Category Archives: history

Wool Stealers of Milton Abbas

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

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Christmas Tree Festival 2022

Thanks to Ann Fookes who organised the tree and to Nicky Griffin for decorating it with images of the medieval tiles of St Catherine’s Chapel. This is the contribution from the Milton Abbas Local History Group for this year. There … Continue reading

Posted in history, local history, Medieval history, St Catherine's Chapel | 1 Comment

BALH The British Association for Local History

The Milton Abbas Local History Group has been a member of BALH since January 2022. The link to their website together with the member’s discount code has been at the head of all 10 issues of the member Newsletter this … Continue reading

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The Reredos of Milton Abbey Church

A dissertation by James Bowler at the University of St Andrews has recently come to our notice which is titled ‘The Life and Afterlife of an English Reredos: A Contextual, Restorative and Aesthetic Analysis of the Great Screen of Milton … Continue reading

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What a treasure!

Overseers of the Poor Account Books It is six years ago when I was in Chris Fookes’ shed that I first saw three original Overseers of the Poor Books. They had somehow been saved by the Fookes family of Milton … Continue reading

Posted in Dorset, history, local history, Overseers of the Poor, transcription | 1 Comment

Nicholas Turbeville

One of our members with Milton Abbas ancestors going back the 16th century has discovered that his family were connected to the Turbeville, Horsey, Tregonwell and other high status families. Peter Arnold writes about Nicholas Turbeville: “.. lived at Winterborne … Continue reading

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The Role of the Overseers of the Poor

Following two brilliant presentations to the Milton Abbas Local History Group by members Clive Barnes and John O’Quinn, a number of questions were asked about the Overseers of the Poor of Milton Abbas. The presentations are available on the Members … Continue reading

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Combination Acts 1799 and 1800

The Combination Act of 1799 was an extraordinarily oppressive piece of legislation. After the French revolution it is extraordinary that the Houses of Commons and Lords would risk such an unjust act. There had been acts before against workers in … Continue reading

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Vestry Minute Book

One of our amazing transcribers, Shirley Chick, has just completed the Milton Abbas Vestry Minute Book 1863 – 1924. The original book is in our possession. The resulting 65 page document is now available for our members to research. The … Continue reading

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Walking in History’s Footsteps

Our members, Clive Barnes and Sheila and Peter Arnold have been walking the old roads and tracks of Milton Abbas and compared maps of the 18th century when Joseph Damer, Lord Milton moved the roads to build his landscape.

Posted in Capability Brown, Damer, history, landscape, local history, Milton Abbas | Leave a comment