Category Archives: local history

1787 Payments for labourers

Posted on August 1, 2018 by miltonabbashistorygroup

In the Dorset History Centre there are some bills from 1787 for Milton Abbas estate. These scraps of paper give an insight into the work that was going on, as well as the names of the labourers, and the amount … Continue reading →

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Richard Ham, clock maker of Milton Abbas

Posted on July 16, 2018 by miltonabbashistorygroup

This is the dial of an eight day clock showing that Richard Ham was a clock maker of Milton Abbas. This image was kindly given to us by Tim Marshall author, and he has dated the clock to around 1720. … Continue reading →

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Victorian Paper Cutter

Posted on April 26, 2018 by miltonabbashistorygroup

This paper cutter has a handle of part of of a deer’s leg and is inscribed”Shot at Milton Abbas 1884″. We have never seen anything like it before. Rather a long blade for a practical letter opener, so probably a … Continue reading →

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The Retreat, James Downs, Exeter University

Posted on April 25, 2018 by miltonabbashistorygroup

James Downs has shared his research on Aelred Carlyle at The Retreat, Milton Abbas around 1900. We are hoping that this excellent research will be published in due course. Father Aelred was born Benjamin Fearnley Carlyle (1874–1955), and was a Benedictine … Continue reading →

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Overseers of the Poor

Posted on April 12, 2018 by miltonabbashistorygroup

We are finding many entries which are baffling. For example in 1781 To Barbara Wife of Saml Fiander (Elop’d) – 6 – Mary Ridout Wife of Thos. (Elop’d) – 2 – Martha Vacher Spinster – 4 – Mary Lillington Wd … Continue reading →

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The Tragic Tale of Ann Seager

Posted on March 29, 2018 by miltonabbashistorygroup

We are transcribing the Overseers of the Poor Book  1771 – 1798. Thanks to John Quinn who transcribed these entries for 1777: 12 October Paid for one Pint of gine for Ann Seager 9 Nov Pd. Dockter Mock help taping Ann Seager … Continue reading →

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Robert Fiander sent to prison for poaching

Posted on February 18, 2018 by miltonabbashistorygroup

Thanks to one of our correspondents we have found the Prison Admission Register which shows that Robert Fiander was committed for 3 months at the age of 15 from April to July 1819, for poaching. He was jailed the following … Continue reading →

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Overseers of the Poor 1778

Posted on January 15, 2018 by miltonabbashistorygroup

This entry is mystifying us. It seems to say “Paid the Expences of Crovining and Buring Burgundeys Child she had by John Hobbes £0 16s 7d” There is no such word as “Crovining” in the full Oxford English Dictionary. If … Continue reading →

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The Rise and Fall of Merry England

Posted on December 28, 2017 by miltonabbashistorygroup

This excellent book by Ronald Hutton is a great background to the events in Milton Abbas in the 16th and 17th centuries. It explains a lot of the information in our Churchwardens Books for the 17th century. For example there … Continue reading →

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Lord Milton’s Ad quod Damnum 1763

Posted on October 13, 2017 by miltonabbashistorygroup

This is a small part of this document which is the first in Quarter Sessions Order Book in the Dorset History Centre to show Lord Milton closing some of the roads. Some of the places named are well known to … Continue reading →

Posted in Capability Brown, family history, history, local history, Milton Abbas, Milton Abbey | Tagged , | 1 Comment