, Henry Ward was born in Blandford. Arguably, he was the finest horologist the County of Dorset has ever produced.

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True Lovers Knot - a Tragic Tale

True Lovers Knot public house describes itself as a traditional inn set in a picturesque Dorset valley in Tarrant Keynston. Yet, this historical hostelry is said to have gained its name from a particularly tragic tale and still to be haunted by a distressed former publican. This publican’s son met and fell in love with the daughter of the local squire. Because the young lad was not from the gentry they decided to keep their relationship secret from her father. Unfortunately, a stable hand saw the two young lovers together and told her father. Set firmly against this friendship the squire made plans to send his daughter away from the district. Not able to face up to life without her boyfriend, the young girl decided to commit suicide and hanged herself from a tree in the village. So upset was the publican’s son of hearing of his girlfriend’s death he too hanged himself from the same tree. The Tarrant Keynston publican had, himself lost his wife at child birth and now losing his s...

Holton Heath's Tragic Explosion

Ten were killed and 23 were injured according to newspaper reports at the time. This made it one of Dorset’s worst ever industrial accidents. Holton Heath employees were blown into unrecognisable fragments necessitating a roll call of the factory’s entire staff before the identities of those killed were identified. Eleven men were originally believed to have been killed but when a roll call was held one turned up. A crimson red plume of acid vapour had towered into the sky resembling the shuddering eruption of a volcano. It was caused by the bursting of a sulphuric acid tank. Close by low buildings vanished and the shock affected houses for 20 miles with roof slates dislodged, ornaments knocked down and windows broken. The sound of the explosion could be heard at Shillingstone some 18 miles away. Closer to the factory, a hoe was wrenched from the hands of a gardener who was flung against a tree. One fortunate employee, Charles Rogers owed his life to having to leave, just before the ...

Tarrant Rushton's Nuclear Secret

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