Category Archives: local history

William Woodward – surveyor and map maker

The Milton Abbas Local History Group have used the survey and maps which William Woodward drew up for Lord Milton around 1779. The originals are in the Dorset History Centre D-919/5 and they have an interesting history in themselves, besides … Continue reading

Posted in Damer, local history, Milton Abbas, Old Town of Milton Abbas | 1 Comment

Evidence from local Parish Registers

Turnworth 1747 Whipping boys at Rogationtide perambulations There is a great deal of evidence of how people lived and played in records, sometimes in surprising places. It is always good practise to view the original documents rather that transcriptions by … Continue reading

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The Hilton Controversy 1848

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

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Milton Abbas Grammar School

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

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The Place Names of Milton Abbas

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

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

Medieval Peasant Life

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

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St Catherine’s Chapel

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

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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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The Wool Stealers of Milton Abbas

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

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