In 1887, combative Blandford Express newspaper man, James Bartlett was
in court after claiming that school mistress, Elizabeth Cumming had damaged
school property before leaving for another job in London. He lost the case and
had to pay forty pounds in damages together with costs.
Trains on the Somerset & Dorset
railway line were held up by heavy snow falls and men had to go in front of the
engines to clear the snow.
In 1888, the Cottage Hospital moved to its current location.
In 1890, Chamen & Richards wine merchants offered twenty one
shilling (£1.05) Christmas hampers for sale consisting of two bottles of ‘good wine’ and a selection of five
bottles of ‘good spirits’ namely from
port, sherry, brandy, rum, gin, and Irish & Scotch whisky.
In 1891, surgeon dentist Mr C Morgan, who worked in the Market Place,
charged two shillings & sixpence (12.5p)
for a ‘painless’ tooth extraction and
one shilling (5p) for a child’s ‘temporary
tooth’. Rail fares were reimbursed for those that had travelled some
distance.
In the Great March Blizzard, the
town was completely cut off and there were snow drifts up to ten feet deep.
There was no post and the railway stopped.
In 1892, Blandford grocer and founder of the town’s first museum,
Henry Durden died. Upon his death his collection of over 2,000 artefacts was
sold to the British Museum. His son, John continued to run the family’s grocery
business.
Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, passed through Blandford station on his way to a hunting visit to Crichel. During his three day stay 3,300 head of game was shot.
In 1893, Blandford Waterworks Company was formed to supply the town
with clean piped water.
In 1894, a plan was announced to build a railway line from Salisbury
via Sixpenny Handley and Pimperne to Blandford. To be called the Wiltshire,
Dorset & East Devon Line it would journey on to Dorchester, Bridport, Lyme
Regis & Exeter. No doubt due to opposition from large companies such as the
Great Western Railway, it was never built.
In 1895, controversial local land owner, politician and dog lover
Henry Richard Farquarson died. He had a pack of 125 Newfoundland dogs which he had
built up over 25 years. Sadly many died in a savage dog fight.
In 1898, when Durweston brewer Henry Godwin retired he sold his
business to brewers, Hall & Woodhouse.
Comments
Post a Comment