Author Archives: miltonabbashistorygroup

Medieval Peasant Life

Posted on April 18, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

I am writing a series of articles about Milton Abbas during the reign of Edward II 1307 – 1325 and trying to discern what life was like for the people living here 700 years ago. Milton Abbas was a very … Continue reading →

Posted in archaeology, local history, Medieval history, Milton Abbey, social history | Leave a comment

St Catherine’s Chapel

Posted on April 9, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

At our last meeting Helier Exon gave an account of the chapel, including the mystery of when it might have been founded. This presentation will shortly be available on our Member’s Section of the website. There are several myths about … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Saxon, archaeology, local history, Medieval history, St Catherine's Chapel | Leave a comment

Wool Stealers of Milton Abbas

Posted on March 25, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

The following are a huge cast of interrelated characters named by Clive Barnes in his research on the Wool stealers gang of 1836.  Why not find out more about these people and what life, poverty and justice was like in the … Continue reading →

Posted in family history, history, local history, Milton Abbas, records, social history | Leave a comment

The Wool Stealers of Milton Abbas

Posted on March 12, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

Our member Clive Barnes recently gave a presentation on the wool stealers gang. From Milton Abbas James Drake, James Cox, Philip Arnold, James Vatcher and Thomas Cox were charged in 1838 with stealing and receiving wool, wool sacks and sheepskins. … Continue reading →

Posted in family history, local history, Milton Abbas, social history | Leave a comment

The Milton Abbas Pendant

Posted on March 10, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

Thanks to grants from the Street Fair and MATCH and all the personal donations the pendant has now been acquired by the Dorset Museum, and they have released the story to the press, e.g. Daily Telegraph 10 Mar p2. On Wednesday 8 … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Saxon, archaeology, Milton Abbas | Leave a comment

Milton Abbas Grammar School

Posted on February 28, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

Our progress so far – we have collected all the leases for the grammar school in Milton Abbas which are in the Dorset History Centre. These 34 leases from 1616 to 1774 prove that the feoffees of the school were … Continue reading →

Posted in Damer, grammar school, local history, Milton Abbas, transcription | Leave a comment

Justice and Milton Abbas

Posted on February 9, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

Following a recent talk on Dorset Justice of the 17th century a number of questions were raised. The Dorset Record Society book volume 14 ‘Dorset Quarter Session 1625 – 1638’ is a transcription of the earliest surviving Order Book for … Continue reading →

Posted in family history, local history, Old Town of Milton Abbas, Overseers of the Poor, social history | Leave a comment

The Milton Abbas Pendant update

Posted on January 28, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

At a meeting in the Reading Rooms, Milton Abbas, on Tuesday 24 January we were very privileged to hear from Clare Randall, archaeologist, and from Liz Selby, Director of Dorset Museum. The museum is trying to save this important and … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Saxon, archaeology, local history, Milton Abbas | 2 Comments

Milton Abbas Grammar School 1521 – 1929

Posted on January 11, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

This famous and early grammar school was founded by Abbot Walter Myddelton who endowed the school with land at Little Mayne Farm. There was sufficient income to make it a free school for local people. The trustees of the school … Continue reading →

Posted in Damer, grammar school, local history, Old Town of Milton Abbas, records, transcription | Leave a comment

Dorset in the First World War

Posted on January 9, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

One of our members has kindly donated this book, and it had been added to our library, click here to see a list of our books. The information will be informing our World War I research group who are preparing … Continue reading →

Posted in Hambro, local history, Milton Abbas, WWI | Leave a comment