Author Archives: miltonabbashistorygroup

The Hilton Controversy 1848

Posted on July 18, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

Thanks to Samantha Fiander for finding some thirteen letters and editorials published in The Times between 26 October and 29 November 1848 concerning the typhus epidemic in Hilton during that year. This search was prompted by the article in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Damer, document, local history, Parish Registers, social history, transcription | Leave a comment

Milton Abbas Grammar School

Posted on July 10, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

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 active in the management of … Continue reading →

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

Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

Posted on July 6, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

The Milton Abbas Local History Group recently have been given some 30 volumes of this publication. They are now available for members to borrow from our library. A catalogue of all the articles is already available online. Most of the … Continue reading →

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

The Place Names of Milton Abbas

Posted on June 8, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

Bryan Phillips’ presentation given to the history group on 7 Jun 2023 is now available for members on this website. The pdf contains the full speaker notes. The MALHG have a spreadsheet of more than 1000 field names contained in … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Saxon, Domesday, landscape, local, local history, Medieval history, Milton Abbas, records | Leave a comment

Dark Days of Georgian Britain

Posted on June 3, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

I have just finished reading this book. I have to say that it was one of the most difficult books I have ever read – not because of its difficulty, erudition or academic depth – but because of the sheer … Continue reading →

Posted in local history, Overseers of the Poor, transcription | Leave a comment

Discover Your Dorset Ancestors

Posted on April 30, 2023 by miltonabbashistorygroup

This book is extraordinarily difficult to find or purchase – it is not even available on Amazon, and it is not in Libraries West Catalogue. Allegedly it can be ordered from Waterstones for £14.95. It is available to buy at … Continue reading →

Posted in books, family history | Leave a comment

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