NEWS & Search
News
The forthcoming Talk
Richard McConnell
The Weymouth Car Park Dig 2023
Hugh Willmott
This talk, about the Results of the 2024 Dig which is due to take place on Tuesday 5/8/24 at 7:30pm, was announced to attendees at the start of the last Society meeting. In addition, Gordon also emailed the membership, an excerpt of which is shown below:
“We wish to give priority to members of the Cerne Historical Society to attend the talk so yellow tickets, which will only give admission to members, will be available to purchase for cash only from the Village Shop from noon today, Wednesday the 24th July until 6 pm on Wednesday the 31st July. After that it will be possible to buy blue tickets, that will give admittance to members and non-members alike, from the Village Shop.
If you would like to attend the talk but are unable to get to the Village Shop to buy a ticket, please email me straightaway at [email protected] and I will contact you to arrange a way for you to obtain one.”
UPDATE: Tickets are now all sold out, but it is planned that a recording of the Talk will be made and will be edited with Hugh’s Powerpoint for members, who will be able to view the presentation by visiting this page on the CHS webite.
The Historical Society is delighted to welcome back to Cerne, from 14 July 2024 onwards, a team of archaeologists from Sheffield University led by Dr Willmott to carry out four further weeks of excavations in Beauvoir Field.
The excavations will begin on Sunday 14th July and continue until Saturday the 10th August.
The team, helped by volunteer stewards, washers and diggers from the village, will be working every day apart from Saturdays which will be rest and change over days.
Last year’s Dig and the Ground Penetrating Survey which preceded it in 2022 were extremely successful, revealing for the first time since most of the Abbey complex was destroyed in the C16th the locations of the Cloister and the Abbey Church, the centre of the Abbey’s activities.
In 2023 two trenches were dug, the first measuring 10m x 10m over the south east corner of the cloister and the second measuring 3m x 5m to locate the northern side of the abbey church.
2023 Finds included:
Dressed building stone from the Abbey. The stone was mostly Ham stone from
Ham Hill near Yeovil, but with some Purbeck Marble used for decorative work
A medieval grave under the cloister floor containing a male skeleton, possibly one of the Abbots of Cerne Abbey
A small intact portion of decorated tiled floor located inside the north wall of the Abbey Church
Fragments of floor tiles, roof slates and small items of ironmongery
Large numbers of animal bones, mostly pig
Two further trenches are going to be excavated in 2024. The first measuring 8x12m (will be located over the south-western corner of the cloister, where the GPR seems to show that there was a major rebuilding on slightly different footings in this area. It is hoped that this trench will also identify the western end of the monastic church, thus providing further important dimensions for the building. It is also at the west end of the nave that there is the greatest chance of finding evidence for a pre-Conquest church, as demonstrated at nearby Sherborne.
The second trench measuring 7x15m wiil be located to the northeast of the cloister over a range of buildings clearly visible in the GPR survey. The purpose of this trench is to identify their function and ascertain whether there is any evidence for surviving Anglo-Saxon activity in this part of the field.
It promises to be an exciting and fascinating four weeks.
The Guide to the 2024 Dig has been produced by us and will be on sale at the Dig site as well as in the Village Shop. £8
We hope that as many of you as are able will come and visit the Dig. Stewards will be on site to explain what is going on and the history of Abbey. Please walk there if you can or park in Kettle Bridge car park and then walk.
Rob Curtis
Francis Burroughes will present
“The Story of Benjamin Ferrey”, a nineteenth century architect now almost entirely forgotten but who was responsible for building nearly four hundred churches, country houses, town halls, hospitals, and other buildings in the West Country, and laying out the town of Bournemouth.
The next meeting of the Society will be at Cerne Village Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday the 28th March when David Beardsley will give a talk entitled
Formidable Bankes Women.
On his retirement from a career as a teacher and public servant in the education sector David worked as a guide at Kingston Lacy and a researcher for the Bankes Archive for many years. He has just finished a biography of John Ralph Bankes (1937-1996) who could have inherited the Bankes estate! His talk will be about seven contrasting women of the Bankes family of Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacy from the 17th to the 20th centuries who inspired fear and/or respect.
Admission is free to paid-up members and £5 for visitors. Wine and soft drinks will be available at a modest charge before the talk. If you are not a member and would like to join the Society you can do so at the meeting. Alternatively please contact our Treasurer at [email protected]
The subscription is £10 per annum.
The next meeting of the Society will be at Cerne Village Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday the 22nd February when Gordon Bartlet will give a talk entitled “The Rise and Decline of Bournemouth and Pool Tramways”.
This talk is not just about the trams themselves but about the people involved in operating them and the communities served by them. Poole and Bournemouth were radically different societies and these differences were played out when they became connected by what was, then, a state of the art urban transport system. We will also look at what remains today.
Admission is free to paid-up members and £5 for visitors.
Wine and soft drinks will be available at a modest charge before the talk.
Dear Members,
I hope you all had a happy and peaceful Christmas.
Dr Helen Gittos, Associate Professor of Early Medieval History at Oxford University, who is working with Dr Hugh Willmott on research into Cerne Abbas and its Abbey, tells me that an article entitled “The Cerne Giant in its Early Medieval Context”, has recently been written by her and a colleague, Dr Thomas Morcom, regarding the origins of it and the figure(s) it represents. The article is going to be published in an American journal called Speculum on New Year’s Day. Speculum, a quarterly academic journal published by the University of Chicago Press, is widely regarded as the most prestigious journal in medieval studies.
Helen understands that there will be some press coverage about the Speculum piece on 1st and 2nd January – perhaps a piece in the Times on the 1st, on Today on the 1st and then on local BBC on the 2nd, so I thought I should warn you to look out for it.
The article is 38 pages long and we are unable to provide you with a link to it at the moment but hope to be able to do so in due course.
On behalf of the Committee may I wish you a Very Happy and Enjoyable New Year.
Gordon Bishop – Chair
“The Treasure Act and the Portable Antiquities Scheme”
Ciorstaidh Hayward-Trevarthen
Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset
The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary scheme to record archaeological objects found by the public. Every year thousands of objects are discovered, many by metal-detector users, but also by people whilst out walking, gardening or going about their daily work. Such discoveries offer an important source for understanding our past. If recorded, they have the potential to tell us much about the past, such as how and where people lived and the types of object they made and used.
Ciorstaidh Hayward-Trevarthen has been the Finds Liaison Officer for both Dorset and Somerset and operated the Portable Antiquities Scheme on their behalf since 1999. She will tell us about the Scheme and how it works and about some of the interesting objects that have been reported to her during that time.
She has also kindly agreed to look at and try to identify some of the finds that our members have made. So do bring one or two of your finds along if you would like Ciorstaidh to identify them for you.
Membership renewal for 2024
The 2024 programme has now been arranged and membership cards containing it have been printed; the programme will also appear on our website shortly. If you would like to renew your membership for next year, which we very much hope you will do, you will be able to do so either before or after the meeting. The subscription remains at £10 p.a.
Gordon Bishop – Chair
“The Princess and the Slave:
a Tale of Two Women in Iron Age Dorset”
Dr Martin Smith; Bournemouth University
Martin’s talk focusses on the burials of two individuals, both are women who died at a relatively young age but who had lived very different lives and were treated very differently after their deaths…
The modern county of Dorset is home to some of the best preserved and most iconic archaeological remains in Britain. In particular the county is rich in remains from the British Iron Age, including many well preserved human burials, an aspect of the Iron Age which is surprisingly rare throughout much of Britain. Recent research projects by Bournemouth University have uncovered a variety of striking and important finds that are helping to build an ever more detailed and engaging picture of life during this period.
Dr Martin Smith is Associate Professor in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at Bournemouth University where he specialises in the study of human remains ranging from the prehistoric past up to very recent times. He has particular interests in the study of injuries to the skeleton, natural processes affecting the body after death and in the ways past people organised their societies and treated their dead.
Richard’s talk will focus on the impact of the Civil War in Dorset, and how Dorset’s experience compared to other areas. Suffice it to say that, though there were no major battles within the county, it played a very significant part in the war, and its experience typified many of the key aspects of the conflict.
Following the very successful Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey carried out by Dr Willmott and his team of archaeologists from Sheffield University in June 2022 in Beauvoir Field, excavations will be carried out this summer between the 21 July and 13 August.
The excavations will concentrate on the locations of parts of Cerne Abbey revealed by the GPR.
In addition to his team carrying out the excavations, Dr Willmott will be supported by members of the Cerne Historical Society and other residents of Cerne Abbas.
Your Diary of the main events
during the Cerne Abbey Dig.
Thu 20/07 6 pm Blessing in Beauvoir by Bishop of Sherborne
Sat 22/07 Dig starts
Sun 23/07 to Weds 26/07 Dig
Thu 27/07 REST DAY
Thu 27/07 7pm Talk: by Hugh in St Mary’s on the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Fri 28/7 – Tues 01/08 Dig
Weds 02/08 REST DAY
Thurs 03/08 – Mon 07/08 Dig
Mon 07/08 7 pm Presentation in St Mary’s by Monks and Nuns from Mucknell Abbey
Tues 08/08 REST DAY
Tues 08/08 7 pm Talk: by Dig leader, Dr. Hugh Willmott in St Mary’s on Results of the Excavations to date
Weds 09/08 – Sun 13/08 Dig
Sun 13/08 End of dig
Cerne Historical Society
DAY VISIT TO PORTLAND
MONDAY 10th JULY
© Mark Murphy
© Jim Linwood
Dear Members,
We hope you can join us on Monday 10th July when Chris Copson, a military historian and member of the CHS Committee, will be leading a guided tour of a number of interesting military sites around Portland.
Morning: Sandsfoot Castle in Weymouth and Portland Castle.
Both have wonderful views over Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour and were built by Henry VIII between 1539 and 1541 to protect against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire.
Afternoon: A choice of:
(a) accompanying Chris on a guided tour of the Royal Naval Cemetery, which overlooks Portland Harbour, and Verne High Angle Battery, which is close to Verne Citadel, now HMP The Verne.
(b) visiting Nothe Fort, Weymouth’s Historic Sea Fort built between 1860 and 1872, again to protect England against the French. Going to the Naval Cemetery and the Battery will involve a considerable amount of walking, which is why visiting Nothe Fort is offered as an alternative.
Further information about these sites and many others in and around Portland can be found in the excellent Encyclopaedia of Portland History at portlandhistory.co.uk.
Cost Entry to Portland Castle costs £7.50 but is free to members of English Heritage (a group booking should attract a small discount). There is no charge to visit Sandsfoot Castle, Verne Naval Cemetery or Verne High Angle Battery. Entry to Nothe Fort costs £9.95 for adults, £8.50 for over 65s (It is owned by Weymouth Council.
Travel Arrangements The guided tour will start at Sandsfoot Castle at about 10 am. In order to reduce the cost and as access to some of the sites by coach would be difficult, we have decided to use car-sharing to get there as we did to Forde Abbey last year. As there is limited parking at three of the sites we hope that groups of four or more can agree to travel in one car. We will help to arrange that, as explained below.
Refreshments There are cafés at Sandsfoot and Portland Castles and also at Nothe Fort, all of which serve light lunches, e.g. sandwiches and paninis as well as cakes etc and a wide range of drinks.
Booking a place on the guided tour All paid-up members, their spouses and partners are welcome. However, the maximum number that can be accommodated is 26. If more than that number wish to take part, places will be allocated on a first come/first served basis and others will be placed on a waiting list and notified if a place or places become available.
Gordon Bishop – Chair
Revising the Dorset Pevsner
with Michael Hill
22nd June 2023
Cerne Historical Society
DAY VISIT TO PORTLAND
ON MONDAY 10TH JULY
Copyright Mark Murphy
Copyright Jim Linwood
Dear Members,
We hope you can join us on Monday 10th July when Chris Copson, a military historian and member of the CHS Committee, will be leading a guided tour of a number of interesting military sites around Portland. In the morning we will visit Sandsfoot Castle in Weymouth and Portland Castle, both of which have wonderful views over Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour and were built by Henry VIII between 1539 and 1541 to protect against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire.
After lunch you will have a choice of (a) accompanying Chris on a guided tour of the Royal Naval Cemetery, which overlooks Portland Harbour, and Verne High Angle Battery, which is close to Verne Citadel, now HMP The Verne or (b) visiting Nothe Fort, Weymouth’s Historic Sea Fort built between 1860 and 1872, again to protect England against the French. Going to the Naval Cemetery and the Battery will involve a considerable amount of walking, which is why visiting Nothe Fort is offered as an alternative.
Further information about these sites and many others in and around Portland can be found in the excellent Encyclopaedia of Portland History at portlandhistory.co.uk.
Cost Entry to Portland Castle costs £7.50 but is free to members of English Heritage (a group booking should attract a small discount). There is no charge to visit Sandsfoot Castle, Verne Naval Cemetery or Verne High Angle Battery. Entry to Nothe Fort costs £9.95 for adults, £8.50 for over 65s (It is owned by Weymouth Council.
Travel Arrangements The guided tour will start at Sandsfoot Castle at about 10 am. In order to reduce the cost and as access to some of the sites by coach would be difficult, we have decided to use car-sharing to get there as we did to Forde Abbey last year. As there is limited parking at three of the sites we hope that groups of four or more can agree to travel in one car. We will help to arrange that, as explained below.
Refreshments There are cafés at Sandsfoot and Portland Castles and also at Nothe Fort, all of which serve light lunches, e.g. sandwiches and paninis as well as cakes etc and a wide range of drinks.
Booking a place on the guided tour All paid-up members, their spouses and partners are welcome. However, the maximum number that can be accommodated is 26. If more than that number wish to take part, places will be allocated on a first come/first served basis and others will be placed on a waiting list and notified if a place or places become available.
Gordon Bishop – Chair
Visiting Speaker Talk for Cerne Historical Society on the 25 May 2023
Judith Stinton:
Chesil Beach: A Peopled Solitude
‘Judith Stinton has a deserved reputation as one of the most informative and entertaining writers about Dorset. This book will only enhance it.’ [Dorset Life Nov 2021]
Judith explains: “I wrote the book after I realised that, although there are some excellent writings on the geology, and the birds, beasts and flowers of Chesil Beach that other species, the human, has received far less attention. I will be talking – with readings – about a variety of them.
Smuggling and poaching were to be expected, but there have been plenty of goings-on behind the double barrier of Fleet and Chesil – from spies to experimental communities to ballet dancing and hush-hush weapon testing“.
Visiting Speaker Talk for Cerne Historical Society on the 27 April 2023
Studland and Poole Involvement in the build up to
D-Day
Studland was used for the training of the invasion force under ‘Operation Smash’ in 1944 and Poole was the 3rd largest embarkation point for ‘Operation Overlord’. This 70th Anniversary Presentation shows how Studland was involved in the pre D-Day training and how Poole was used in the build-up for the D-Day landings. Also the presentation uses photos of the actual landings on the beaches in Normandy, France.
David Warhurst
David Warhurst was born and lived in Poole for most of his life. He was educated at Poole Grammar School and Bournemouth College. He served his National Service in the RAF. He took up employment in the Government Scientific Service firstly in the laboratory at the Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, then for a short time at the Naval Ordnance Inspection Laboratory at the Royal Naval Propellant Factory in South Wales. He returned to Holton Heath to the Admiralty Materials Laboratory to carry out research into polymeric materials for the MOD for applications for the Navy and he remained there for the rest of his career.
After taking early retirement he continued with his work in the polymer area as a consultant. He is a Chairman and Convener of a number of National (BSI) European (CEN) and International (ISO) standards committees producing standards related to rubber and plastics test methods, products and materials. This responsibility giving also the opportunity to travel to many places throughout the world.
He has written Books on ‘History of the Poole Royal Ordnance Factory’, ‘Poole Defences in WW2- Inside and Outside the Anti-Tank Island’, ‘Poole Air Raids and Air Raid Precautions 1939 – 1945’ ‘Foundries in Poole’ and ‘Poole Mills’.
23 March 2023
Karen Hunt is Professor Emerita of Modern British History at Keele University, UK.
Despite retirement, she remains an active and engaged historian. She has published widely on many aspects of women’s politics (transnational, national and local) and the gendering of politics from the 1880s to the 1930s, including Equivocal Feminists (1996) and Socialist Women (2002, with June Hannam). Her most recent book explores everyday life on a local home front in the Great War (Staffordshire’s War, 2017). She continues to write on the life and politics of the socialist, suffragist and communist Dora Montefiore – a fascinating woman.
One day, Karen swears, Dora will get the biography she deserves.
Since moving to Bridport, Karen has delved deep into the history of the town and the people (particularly the women) who helped shape it.
She was part of creating Bridport Women’s History Group and has just stepped down as Chair Of Bridport Museum Trust, remaining a Trustee.
She produced an exhibition for the Museum in 2018 – Home Front Home – which explored Bridport’s WW1 home front through the lives of 7 women.
She has since written on a range of local topics eg Bridport & slavery; Bridport & refugees; Bridport’s 1st woman town councillor.
Karen continues to uncover and tell new Bridport Stories, some of which you will hear on the 24th March.
CHS All-in-One bound book of the Magazines for 2022-23 currently available to order from John Chalker
On the Parish:
Life in Dorset’s Workhouses
Photo credit the Museum of East Dorset.
23rd February
The Victorian workhouse still inspires powerful images of fear and hardship in the contemporary consciousness – but what evidence do we have that life in “the Union” was really so dire? In this talk, Luke Mouland draws on stories from a number of Dorset’s workhouses to explore this theme and examines how even the design of the building itself was intended to deter the needy from seeking refuge within.
Luke is a freelance genealogist and research consultant based near Sherborne. He founded Kith & Kin Research in 2010 and has undertaken consultancy work for a range of clients, including probate solicitors, authors and the BBC’s hit TV series Who Do You Think You Are? He writes and speaks regularly on topics of local and social history and has recently been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sherborne Museum.
AGM & Party!
26 January 2023 at 7:30pm Village Hall
Thursday 24th November
Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 24th November
Rob Curtis is a retired RAF officer and Blue Badge Tourist Guide.
Turnpikes and Dorset Coaching Days.
This will be a wide-ranging talk following the development of cross-country thoroughfares from tracks to turnpikes. We shall hear how the turnpikes were planned, operated and finally became redundant. We shall also learn about the development of the coaches which used the turnpikes, what it was like to be a passenger on cross-country services, about the horses which pulled the coaches and the coaching inns which supported the whole business of passenger conveyance.
The talk originally planned for the 24th November, The English Civil War in Dorset by Richard Warren, a former master at Sherborne School, will now be given on the 28th September 2023. This Richard Warren is not to be confused with Cerne’s own Richard Warren.
Summer Visit
The Society’s annual outing on Tuesday 12th July will be to Forde Abbey, near Chard. All members and their spouses and partners are welcome. If you haven’t already received details please send an email to [email protected] and they will be sent to you.
Party & Talk
The next meeting of the Society will take place in the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Thursday the 23rd June. The talk on The History of Cricket in Cerne by Den Denness will be preceded by a reception/party which is being held in place of the one which, but for Covid, would have been held after the AGM in January. All paid up members and those who would like to join the Society are warmly invited.
28th April 2022 Cerne Abbas Village Hall 7:30pm
£5 for non-members so why not join for £10 and benefit from free talks?
Dr Frances Eustace is a professional musician and a published academic. Her career in Early Music (Renaissance, Baroque and Classical) playing bassoon and viola da gamba led her further back into earlier music and culture following her move to Henstridge in 2004. This interest resulted in an MA at Bristol followed by a PhD and an inevitable purchase of medieval bagpipes, pipe and tabor, and other instruments.
Dr Frances Eustace will play some of the instruments and talk about them and their cultural significance.
Dr. Ian Denness’s full transcript of the fascinating account of life as a newly appointed school teacher in Cerne School and of Catherine Granvilles Diary 1908-10, may be read here.
24 March 2022 7:30pm
Cerne Abbas Village Hall
Councillor and Ex-Mayor of the town, David has a passionate interest in Dorchester’s colourful past and in particular its many tunnels and interconnected cellars. He has traced first-hand and revealed tunnels used by wine merchants, judges and prisoners and in addition has discovered evidence of subversive activities and intrigue.
He brings images and stories to tell.
Listen to the theories.
Look at the evidence.
Bring your questions!
AGM via Zoom
Follow the link in your Members email
Letter from the CHAIR – October 2021
Meetings
In view of the increasing number of Covid cases in Cerne and the fact that the rate here is apparently now higher than the national average, the CHS Committee has regretfully decided not to hold the meeting and talk next Thursday, the 28th October, live at the Village Hall. Instead it will take place via ZOOM. The Committee particularly regret this decision in view of all the wonderful work the team at the Hall have carried out encouraging people to return there and making it as safe as possible. However because of the increased risk of catching Covid at such a meeting at the moment and the fact that we are able to hold it on Zoom, we think the sensible course is not to use the Hall on this occasion. We very much hope we will be able to return to the Village Hall for the meeting and talk on the 25th November.
A Zoom link by which members can attend the meeting online will be circulated at the beginning of week. You will be able to join the meeting at 7.20 pm and it will begin at 7.30.
New MAGAZINE just released!
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – AUGUST 2021
PRINTED COPIES OF THE CHS MAGAZINE
Over the last 12 months quite a few members have asked me whether it
would be possible to obtain a printed copy of the magazine in addition
to the online version we publish. They have told me they would like to
have a paper copy both to read and to keep. Whilst we have been able to
make a printed version available to a small number who are not able to
read the magazine online, until now we have not had the ability to
produce good quality printed copies at a price which would make selling
them to members viable. However we have now found a printer who would be
able to produce printed copies of the magazine at a price of no more
than £5 each if there is a minimum order of 30. Since it will be a full
colour magazine, well printed on good quality paper I believe that is a
very reasonable price; further the higher the number ordered the
cheaper the price would be.
Can you let me know as soon as possible, at the email address below,
if you would be interested in ordering a printed copy of the Autumn
issue of the magazine, which will be published on about the 10th
September, if it were available at a price of £5 or less, plus delivery
if you do not live in Cerne. If we receive confirmed orders of 30 or
more by the end of August I will arrange for that number to be printed
and delivered.
Please also let me know if you would be interested in obtaining
printed copies of previous issues of the magazine and, if so, which
issues you would like. If we receive confirmed orders for 30 or more
specific past issues we will be able to get those printed as well.
Gordon Bishop
18th August 2021
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
Membership Renewal Reminder.
If you have already paid your
membership for 2020, it is also valid for the 2021 season. If not, it
needs to be renewed through our Treasurer, John Chalker. John may be
contacted direct or via the Contact Us Form on this website.
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – Spring 2021
Cancellation of Spring 2021 Meetings
Regrettably, we have had no alternative but to cancel the meetings
and talks which were to take place during the Spring of 2021. We are
planning to replace them with Zoom talks, or arrange them for next year.
Online magazine
The next issue of our online magazine will be published in June. It
will contain more fascinating articles about Cerne Abbas and the
surrounding area, so be sure not to miss it.
We are always looking for new topics for articles, and writers. So
please send us your ideas and any articles you have written which may be
suitable. Also are there any features you would like the magazine to
have which are missing at the moment and do you have any interesting
photos that you would like published?
Do keep safe and well
Gordon Bishop
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
News
Revising the Dorset Pevsner
with Michael Hill
22nd June 2023
Cerne Historical Society
DAY VISIT TO PORTLAND
ON MONDAY 10TH JULY
Copyright Mark Murphy
Copyright Jim Linwood
Dear Members,
We hope you can join us on Monday 10th July when Chris Copson, a military historian and member of the CHS Committee, will be leading a guided tour of a number of interesting military sites around Portland. In the morning we will visit Sandsfoot Castle in Weymouth and Portland Castle, both of which have wonderful views over Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour and were built by Henry VIII between 1539 and 1541 to protect against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire.
After lunch you will have a choice of (a) accompanying Chris on a guided tour of the Royal Naval Cemetery, which overlooks Portland Harbour, and Verne High Angle Battery, which is close to Verne Citadel, now HMP The Verne or (b) visiting Nothe Fort, Weymouth’s Historic Sea Fort built between 1860 and 1872, again to protect England against the French. Going to the Naval Cemetery and the Battery will involve a considerable amount of walking, which is why visiting Nothe Fort is offered as an alternative.
Further information about these sites and many others in and around Portland can be found in the excellent Encyclopaedia of Portland History at portlandhistory.co.uk.
Cost Entry to Portland Castle costs £7.50 but is free to members of English Heritage (a group booking should attract a small discount). There is no charge to visit Sandsfoot Castle, Verne Naval Cemetery or Verne High Angle Battery. Entry to Nothe Fort costs £9.95 for adults, £8.50 for over 65s (It is owned by Weymouth Council.
Travel Arrangements The guided tour will start at Sandsfoot Castle at about 10 am. In order to reduce the cost and as access to some of the sites by coach would be difficult, we have decided to use car-sharing to get there as we did to Forde Abbey last year. As there is limited parking at three of the sites we hope that groups of four or more can agree to travel in one car. We will help to arrange that, as explained below.
Refreshments There are cafés at Sandsfoot and Portland Castles and also at Nothe Fort, all of which serve light lunches, e.g. sandwiches and paninis as well as cakes etc and a wide range of drinks.
Booking a place on the guided tour All paid-up members, their spouses and partners are welcome. However, the maximum number that can be accommodated is 26. If more than that number wish to take part, places will be allocated on a first come/first served basis and others will be placed on a waiting list and notified if a place or places become available.
Gordon Bishop – Chair
Visiting Speaker Talk for Cerne Historical Society on the 25 May 2023
Judith Stinton:
Chesil Beach: A Peopled Solitude
‘Judith Stinton has a deserved reputation as one of the most informative and entertaining writers about Dorset. This book will only enhance it.’ [Dorset Life Nov 2021]
Judith explains: “I wrote the book after I realised that, although there are some excellent writings on the geology, and the birds, beasts and flowers of Chesil Beach that other species, the human, has received far less attention. I will be talking – with readings – about a variety of them.
Smuggling and poaching were to be expected, but there have been plenty of goings-on behind the double barrier of Fleet and Chesil – from spies to experimental communities to ballet dancing and hush-hush weapon testing“.
Visiting Speaker Talk for Cerne Historical Society on the 27 April 2023
Studland and Poole Involvement in the build up to
D-Day
Studland was used for the training of the invasion force under ‘Operation Smash’ in 1944 and Poole was the 3rd largest embarkation point for ‘Operation Overlord’. This 70th Anniversary Presentation shows how Studland was involved in the pre D-Day training and how Poole was used in the build-up for the D-Day landings. Also the presentation uses photos of the actual landings on the beaches in Normandy, France.
David Warhurst
David Warhurst was born and lived in Poole for most of his life. He was educated at Poole Grammar School and Bournemouth College. He served his National Service in the RAF. He took up employment in the Government Scientific Service firstly in the laboratory at the Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, then for a short time at the Naval Ordnance Inspection Laboratory at the Royal Naval Propellant Factory in South Wales. He returned to Holton Heath to the Admiralty Materials Laboratory to carry out research into polymeric materials for the MOD for applications for the Navy and he remained there for the rest of his career.
After taking early retirement he continued with his work in the polymer area as a consultant. He is a Chairman and Convener of a number of National (BSI) European (CEN) and International (ISO) standards committees producing standards related to rubber and plastics test methods, products and materials. This responsibility giving also the opportunity to travel to many places throughout the world.
He has written Books on ‘History of the Poole Royal Ordnance Factory’, ‘Poole Defences in WW2- Inside and Outside the Anti-Tank Island’, ‘Poole Air Raids and Air Raid Precautions 1939 – 1945’ ‘Foundries in Poole’ and ‘Poole Mills’.
23 March 2023
Karen Hunt is Professor Emerita of Modern British History at Keele University, UK.
Despite retirement, she remains an active and engaged historian. She has published widely on many aspects of women’s politics (transnational, national and local) and the gendering of politics from the 1880s to the 1930s, including Equivocal Feminists (1996) and Socialist Women (2002, with June Hannam). Her most recent book explores everyday life on a local home front in the Great War (Staffordshire’s War, 2017). She continues to write on the life and politics of the socialist, suffragist and communist Dora Montefiore – a fascinating woman.
One day, Karen swears, Dora will get the biography she deserves.
Since moving to Bridport, Karen has delved deep into the history of the town and the people (particularly the women) who helped shape it.
She was part of creating Bridport Women’s History Group and has just stepped down as Chair Of Bridport Museum Trust, remaining a Trustee.
She produced an exhibition for the Museum in 2018 – Home Front Home – which explored Bridport’s WW1 home front through the lives of 7 women.
She has since written on a range of local topics eg Bridport & slavery; Bridport & refugees; Bridport’s 1st woman town councillor.
Karen continues to uncover and tell new Bridport Stories, some of which you will hear on the 24th March.
CHS All-in-One bound book of the Magazines for 2022-23 currently available to order from John Chalker
On the Parish:
Life in Dorset’s Workhouses
Photo credit the Museum of East Dorset.
23rd February
The Victorian workhouse still inspires powerful images of fear and hardship in the contemporary consciousness – but what evidence do we have that life in “the Union” was really so dire? In this talk, Luke Mouland draws on stories from a number of Dorset’s workhouses to explore this theme and examines how even the design of the building itself was intended to deter the needy from seeking refuge within.
Luke is a freelance genealogist and research consultant based near Sherborne. He founded Kith & Kin Research in 2010 and has undertaken consultancy work for a range of clients, including probate solicitors, authors and the BBC’s hit TV series Who Do You Think You Are? He writes and speaks regularly on topics of local and social history and has recently been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sherborne Museum.
AGM & Party!
26 January 2023 at 7:30pm Village Hall
Thursday 24th November
Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 24th November
Rob Curtis is a retired RAF officer and Blue Badge Tourist Guide.
Turnpikes and Dorset Coaching Days.
This will be a wide-ranging talk following the development of cross-country thoroughfares from tracks to turnpikes. We shall hear how the turnpikes were planned, operated and finally became redundant. We shall also learn about the development of the coaches which used the turnpikes, what it was like to be a passenger on cross-country services, about the horses which pulled the coaches and the coaching inns which supported the whole business of passenger conveyance.
The talk originally planned for the 24th November, The English Civil War in Dorset by Richard Warren, a former master at Sherborne School, will now be given on the 28th September 2023. This Richard Warren is not to be confused with Cerne’s own Richard Warren.
Summer Visit
The Society’s annual outing on Tuesday 12th July will be to Forde Abbey, near Chard. All members and their spouses and partners are welcome. If you haven’t already received details please send an email to [email protected] and they will be sent to you.
Party & Talk
The next meeting of the Society will take place in the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Thursday the 23rd June. The talk on The History of Cricket in Cerne by Den Denness will be preceded by a reception/party which is being held in place of the one which, but for Covid, would have been held after the AGM in January. All paid up members and those who would like to join the Society are warmly invited.
28th April 2022 Cerne Abbas Village Hall 7:30pm
£5 for non-members so why not join for £10 and benefit from free talks?
Dr Frances Eustace is a professional musician and a published academic. Her career in Early Music (Renaissance, Baroque and Classical) playing bassoon and viola da gamba led her further back into earlier music and culture following her move to Henstridge in 2004. This interest resulted in an MA at Bristol followed by a PhD and an inevitable purchase of medieval bagpipes, pipe and tabor, and other instruments.
Dr Frances Eustace will play some of the instruments and talk about them and their cultural significance.
Dr. Ian Denness’s full transcript of the fascinating account of life as a newly appointed school teacher in Cerne School and of Catherine Granvilles Diary 1908-10, may be read here.
24 March 2022 7:30pm
Cerne Abbas Village Hall
Councillor and Ex-Mayor of the town, David has a passionate interest in Dorchester’s colourful past and in particular its many tunnels and interconnected cellars. He has traced first-hand and revealed tunnels used by wine merchants, judges and prisoners and in addition has discovered evidence of subversive activities and intrigue.
He brings images and stories to tell.
Listen to the theories.
Look at the evidence.
Bring your questions!
AGM via Zoom
Follow the link in your Members email
Letter from the CHAIR – October 2021
Meetings
In view of the increasing number of Covid cases in Cerne and the fact that the rate here is apparently now higher than the national average, the CHS Committee has regretfully decided not to hold the meeting and talk next Thursday, the 28th October, live at the Village Hall. Instead it will take place via ZOOM. The Committee particularly regret this decision in view of all the wonderful work the team at the Hall have carried out encouraging people to return there and making it as safe as possible. However because of the increased risk of catching Covid at such a meeting at the moment and the fact that we are able to hold it on Zoom, we think the sensible course is not to use the Hall on this occasion. We very much hope we will be able to return to the Village Hall for the meeting and talk on the 25th November.
A Zoom link by which members can attend the meeting online will be circulated at the beginning of week. You will be able to join the meeting at 7.20 pm and it will begin at 7.30.
New MAGAZINE just released!
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – AUGUST 2021
PRINTED COPIES OF THE CHS MAGAZINE
Over the last 12 months quite a few members have asked me whether it
would be possible to obtain a printed copy of the magazine in addition
to the online version we publish. They have told me they would like to
have a paper copy both to read and to keep. Whilst we have been able to
make a printed version available to a small number who are not able to
read the magazine online, until now we have not had the ability to
produce good quality printed copies at a price which would make selling
them to members viable. However we have now found a printer who would be
able to produce printed copies of the magazine at a price of no more
than £5 each if there is a minimum order of 30. Since it will be a full
colour magazine, well printed on good quality paper I believe that is a
very reasonable price; further the higher the number ordered the
cheaper the price would be.
Can you let me know as soon as possible, at the email address below,
if you would be interested in ordering a printed copy of the Autumn
issue of the magazine, which will be published on about the 10th
September, if it were available at a price of £5 or less, plus delivery
if you do not live in Cerne. If we receive confirmed orders of 30 or
more by the end of August I will arrange for that number to be printed
and delivered.
Please also let me know if you would be interested in obtaining
printed copies of previous issues of the magazine and, if so, which
issues you would like. If we receive confirmed orders for 30 or more
specific past issues we will be able to get those printed as well.
Gordon Bishop
18th August 2021
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
Membership Renewal Reminder.
If you have already paid your
membership for 2020, it is also valid for the 2021 season. If not, it
needs to be renewed through our Treasurer, John Chalker. John may be
contacted direct or via the Contact Us Form on this website.
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – Spring 2021
Cancellation of Spring 2021 Meetings
Regrettably, we have had no alternative but to cancel the meetings
and talks which were to take place during the Spring of 2021. We are
planning to replace them with Zoom talks, or arrange them for next year.
Online magazine
The next issue of our online magazine will be published in June. It
will contain more fascinating articles about Cerne Abbas and the
surrounding area, so be sure not to miss it.
We are always looking for new topics for articles, and writers. So
please send us your ideas and any articles you have written which may be
suitable. Also are there any features you would like the magazine to
have which are missing at the moment and do you have any interesting
photos that you would like published?
Do keep safe and well
Gordon Bishop
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
News
Visiting Speaker Talk for Cerne Historical Society on the 25 May 2023
Studland and Poole Involvement in the build up to
D-Day
Studland was used for the training of the invasion force under ‘Operation Smash’ in 1944 and Poole was the 3rd largest embarkation point for ‘Operation Overlord’. This 70th Anniversary Presentation shows how Studland was involved in the pre D-Day training and how Poole was used in the build-up for the D-Day landings. Also the presentation uses photos of the actual landings on the beaches in Normandy, France.
David Warhurst
David Warhurst was born and lived in Poole for most of his life. He was educated at Poole Grammar School and Bournemouth College. He served his National Service in the RAF. He took up employment in the Government Scientific Service firstly in the laboratory at the Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, then for a short time at the Naval Ordnance Inspection Laboratory at the Royal Naval Propellant Factory in South Wales. He returned to Holton Heath to the Admiralty Materials Laboratory to carry out research into polymeric materials for the MOD for applications for the Navy and he remained there for the rest of his career.
After taking early retirement he continued with his work in the polymer area as a consultant. He is a Chairman and Convener of a number of National (BSI) European (CEN) and International (ISO) standards committees producing standards related to rubber and plastics test methods, products and materials. This responsibility giving also the opportunity to travel to many places throughout the world.
He has written Books on ‘History of the Poole Royal Ordnance Factory’, ‘Poole Defences in WW2- Inside and Outside the Anti-Tank Island’, ‘Poole Air Raids and Air Raid Precautions 1939 – 1945’ ‘Foundries in Poole’ and ‘Poole Mills’.
23 March 2023
Karen Hunt is Professor Emerita of Modern British History at Keele University, UK.
Despite retirement, she remains an active and engaged historian. She has published widely on many aspects of women’s politics (transnational, national and local) and the gendering of politics from the 1880s to the 1930s, including Equivocal Feminists (1996) and Socialist Women (2002, with June Hannam). Her most recent book explores everyday life on a local home front in the Great War (Staffordshire’s War, 2017). She continues to write on the life and politics of the socialist, suffragist and communist Dora Montefiore – a fascinating woman.
One day, Karen swears, Dora will get the biography she deserves.
Since moving to Bridport, Karen has delved deep into the history of the town and the people (particularly the women) who helped shape it.
She was part of creating Bridport Women’s History Group and has just stepped down as Chair Of Bridport Museum Trust, remaining a Trustee.
She produced an exhibition for the Museum in 2018 – Home Front Home – which explored Bridport’s WW1 home front through the lives of 7 women.
She has since written on a range of local topics eg Bridport & slavery; Bridport & refugees; Bridport’s 1st woman town councillor.
Karen continues to uncover and tell new Bridport Stories, some of which you will hear on the 24th March.
CHS All-in-One bound book of the Magazines for 2022-23 currently available to order from John Chalker
On the Parish:
Life in Dorset’s Workhouses
Photo credit the Museum of East Dorset.
23rd February
The Victorian workhouse still inspires powerful images of fear and hardship in the contemporary consciousness – but what evidence do we have that life in “the Union” was really so dire? In this talk, Luke Mouland draws on stories from a number of Dorset’s workhouses to explore this theme and examines how even the design of the building itself was intended to deter the needy from seeking refuge within.
Luke is a freelance genealogist and research consultant based near Sherborne. He founded Kith & Kin Research in 2010 and has undertaken consultancy work for a range of clients, including probate solicitors, authors and the BBC’s hit TV series Who Do You Think You Are? He writes and speaks regularly on topics of local and social history and has recently been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sherborne Museum.
AGM & Party!
26 January 2023 at 7:30pm Village Hall
Thursday 24th November
Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 24th November
Rob Curtis is a retired RAF officer and Blue Badge Tourist Guide.
Turnpikes and Dorset Coaching Days.
This will be a wide-ranging talk following the development of cross-country thoroughfares from tracks to turnpikes. We shall hear how the turnpikes were planned, operated and finally became redundant. We shall also learn about the development of the coaches which used the turnpikes, what it was like to be a passenger on cross-country services, about the horses which pulled the coaches and the coaching inns which supported the whole business of passenger conveyance.
The talk originally planned for the 24th November, The English Civil War in Dorset by Richard Warren, a former master at Sherborne School, will now be given on the 28th September 2023. This Richard Warren is not to be confused with Cerne’s own Richard Warren.
Summer Visit
The Society’s annual outing on Tuesday 12th July will be to Forde Abbey, near Chard. All members and their spouses and partners are welcome. If you haven’t already received details please send an email to [email protected] and they will be sent to you.
Party & Talk
The next meeting of the Society will take place in the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Thursday the 23rd June. The talk on The History of Cricket in Cerne by Den Denness will be preceded by a reception/party which is being held in place of the one which, but for Covid, would have been held after the AGM in January. All paid up members and those who would like to join the Society are warmly invited.
28th April 2022 Cerne Abbas Village Hall 7:30pm
£5 for non-members so why not join for £10 and benefit from free talks?
Dr Frances Eustace is a professional musician and a published academic. Her career in Early Music (Renaissance, Baroque and Classical) playing bassoon and viola da gamba led her further back into earlier music and culture following her move to Henstridge in 2004. This interest resulted in an MA at Bristol followed by a PhD and an inevitable purchase of medieval bagpipes, pipe and tabor, and other instruments.
Dr Frances Eustace will play some of the instruments and talk about them and their cultural significance.
Dr. Ian Denness’s full transcript of the fascinating account of life as a newly appointed school teacher in Cerne School and of Catherine Granvilles Diary 1908-10, may be read here.
24 March 2022 7:30pm
Cerne Abbas Village Hall
Councillor and Ex-Mayor of the town, David has a passionate interest in Dorchester’s colourful past and in particular its many tunnels and interconnected cellars. He has traced first-hand and revealed tunnels used by wine merchants, judges and prisoners and in addition has discovered evidence of subversive activities and intrigue.
He brings images and stories to tell.
Listen to the theories.
Look at the evidence.
Bring your questions!
AGM via Zoom
Follow the link in your Members email
Letter from the CHAIR – October 2021
Meetings
In view of the increasing number of Covid cases in Cerne and the fact that the rate here is apparently now higher than the national average, the CHS Committee has regretfully decided not to hold the meeting and talk next Thursday, the 28th October, live at the Village Hall. Instead it will take place via ZOOM. The Committee particularly regret this decision in view of all the wonderful work the team at the Hall have carried out encouraging people to return there and making it as safe as possible. However because of the increased risk of catching Covid at such a meeting at the moment and the fact that we are able to hold it on Zoom, we think the sensible course is not to use the Hall on this occasion. We very much hope we will be able to return to the Village Hall for the meeting and talk on the 25th November.
A Zoom link by which members can attend the meeting online will be circulated at the beginning of week. You will be able to join the meeting at 7.20 pm and it will begin at 7.30.
New MAGAZINE just released!
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – AUGUST 2021
PRINTED COPIES OF THE CHS MAGAZINE
Over the last 12 months quite a few members have asked me whether it
would be possible to obtain a printed copy of the magazine in addition
to the online version we publish. They have told me they would like to
have a paper copy both to read and to keep. Whilst we have been able to
make a printed version available to a small number who are not able to
read the magazine online, until now we have not had the ability to
produce good quality printed copies at a price which would make selling
them to members viable. However we have now found a printer who would be
able to produce printed copies of the magazine at a price of no more
than £5 each if there is a minimum order of 30. Since it will be a full
colour magazine, well printed on good quality paper I believe that is a
very reasonable price; further the higher the number ordered the
cheaper the price would be.
Can you let me know as soon as possible, at the email address below,
if you would be interested in ordering a printed copy of the Autumn
issue of the magazine, which will be published on about the 10th
September, if it were available at a price of £5 or less, plus delivery
if you do not live in Cerne. If we receive confirmed orders of 30 or
more by the end of August I will arrange for that number to be printed
and delivered.
Please also let me know if you would be interested in obtaining
printed copies of previous issues of the magazine and, if so, which
issues you would like. If we receive confirmed orders for 30 or more
specific past issues we will be able to get those printed as well.
Gordon Bishop
18th August 2021
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
Membership Renewal Reminder.
If you have already paid your
membership for 2020, it is also valid for the 2021 season. If not, it
needs to be renewed through our Treasurer, John Chalker. John may be
contacted direct or via the Contact Us Form on this website.
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – Spring 2021
Cancellation of Spring 2021 Meetings
Regrettably, we have had no alternative but to cancel the meetings
and talks which were to take place during the Spring of 2021. We are
planning to replace them with Zoom talks, or arrange them for next year.
Online magazine
The next issue of our online magazine will be published in June. It
will contain more fascinating articles about Cerne Abbas and the
surrounding area, so be sure not to miss it.
We are always looking for new topics for articles, and writers. So
please send us your ideas and any articles you have written which may be
suitable. Also are there any features you would like the magazine to
have which are missing at the moment and do you have any interesting
photos that you would like published?
Do keep safe and well
Gordon Bishop
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
News
Visiting Speaker Talk for Cerne Historical Society on the 25 May 2023
Studland and Poole Involvement in the build up to
D-Day
Studland was used for the training of the invasion force under ‘Operation Smash’ in 1944 and Poole was the 3rd largest embarkation point for ‘Operation Overlord’. This 70th Anniversary Presentation shows how Studland was involved in the pre D-Day training and how Poole was used in the build-up for the D-Day landings. Also the presentation uses photos of the actual landings on the beaches in Normandy, France.
David Warhurst
David Warhurst was born and lived in Poole for most of his life. He was educated at Poole Grammar School and Bournemouth College. He served his National Service in the RAF. He took up employment in the Government Scientific Service firstly in the laboratory at the Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, then for a short time at the Naval Ordnance Inspection Laboratory at the Royal Naval Propellant Factory in South Wales. He returned to Holton Heath to the Admiralty Materials Laboratory to carry out research into polymeric materials for the MOD for applications for the Navy and he remained there for the rest of his career.
After taking early retirement he continued with his work in the polymer area as a consultant. He is a Chairman and Convener of a number of National (BSI) European (CEN) and International (ISO) standards committees producing standards related to rubber and plastics test methods, products and materials. This responsibility giving also the opportunity to travel to many places throughout the world.
He has written Books on ‘History of the Poole Royal Ordnance Factory’, ‘Poole Defences in WW2- Inside and Outside the Anti-Tank Island’, ‘Poole Air Raids and Air Raid Precautions 1939 – 1945’ ‘Foundries in Poole’ and ‘Poole Mills’.
23 March 2023
Karen Hunt is Professor Emerita of Modern British History at Keele University, UK.
Despite retirement, she remains an active and engaged historian. She has published widely on many aspects of women’s politics (transnational, national and local) and the gendering of politics from the 1880s to the 1930s, including Equivocal Feminists (1996) and Socialist Women (2002, with June Hannam). Her most recent book explores everyday life on a local home front in the Great War (Staffordshire’s War, 2017). She continues to write on the life and politics of the socialist, suffragist and communist Dora Montefiore – a fascinating woman.
One day, Karen swears, Dora will get the biography she deserves.
Since moving to Bridport, Karen has delved deep into the history of the town and the people (particularly the women) who helped shape it.
She was part of creating Bridport Women’s History Group and has just stepped down as Chair Of Bridport Museum Trust, remaining a Trustee.
She produced an exhibition for the Museum in 2018 – Home Front Home – which explored Bridport’s WW1 home front through the lives of 7 women.
She has since written on a range of local topics eg Bridport & slavery; Bridport & refugees; Bridport’s 1st woman town councillor.
Karen continues to uncover and tell new Bridport Stories, some of which you will hear on the 24th March.
CHS All-in-One bound book of the Magazines for 2022-23 currently available to order from John Chalker
On the Parish:
Life in Dorset’s Workhouses
Photo credit the Museum of East Dorset.
23rd February
The Victorian workhouse still inspires powerful images of fear and hardship in the contemporary consciousness – but what evidence do we have that life in “the Union” was really so dire? In this talk, Luke Mouland draws on stories from a number of Dorset’s workhouses to explore this theme and examines how even the design of the building itself was intended to deter the needy from seeking refuge within.
Luke is a freelance genealogist and research consultant based near Sherborne. He founded Kith & Kin Research in 2010 and has undertaken consultancy work for a range of clients, including probate solicitors, authors and the BBC’s hit TV series Who Do You Think You Are? He writes and speaks regularly on topics of local and social history and has recently been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sherborne Museum.
AGM & Party!
26 January 2023 at 7:30pm Village Hall
Thursday 24th November
Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 24th November
Rob Curtis is a retired RAF officer and Blue Badge Tourist Guide.
Turnpikes and Dorset Coaching Days.
This will be a wide-ranging talk following the development of cross-country thoroughfares from tracks to turnpikes. We shall hear how the turnpikes were planned, operated and finally became redundant. We shall also learn about the development of the coaches which used the turnpikes, what it was like to be a passenger on cross-country services, about the horses which pulled the coaches and the coaching inns which supported the whole business of passenger conveyance.
The talk originally planned for the 24th November, The English Civil War in Dorset by Richard Warren, a former master at Sherborne School, will now be given on the 28th September 2023. This Richard Warren is not to be confused with Cerne’s own Richard Warren.
Summer Visit
The Society’s annual outing on Tuesday 12th July will be to Forde Abbey, near Chard. All members and their spouses and partners are welcome. If you haven’t already received details please send an email to [email protected] and they will be sent to you.
Party & Talk
The next meeting of the Society will take place in the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Thursday the 23rd June. The talk on The History of Cricket in Cerne by Den Denness will be preceded by a reception/party which is being held in place of the one which, but for Covid, would have been held after the AGM in January. All paid up members and those who would like to join the Society are warmly invited.
28th April 2022 Cerne Abbas Village Hall 7:30pm
£5 for non-members so why not join for £10 and benefit from free talks?
Dr Frances Eustace is a professional musician and a published academic. Her career in Early Music (Renaissance, Baroque and Classical) playing bassoon and viola da gamba led her further back into earlier music and culture following her move to Henstridge in 2004. This interest resulted in an MA at Bristol followed by a PhD and an inevitable purchase of medieval bagpipes, pipe and tabor, and other instruments.
Dr Frances Eustace will play some of the instruments and talk about them and their cultural significance.
Dr. Ian Denness’s full transcript of the fascinating account of life as a newly appointed school teacher in Cerne School and of Catherine Granvilles Diary 1908-10, may be read here.
24 March 2022 7:30pm
Cerne Abbas Village Hall
Councillor and Ex-Mayor of the town, David has a passionate interest in Dorchester’s colourful past and in particular its many tunnels and interconnected cellars. He has traced first-hand and revealed tunnels used by wine merchants, judges and prisoners and in addition has discovered evidence of subversive activities and intrigue.
He brings images and stories to tell.
Listen to the theories.
Look at the evidence.
Bring your questions!
AGM via Zoom
Follow the link in your Members email
Letter from the CHAIR – October 2021
Meetings
In view of the increasing number of Covid cases in Cerne and the fact that the rate here is apparently now higher than the national average, the CHS Committee has regretfully decided not to hold the meeting and talk next Thursday, the 28th October, live at the Village Hall. Instead it will take place via ZOOM. The Committee particularly regret this decision in view of all the wonderful work the team at the Hall have carried out encouraging people to return there and making it as safe as possible. However because of the increased risk of catching Covid at such a meeting at the moment and the fact that we are able to hold it on Zoom, we think the sensible course is not to use the Hall on this occasion. We very much hope we will be able to return to the Village Hall for the meeting and talk on the 25th November.
A Zoom link by which members can attend the meeting online will be circulated at the beginning of week. You will be able to join the meeting at 7.20 pm and it will begin at 7.30.
New MAGAZINE just released!
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – AUGUST 2021
PRINTED COPIES OF THE CHS MAGAZINE
Over the last 12 months quite a few members have asked me whether it
would be possible to obtain a printed copy of the magazine in addition
to the online version we publish. They have told me they would like to
have a paper copy both to read and to keep. Whilst we have been able to
make a printed version available to a small number who are not able to
read the magazine online, until now we have not had the ability to
produce good quality printed copies at a price which would make selling
them to members viable. However we have now found a printer who would be
able to produce printed copies of the magazine at a price of no more
than £5 each if there is a minimum order of 30. Since it will be a full
colour magazine, well printed on good quality paper I believe that is a
very reasonable price; further the higher the number ordered the
cheaper the price would be.
Can you let me know as soon as possible, at the email address below,
if you would be interested in ordering a printed copy of the Autumn
issue of the magazine, which will be published on about the 10th
September, if it were available at a price of £5 or less, plus delivery
if you do not live in Cerne. If we receive confirmed orders of 30 or
more by the end of August I will arrange for that number to be printed
and delivered.
Please also let me know if you would be interested in obtaining
printed copies of previous issues of the magazine and, if so, which
issues you would like. If we receive confirmed orders for 30 or more
specific past issues we will be able to get those printed as well.
Gordon Bishop
18th August 2021
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
Membership Renewal Reminder.
If you have already paid your
membership for 2020, it is also valid for the 2021 season. If not, it
needs to be renewed through our Treasurer, John Chalker. John may be
contacted direct or via the Contact Us Form on this website.
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – Spring 2021
Cancellation of Spring 2021 Meetings
Regrettably, we have had no alternative but to cancel the meetings
and talks which were to take place during the Spring of 2021. We are
planning to replace them with Zoom talks, or arrange them for next year.
Online magazine
The next issue of our online magazine will be published in June. It
will contain more fascinating articles about Cerne Abbas and the
surrounding area, so be sure not to miss it.
We are always looking for new topics for articles, and writers. So
please send us your ideas and any articles you have written which may be
suitable. Also are there any features you would like the magazine to
have which are missing at the moment and do you have any interesting
photos that you would like published?
Do keep safe and well
Gordon Bishop
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
News
Visiting Speaker Talk for Cerne Historical Society on the 25 May 2023
Studland and Poole Involvement in the build up to
D-Day
Studland was used for the training of the invasion force under ‘Operation Smash’ in 1944 and Poole was the 3rd largest embarkation point for ‘Operation Overlord’. This 70th Anniversary Presentation shows how Studland was involved in the pre D-Day training and how Poole was used in the build-up for the D-Day landings. Also the presentation uses photos of the actual landings on the beaches in Normandy, France.
David Warhurst
David Warhurst was born and lived in Poole for most of his life. He was educated at Poole Grammar School and Bournemouth College. He served his National Service in the RAF. He took up employment in the Government Scientific Service firstly in the laboratory at the Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, then for a short time at the Naval Ordnance Inspection Laboratory at the Royal Naval Propellant Factory in South Wales. He returned to Holton Heath to the Admiralty Materials Laboratory to carry out research into polymeric materials for the MOD for applications for the Navy and he remained there for the rest of his career.
After taking early retirement he continued with his work in the polymer area as a consultant. He is a Chairman and Convener of a number of National (BSI) European (CEN) and International (ISO) standards committees producing standards related to rubber and plastics test methods, products and materials. This responsibility giving also the opportunity to travel to many places throughout the world.
He has written Books on ‘History of the Poole Royal Ordnance Factory’, ‘Poole Defences in WW2- Inside and Outside the Anti-Tank Island’, ‘Poole Air Raids and Air Raid Precautions 1939 – 1945’ ‘Foundries in Poole’ and ‘Poole Mills’.
23 March 2023
Karen Hunt is Professor Emerita of Modern British History at Keele University, UK.
Despite retirement, she remains an active and engaged historian. She has published widely on many aspects of women’s politics (transnational, national and local) and the gendering of politics from the 1880s to the 1930s, including Equivocal Feminists (1996) and Socialist Women (2002, with June Hannam). Her most recent book explores everyday life on a local home front in the Great War (Staffordshire’s War, 2017). She continues to write on the life and politics of the socialist, suffragist and communist Dora Montefiore – a fascinating woman.
One day, Karen swears, Dora will get the biography she deserves.
Since moving to Bridport, Karen has delved deep into the history of the town and the people (particularly the women) who helped shape it.
She was part of creating Bridport Women’s History Group and has just stepped down as Chair Of Bridport Museum Trust, remaining a Trustee.
She produced an exhibition for the Museum in 2018 – Home Front Home – which explored Bridport’s WW1 home front through the lives of 7 women.
She has since written on a range of local topics eg Bridport & slavery; Bridport & refugees; Bridport’s 1st woman town councillor.
Karen continues to uncover and tell new Bridport Stories, some of which you will hear on the 24th March.
CHS All-in-One bound book of the Magazines for 2022-23 currently available to order from John Chalker
On the Parish:
Life in Dorset’s Workhouses
Photo credit the Museum of East Dorset.
23rd February
The Victorian workhouse still inspires powerful images of fear and hardship in the contemporary consciousness – but what evidence do we have that life in “the Union” was really so dire? In this talk, Luke Mouland draws on stories from a number of Dorset’s workhouses to explore this theme and examines how even the design of the building itself was intended to deter the needy from seeking refuge within.
Luke is a freelance genealogist and research consultant based near Sherborne. He founded Kith & Kin Research in 2010 and has undertaken consultancy work for a range of clients, including probate solicitors, authors and the BBC’s hit TV series Who Do You Think You Are? He writes and speaks regularly on topics of local and social history and has recently been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sherborne Museum.
AGM & Party!
26 January 2023 at 7:30pm Village Hall
Thursday 24th November
Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 24th November
Rob Curtis is a retired RAF officer and Blue Badge Tourist Guide.
Turnpikes and Dorset Coaching Days.
This will be a wide-ranging talk following the development of cross-country thoroughfares from tracks to turnpikes. We shall hear how the turnpikes were planned, operated and finally became redundant. We shall also learn about the development of the coaches which used the turnpikes, what it was like to be a passenger on cross-country services, about the horses which pulled the coaches and the coaching inns which supported the whole business of passenger conveyance.
The talk originally planned for the 24th November, The English Civil War in Dorset by Richard Warren, a former master at Sherborne School, will now be given on the 28th September 2023. This Richard Warren is not to be confused with Cerne’s own Richard Warren.
Summer Visit
The Society’s annual outing on Tuesday 12th July will be to Forde Abbey, near Chard. All members and their spouses and partners are welcome. If you haven’t already received details please send an email to [email protected] and they will be sent to you.
Party & Talk
The next meeting of the Society will take place in the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Thursday the 23rd June. The talk on The History of Cricket in Cerne by Den Denness will be preceded by a reception/party which is being held in place of the one which, but for Covid, would have been held after the AGM in January. All paid up members and those who would like to join the Society are warmly invited.
28th April 2022 Cerne Abbas Village Hall 7:30pm
£5 for non-members so why not join for £10 and benefit from free talks?
Dr Frances Eustace is a professional musician and a published academic. Her career in Early Music (Renaissance, Baroque and Classical) playing bassoon and viola da gamba led her further back into earlier music and culture following her move to Henstridge in 2004. This interest resulted in an MA at Bristol followed by a PhD and an inevitable purchase of medieval bagpipes, pipe and tabor, and other instruments.
Dr Frances Eustace will play some of the instruments and talk about them and their cultural significance.
Dr. Ian Denness’s full transcript of the fascinating account of life as a newly appointed school teacher in Cerne School and of Catherine Granvilles Diary 1908-10, may be read here.
24 March 2022 7:30pm
Cerne Abbas Village Hall
Councillor and Ex-Mayor of the town, David has a passionate interest in Dorchester’s colourful past and in particular its many tunnels and interconnected cellars. He has traced first-hand and revealed tunnels used by wine merchants, judges and prisoners and in addition has discovered evidence of subversive activities and intrigue.
He brings images and stories to tell.
Listen to the theories.
Look at the evidence.
Bring your questions!
AGM via Zoom
Follow the link in your Members email
Letter from the CHAIR – October 2021
Meetings
In view of the increasing number of Covid cases in Cerne and the fact that the rate here is apparently now higher than the national average, the CHS Committee has regretfully decided not to hold the meeting and talk next Thursday, the 28th October, live at the Village Hall. Instead it will take place via ZOOM. The Committee particularly regret this decision in view of all the wonderful work the team at the Hall have carried out encouraging people to return there and making it as safe as possible. However because of the increased risk of catching Covid at such a meeting at the moment and the fact that we are able to hold it on Zoom, we think the sensible course is not to use the Hall on this occasion. We very much hope we will be able to return to the Village Hall for the meeting and talk on the 25th November.
A Zoom link by which members can attend the meeting online will be circulated at the beginning of week. You will be able to join the meeting at 7.20 pm and it will begin at 7.30.
New MAGAZINE just released!
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – AUGUST 2021
PRINTED COPIES OF THE CHS MAGAZINE
Over the last 12 months quite a few members have asked me whether it
would be possible to obtain a printed copy of the magazine in addition
to the online version we publish. They have told me they would like to
have a paper copy both to read and to keep. Whilst we have been able to
make a printed version available to a small number who are not able to
read the magazine online, until now we have not had the ability to
produce good quality printed copies at a price which would make selling
them to members viable. However we have now found a printer who would be
able to produce printed copies of the magazine at a price of no more
than £5 each if there is a minimum order of 30. Since it will be a full
colour magazine, well printed on good quality paper I believe that is a
very reasonable price; further the higher the number ordered the
cheaper the price would be.
Can you let me know as soon as possible, at the email address below,
if you would be interested in ordering a printed copy of the Autumn
issue of the magazine, which will be published on about the 10th
September, if it were available at a price of £5 or less, plus delivery
if you do not live in Cerne. If we receive confirmed orders of 30 or
more by the end of August I will arrange for that number to be printed
and delivered.
Please also let me know if you would be interested in obtaining
printed copies of previous issues of the magazine and, if so, which
issues you would like. If we receive confirmed orders for 30 or more
specific past issues we will be able to get those printed as well.
Gordon Bishop
18th August 2021
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
Membership Renewal Reminder.
If you have already paid your
membership for 2020, it is also valid for the 2021 season. If not, it
needs to be renewed through our Treasurer, John Chalker. John may be
contacted direct or via the Contact Us Form on this website.
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – Spring 2021
Cancellation of Spring 2021 Meetings
Regrettably, we have had no alternative but to cancel the meetings
and talks which were to take place during the Spring of 2021. We are
planning to replace them with Zoom talks, or arrange them for next year.
Online magazine
The next issue of our online magazine will be published in June. It
will contain more fascinating articles about Cerne Abbas and the
surrounding area, so be sure not to miss it.
We are always looking for new topics for articles, and writers. So
please send us your ideas and any articles you have written which may be
suitable. Also are there any features you would like the magazine to
have which are missing at the moment and do you have any interesting
photos that you would like published?
Do keep safe and well
Gordon Bishop
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
News
Visiting Speaker Talk for Cerne Historical Society on the 25 May 2023
Studland and Poole Involvement in the build up to
D-Day
Studland was used for the training of the invasion force under ‘Operation Smash’ in 1944 and Poole was the 3rd largest embarkation point for ‘Operation Overlord’. This 70th Anniversary Presentation shows how Studland was involved in the pre D-Day training and how Poole was used in the build-up for the D-Day landings. Also the presentation uses photos of the actual landings on the beaches in Normandy, France.
David Warhurst
David Warhurst was born and lived in Poole for most of his life. He was educated at Poole Grammar School and Bournemouth College. He served his National Service in the RAF. He took up employment in the Government Scientific Service firstly in the laboratory at the Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, then for a short time at the Naval Ordnance Inspection Laboratory at the Royal Naval Propellant Factory in South Wales. He returned to Holton Heath to the Admiralty Materials Laboratory to carry out research into polymeric materials for the MOD for applications for the Navy and he remained there for the rest of his career.
After taking early retirement he continued with his work in the polymer area as a consultant. He is a Chairman and Convener of a number of National (BSI) European (CEN) and International (ISO) standards committees producing standards related to rubber and plastics test methods, products and materials. This responsibility giving also the opportunity to travel to many places throughout the world.
He has written Books on ‘History of the Poole Royal Ordnance Factory’, ‘Poole Defences in WW2- Inside and Outside the Anti-Tank Island’, ‘Poole Air Raids and Air Raid Precautions 1939 – 1945’ ‘Foundries in Poole’ and ‘Poole Mills’.
23 March 2023
Karen Hunt is Professor Emerita of Modern British History at Keele University, UK.
Despite retirement, she remains an active and engaged historian. She has published widely on many aspects of women’s politics (transnational, national and local) and the gendering of politics from the 1880s to the 1930s, including Equivocal Feminists (1996) and Socialist Women (2002, with June Hannam). Her most recent book explores everyday life on a local home front in the Great War (Staffordshire’s War, 2017). She continues to write on the life and politics of the socialist, suffragist and communist Dora Montefiore – a fascinating woman.
One day, Karen swears, Dora will get the biography she deserves.
Since moving to Bridport, Karen has delved deep into the history of the town and the people (particularly the women) who helped shape it.
She was part of creating Bridport Women’s History Group and has just stepped down as Chair Of Bridport Museum Trust, remaining a Trustee.
She produced an exhibition for the Museum in 2018 – Home Front Home – which explored Bridport’s WW1 home front through the lives of 7 women.
She has since written on a range of local topics eg Bridport & slavery; Bridport & refugees; Bridport’s 1st woman town councillor.
Karen continues to uncover and tell new Bridport Stories, some of which you will hear on the 24th March.
CHS All-in-One bound book of the Magazines for 2022-23 currently available to order from John Chalker
On the Parish:
Life in Dorset’s Workhouses
Photo credit the Museum of East Dorset.
23rd February
The Victorian workhouse still inspires powerful images of fear and hardship in the contemporary consciousness – but what evidence do we have that life in “the Union” was really so dire? In this talk, Luke Mouland draws on stories from a number of Dorset’s workhouses to explore this theme and examines how even the design of the building itself was intended to deter the needy from seeking refuge within.
Luke is a freelance genealogist and research consultant based near Sherborne. He founded Kith & Kin Research in 2010 and has undertaken consultancy work for a range of clients, including probate solicitors, authors and the BBC’s hit TV series Who Do You Think You Are? He writes and speaks regularly on topics of local and social history and has recently been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sherborne Museum.
AGM & Party!
26 January 2023 at 7:30pm Village Hall
Thursday 24th November
Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 24th November
Rob Curtis is a retired RAF officer and Blue Badge Tourist Guide.
Turnpikes and Dorset Coaching Days.
This will be a wide-ranging talk following the development of cross-country thoroughfares from tracks to turnpikes. We shall hear how the turnpikes were planned, operated and finally became redundant. We shall also learn about the development of the coaches which used the turnpikes, what it was like to be a passenger on cross-country services, about the horses which pulled the coaches and the coaching inns which supported the whole business of passenger conveyance.
The talk originally planned for the 24th November, The English Civil War in Dorset by Richard Warren, a former master at Sherborne School, will now be given on the 28th September 2023. This Richard Warren is not to be confused with Cerne’s own Richard Warren.
Summer Visit
The Society’s annual outing on Tuesday 12th July will be to Forde Abbey, near Chard. All members and their spouses and partners are welcome. If you haven’t already received details please send an email to [email protected] and they will be sent to you.
Party & Talk
The next meeting of the Society will take place in the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Thursday the 23rd June. The talk on The History of Cricket in Cerne by Den Denness will be preceded by a reception/party which is being held in place of the one which, but for Covid, would have been held after the AGM in January. All paid up members and those who would like to join the Society are warmly invited.
28th April 2022 Cerne Abbas Village Hall 7:30pm
£5 for non-members so why not join for £10 and benefit from free talks?
Dr Frances Eustace is a professional musician and a published academic. Her career in Early Music (Renaissance, Baroque and Classical) playing bassoon and viola da gamba led her further back into earlier music and culture following her move to Henstridge in 2004. This interest resulted in an MA at Bristol followed by a PhD and an inevitable purchase of medieval bagpipes, pipe and tabor, and other instruments.
Dr Frances Eustace will play some of the instruments and talk about them and their cultural significance.
Dr. Ian Denness’s full transcript of the fascinating account of life as a newly appointed school teacher in Cerne School and of Catherine Granvilles Diary 1908-10, may be read here.
24 March 2022 7:30pm
Cerne Abbas Village Hall
Councillor and Ex-Mayor of the town, David has a passionate interest in Dorchester’s colourful past and in particular its many tunnels and interconnected cellars. He has traced first-hand and revealed tunnels used by wine merchants, judges and prisoners and in addition has discovered evidence of subversive activities and intrigue.
He brings images and stories to tell.
Listen to the theories.
Look at the evidence.
Bring your questions!
AGM via Zoom
Follow the link in your Members email
Letter from the CHAIR – October 2021
Meetings
In view of the increasing number of Covid cases in Cerne and the fact that the rate here is apparently now higher than the national average, the CHS Committee has regretfully decided not to hold the meeting and talk next Thursday, the 28th October, live at the Village Hall. Instead it will take place via ZOOM. The Committee particularly regret this decision in view of all the wonderful work the team at the Hall have carried out encouraging people to return there and making it as safe as possible. However because of the increased risk of catching Covid at such a meeting at the moment and the fact that we are able to hold it on Zoom, we think the sensible course is not to use the Hall on this occasion. We very much hope we will be able to return to the Village Hall for the meeting and talk on the 25th November.
A Zoom link by which members can attend the meeting online will be circulated at the beginning of week. You will be able to join the meeting at 7.20 pm and it will begin at 7.30.
New MAGAZINE just released!
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – AUGUST 2021
PRINTED COPIES OF THE CHS MAGAZINE
Over the last 12 months quite a few members have asked me whether it
would be possible to obtain a printed copy of the magazine in addition
to the online version we publish. They have told me they would like to
have a paper copy both to read and to keep. Whilst we have been able to
make a printed version available to a small number who are not able to
read the magazine online, until now we have not had the ability to
produce good quality printed copies at a price which would make selling
them to members viable. However we have now found a printer who would be
able to produce printed copies of the magazine at a price of no more
than £5 each if there is a minimum order of 30. Since it will be a full
colour magazine, well printed on good quality paper I believe that is a
very reasonable price; further the higher the number ordered the
cheaper the price would be.
Can you let me know as soon as possible, at the email address below,
if you would be interested in ordering a printed copy of the Autumn
issue of the magazine, which will be published on about the 10th
September, if it were available at a price of £5 or less, plus delivery
if you do not live in Cerne. If we receive confirmed orders of 30 or
more by the end of August I will arrange for that number to be printed
and delivered.
Please also let me know if you would be interested in obtaining
printed copies of previous issues of the magazine and, if so, which
issues you would like. If we receive confirmed orders for 30 or more
specific past issues we will be able to get those printed as well.
Gordon Bishop
18th August 2021
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
Membership Renewal Reminder.
If you have already paid your
membership for 2020, it is also valid for the 2021 season. If not, it
needs to be renewed through our Treasurer, John Chalker. John may be
contacted direct or via the Contact Us Form on this website.
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – Spring 2021
Cancellation of Spring 2021 Meetings
Regrettably, we have had no alternative but to cancel the meetings
and talks which were to take place during the Spring of 2021. We are
planning to replace them with Zoom talks, or arrange them for next year.
Online magazine
The next issue of our online magazine will be published in June. It
will contain more fascinating articles about Cerne Abbas and the
surrounding area, so be sure not to miss it.
We are always looking for new topics for articles, and writers. So
please send us your ideas and any articles you have written which may be
suitable. Also are there any features you would like the magazine to
have which are missing at the moment and do you have any interesting
photos that you would like published?
Do keep safe and well
Gordon Bishop
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
News
Visiting Speaker Talk for Cerne Historical Society on the 25 May 2023
Studland and Poole Involvement in the build up to
D-Day
Studland was used for the training of the invasion force under ‘Operation Smash’ in 1944 and Poole was the 3rd largest embarkation point for ‘Operation Overlord’. This 70th Anniversary Presentation shows how Studland was involved in the pre D-Day training and how Poole was used in the build-up for the D-Day landings. Also the presentation uses photos of the actual landings on the beaches in Normandy, France.
David Warhurst
David Warhurst was born and lived in Poole for most of his life. He was educated at Poole Grammar School and Bournemouth College. He served his National Service in the RAF. He took up employment in the Government Scientific Service firstly in the laboratory at the Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, then for a short time at the Naval Ordnance Inspection Laboratory at the Royal Naval Propellant Factory in South Wales. He returned to Holton Heath to the Admiralty Materials Laboratory to carry out research into polymeric materials for the MOD for applications for the Navy and he remained there for the rest of his career.
After taking early retirement he continued with his work in the polymer area as a consultant. He is a Chairman and Convener of a number of National (BSI) European (CEN) and International (ISO) standards committees producing standards related to rubber and plastics test methods, products and materials. This responsibility giving also the opportunity to travel to many places throughout the world.
He has written Books on ‘History of the Poole Royal Ordnance Factory’, ‘Poole Defences in WW2- Inside and Outside the Anti-Tank Island’, ‘Poole Air Raids and Air Raid Precautions 1939 – 1945’ ‘Foundries in Poole’ and ‘Poole Mills’.
23 March 2023
Karen Hunt is Professor Emerita of Modern British History at Keele University, UK.
Despite retirement, she remains an active and engaged historian. She has published widely on many aspects of women’s politics (transnational, national and local) and the gendering of politics from the 1880s to the 1930s, including Equivocal Feminists (1996) and Socialist Women (2002, with June Hannam). Her most recent book explores everyday life on a local home front in the Great War (Staffordshire’s War, 2017). She continues to write on the life and politics of the socialist, suffragist and communist Dora Montefiore – a fascinating woman.
One day, Karen swears, Dora will get the biography she deserves.
Since moving to Bridport, Karen has delved deep into the history of the town and the people (particularly the women) who helped shape it.
She was part of creating Bridport Women’s History Group and has just stepped down as Chair Of Bridport Museum Trust, remaining a Trustee.
She produced an exhibition for the Museum in 2018 – Home Front Home – which explored Bridport’s WW1 home front through the lives of 7 women.
She has since written on a range of local topics eg Bridport & slavery; Bridport & refugees; Bridport’s 1st woman town councillor.
Karen continues to uncover and tell new Bridport Stories, some of which you will hear on the 24th March.
CHS All-in-One bound book of the Magazines for 2022-23 currently available to order from John Chalker
On the Parish:
Life in Dorset’s Workhouses
Photo credit the Museum of East Dorset.
23rd February
The Victorian workhouse still inspires powerful images of fear and hardship in the contemporary consciousness – but what evidence do we have that life in “the Union” was really so dire? In this talk, Luke Mouland draws on stories from a number of Dorset’s workhouses to explore this theme and examines how even the design of the building itself was intended to deter the needy from seeking refuge within.
Luke is a freelance genealogist and research consultant based near Sherborne. He founded Kith & Kin Research in 2010 and has undertaken consultancy work for a range of clients, including probate solicitors, authors and the BBC’s hit TV series Who Do You Think You Are? He writes and speaks regularly on topics of local and social history and has recently been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sherborne Museum.
AGM & Party!
26 January 2023 at 7:30pm Village Hall
Thursday 24th November
Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 24th November
Rob Curtis is a retired RAF officer and Blue Badge Tourist Guide.
Turnpikes and Dorset Coaching Days.
This will be a wide-ranging talk following the development of cross-country thoroughfares from tracks to turnpikes. We shall hear how the turnpikes were planned, operated and finally became redundant. We shall also learn about the development of the coaches which used the turnpikes, what it was like to be a passenger on cross-country services, about the horses which pulled the coaches and the coaching inns which supported the whole business of passenger conveyance.
The talk originally planned for the 24th November, The English Civil War in Dorset by Richard Warren, a former master at Sherborne School, will now be given on the 28th September 2023. This Richard Warren is not to be confused with Cerne’s own Richard Warren.
Summer Visit
The Society’s annual outing on Tuesday 12th July will be to Forde Abbey, near Chard. All members and their spouses and partners are welcome. If you haven’t already received details please send an email to [email protected] and they will be sent to you.
Party & Talk
The next meeting of the Society will take place in the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Thursday the 23rd June. The talk on The History of Cricket in Cerne by Den Denness will be preceded by a reception/party which is being held in place of the one which, but for Covid, would have been held after the AGM in January. All paid up members and those who would like to join the Society are warmly invited.
28th April 2022 Cerne Abbas Village Hall 7:30pm
£5 for non-members so why not join for £10 and benefit from free talks?
Dr Frances Eustace is a professional musician and a published academic. Her career in Early Music (Renaissance, Baroque and Classical) playing bassoon and viola da gamba led her further back into earlier music and culture following her move to Henstridge in 2004. This interest resulted in an MA at Bristol followed by a PhD and an inevitable purchase of medieval bagpipes, pipe and tabor, and other instruments.
Dr Frances Eustace will play some of the instruments and talk about them and their cultural significance.
Dr. Ian Denness’s full transcript of the fascinating account of life as a newly appointed school teacher in Cerne School and of Catherine Granvilles Diary 1908-10, may be read here.
24 March 2022 7:30pm
Cerne Abbas Village Hall
Councillor and Ex-Mayor of the town, David has a passionate interest in Dorchester’s colourful past and in particular its many tunnels and interconnected cellars. He has traced first-hand and revealed tunnels used by wine merchants, judges and prisoners and in addition has discovered evidence of subversive activities and intrigue.
He brings images and stories to tell.
Listen to the theories.
Look at the evidence.
Bring your questions!
AGM via Zoom
Follow the link in your Members email
Letter from the CHAIR – October 2021
Meetings
In view of the increasing number of Covid cases in Cerne and the fact that the rate here is apparently now higher than the national average, the CHS Committee has regretfully decided not to hold the meeting and talk next Thursday, the 28th October, live at the Village Hall. Instead it will take place via ZOOM. The Committee particularly regret this decision in view of all the wonderful work the team at the Hall have carried out encouraging people to return there and making it as safe as possible. However because of the increased risk of catching Covid at such a meeting at the moment and the fact that we are able to hold it on Zoom, we think the sensible course is not to use the Hall on this occasion. We very much hope we will be able to return to the Village Hall for the meeting and talk on the 25th November.
A Zoom link by which members can attend the meeting online will be circulated at the beginning of week. You will be able to join the meeting at 7.20 pm and it will begin at 7.30.
New MAGAZINE just released!
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – AUGUST 2021
PRINTED COPIES OF THE CHS MAGAZINE
Over the last 12 months quite a few members have asked me whether it
would be possible to obtain a printed copy of the magazine in addition
to the online version we publish. They have told me they would like to
have a paper copy both to read and to keep. Whilst we have been able to
make a printed version available to a small number who are not able to
read the magazine online, until now we have not had the ability to
produce good quality printed copies at a price which would make selling
them to members viable. However we have now found a printer who would be
able to produce printed copies of the magazine at a price of no more
than £5 each if there is a minimum order of 30. Since it will be a full
colour magazine, well printed on good quality paper I believe that is a
very reasonable price; further the higher the number ordered the
cheaper the price would be.
Can you let me know as soon as possible, at the email address below,
if you would be interested in ordering a printed copy of the Autumn
issue of the magazine, which will be published on about the 10th
September, if it were available at a price of £5 or less, plus delivery
if you do not live in Cerne. If we receive confirmed orders of 30 or
more by the end of August I will arrange for that number to be printed
and delivered.
Please also let me know if you would be interested in obtaining
printed copies of previous issues of the magazine and, if so, which
issues you would like. If we receive confirmed orders for 30 or more
specific past issues we will be able to get those printed as well.
Gordon Bishop
18th August 2021
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
Membership Renewal Reminder.
If you have already paid your
membership for 2020, it is also valid for the 2021 season. If not, it
needs to be renewed through our Treasurer, John Chalker. John may be
contacted direct or via the Contact Us Form on this website.
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – Spring 2021
Cancellation of Spring 2021 Meetings
Regrettably, we have had no alternative but to cancel the meetings
and talks which were to take place during the Spring of 2021. We are
planning to replace them with Zoom talks, or arrange them for next year.
Online magazine
The next issue of our online magazine will be published in June. It
will contain more fascinating articles about Cerne Abbas and the
surrounding area, so be sure not to miss it.
We are always looking for new topics for articles, and writers. So
please send us your ideas and any articles you have written which may be
suitable. Also are there any features you would like the magazine to
have which are missing at the moment and do you have any interesting
photos that you would like published?
Do keep safe and well
Gordon Bishop
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
News
Visiting Speaker Talk for Cerne Historical Society on the 25 May 2023
Studland and Poole Involvement in the build up to
D-Day
Studland was used for the training of the invasion force under ‘Operation Smash’ in 1944 and Poole was the 3rd largest embarkation point for ‘Operation Overlord’. This 70th Anniversary Presentation shows how Studland was involved in the pre D-Day training and how Poole was used in the build-up for the D-Day landings. Also the presentation uses photos of the actual landings on the beaches in Normandy, France.
David Warhurst
David Warhurst was born and lived in Poole for most of his life. He was educated at Poole Grammar School and Bournemouth College. He served his National Service in the RAF. He took up employment in the Government Scientific Service firstly in the laboratory at the Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, then for a short time at the Naval Ordnance Inspection Laboratory at the Royal Naval Propellant Factory in South Wales. He returned to Holton Heath to the Admiralty Materials Laboratory to carry out research into polymeric materials for the MOD for applications for the Navy and he remained there for the rest of his career.
After taking early retirement he continued with his work in the polymer area as a consultant. He is a Chairman and Convener of a number of National (BSI) European (CEN) and International (ISO) standards committees producing standards related to rubber and plastics test methods, products and materials. This responsibility giving also the opportunity to travel to many places throughout the world.
He has written Books on ‘History of the Poole Royal Ordnance Factory’, ‘Poole Defences in WW2- Inside and Outside the Anti-Tank Island’, ‘Poole Air Raids and Air Raid Precautions 1939 – 1945’ ‘Foundries in Poole’ and ‘Poole Mills’.
23 March 2023
Karen Hunt is Professor Emerita of Modern British History at Keele University, UK.
Despite retirement, she remains an active and engaged historian. She has published widely on many aspects of women’s politics (transnational, national and local) and the gendering of politics from the 1880s to the 1930s, including Equivocal Feminists (1996) and Socialist Women (2002, with June Hannam). Her most recent book explores everyday life on a local home front in the Great War (Staffordshire’s War, 2017). She continues to write on the life and politics of the socialist, suffragist and communist Dora Montefiore – a fascinating woman.
One day, Karen swears, Dora will get the biography she deserves.
Since moving to Bridport, Karen has delved deep into the history of the town and the people (particularly the women) who helped shape it.
She was part of creating Bridport Women’s History Group and has just stepped down as Chair Of Bridport Museum Trust, remaining a Trustee.
She produced an exhibition for the Museum in 2018 – Home Front Home – which explored Bridport’s WW1 home front through the lives of 7 women.
She has since written on a range of local topics eg Bridport & slavery; Bridport & refugees; Bridport’s 1st woman town councillor.
Karen continues to uncover and tell new Bridport Stories, some of which you will hear on the 24th March.
CHS All-in-One bound book of the Magazines for 2022-23 currently available to order from John Chalker
On the Parish:
Life in Dorset’s Workhouses
Photo credit the Museum of East Dorset.
23rd February
The Victorian workhouse still inspires powerful images of fear and hardship in the contemporary consciousness – but what evidence do we have that life in “the Union” was really so dire? In this talk, Luke Mouland draws on stories from a number of Dorset’s workhouses to explore this theme and examines how even the design of the building itself was intended to deter the needy from seeking refuge within.
Luke is a freelance genealogist and research consultant based near Sherborne. He founded Kith & Kin Research in 2010 and has undertaken consultancy work for a range of clients, including probate solicitors, authors and the BBC’s hit TV series Who Do You Think You Are? He writes and speaks regularly on topics of local and social history and has recently been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sherborne Museum.
AGM & Party!
26 January 2023 at 7:30pm Village Hall
Thursday 24th November
Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 24th November
Rob Curtis is a retired RAF officer and Blue Badge Tourist Guide.
Turnpikes and Dorset Coaching Days.
This will be a wide-ranging talk following the development of cross-country thoroughfares from tracks to turnpikes. We shall hear how the turnpikes were planned, operated and finally became redundant. We shall also learn about the development of the coaches which used the turnpikes, what it was like to be a passenger on cross-country services, about the horses which pulled the coaches and the coaching inns which supported the whole business of passenger conveyance.
The talk originally planned for the 24th November, The English Civil War in Dorset by Richard Warren, a former master at Sherborne School, will now be given on the 28th September 2023. This Richard Warren is not to be confused with Cerne’s own Richard Warren.
Summer Visit
The Society’s annual outing on Tuesday 12th July will be to Forde Abbey, near Chard. All members and their spouses and partners are welcome. If you haven’t already received details please send an email to [email protected] and they will be sent to you.
Party & Talk
The next meeting of the Society will take place in the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Thursday the 23rd June. The talk on The History of Cricket in Cerne by Den Denness will be preceded by a reception/party which is being held in place of the one which, but for Covid, would have been held after the AGM in January. All paid up members and those who would like to join the Society are warmly invited.
28th April 2022 Cerne Abbas Village Hall 7:30pm
£5 for non-members so why not join for £10 and benefit from free talks?
Dr Frances Eustace is a professional musician and a published academic. Her career in Early Music (Renaissance, Baroque and Classical) playing bassoon and viola da gamba led her further back into earlier music and culture following her move to Henstridge in 2004. This interest resulted in an MA at Bristol followed by a PhD and an inevitable purchase of medieval bagpipes, pipe and tabor, and other instruments.
Dr Frances Eustace will play some of the instruments and talk about them and their cultural significance.
Dr. Ian Denness’s full transcript of the fascinating account of life as a newly appointed school teacher in Cerne School and of Catherine Granvilles Diary 1908-10, may be read here.
24 March 2022 7:30pm
Cerne Abbas Village Hall
Councillor and Ex-Mayor of the town, David has a passionate interest in Dorchester’s colourful past and in particular its many tunnels and interconnected cellars. He has traced first-hand and revealed tunnels used by wine merchants, judges and prisoners and in addition has discovered evidence of subversive activities and intrigue.
He brings images and stories to tell.
Listen to the theories.
Look at the evidence.
Bring your questions!
AGM via Zoom
Follow the link in your Members email
Letter from the CHAIR – October 2021
Meetings
In view of the increasing number of Covid cases in Cerne and the fact that the rate here is apparently now higher than the national average, the CHS Committee has regretfully decided not to hold the meeting and talk next Thursday, the 28th October, live at the Village Hall. Instead it will take place via ZOOM. The Committee particularly regret this decision in view of all the wonderful work the team at the Hall have carried out encouraging people to return there and making it as safe as possible. However because of the increased risk of catching Covid at such a meeting at the moment and the fact that we are able to hold it on Zoom, we think the sensible course is not to use the Hall on this occasion. We very much hope we will be able to return to the Village Hall for the meeting and talk on the 25th November.
A Zoom link by which members can attend the meeting online will be circulated at the beginning of week. You will be able to join the meeting at 7.20 pm and it will begin at 7.30.
New MAGAZINE just released!
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – AUGUST 2021
PRINTED COPIES OF THE CHS MAGAZINE
Over the last 12 months quite a few members have asked me whether it
would be possible to obtain a printed copy of the magazine in addition
to the online version we publish. They have told me they would like to
have a paper copy both to read and to keep. Whilst we have been able to
make a printed version available to a small number who are not able to
read the magazine online, until now we have not had the ability to
produce good quality printed copies at a price which would make selling
them to members viable. However we have now found a printer who would be
able to produce printed copies of the magazine at a price of no more
than £5 each if there is a minimum order of 30. Since it will be a full
colour magazine, well printed on good quality paper I believe that is a
very reasonable price; further the higher the number ordered the
cheaper the price would be.
Can you let me know as soon as possible, at the email address below,
if you would be interested in ordering a printed copy of the Autumn
issue of the magazine, which will be published on about the 10th
September, if it were available at a price of £5 or less, plus delivery
if you do not live in Cerne. If we receive confirmed orders of 30 or
more by the end of August I will arrange for that number to be printed
and delivered.
Please also let me know if you would be interested in obtaining
printed copies of previous issues of the magazine and, if so, which
issues you would like. If we receive confirmed orders for 30 or more
specific past issues we will be able to get those printed as well.
Gordon Bishop
18th August 2021
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
Membership Renewal Reminder.
If you have already paid your
membership for 2020, it is also valid for the 2021 season. If not, it
needs to be renewed through our Treasurer, John Chalker. John may be
contacted direct or via the Contact Us Form on this website.
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – Spring 2021
Cancellation of Spring 2021 Meetings
Regrettably, we have had no alternative but to cancel the meetings
and talks which were to take place during the Spring of 2021. We are
planning to replace them with Zoom talks, or arrange them for next year.
Online magazine
The next issue of our online magazine will be published in June. It
will contain more fascinating articles about Cerne Abbas and the
surrounding area, so be sure not to miss it.
We are always looking for new topics for articles, and writers. So
please send us your ideas and any articles you have written which may be
suitable. Also are there any features you would like the magazine to
have which are missing at the moment and do you have any interesting
photos that you would like published?
Do keep safe and well
Gordon Bishop
You can get in touch with Gordon via the Contact Us form on this site.
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Your Next CHS Event
The story of
The Weymouth Car Park Dig
Richard McConnell
24 October 2024
Over 80 volunteers took part in the Dig between October and December 2023 including those from Dig the Street Community group.
The site occupies the historic core of Weymouth which dates back to at least the 13th century and revealed evidence of the town stretching back to its medieval roots and has provided an intriguing archaeological glimpse into the evolution of this important medieval port.
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