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Old Time Entertainments

  Of these we had a fairly constant succession.   We were fortunate in having among us a Mr Marshallsay, bank manager, who was wonderfully successful in producing and arranging our modest shows.   Somewhere in the late 60’s an amateur Dramatic society was formed which ran for several seasons afterwards.   Although in those days the amount of talent available in a small town was necessarily limited yet, somehow a number of residents were recruited who proved themselves quite competent in presenting the various parts required.   The company included, Messrs Marshallsay, CS rose, Rhesa Rose, Cheesman, Norman, Clough and Nelway, the latter hailing from Stout Provost.   Female parts were taken by ladies from outside the town.   The performances were staged in the Crown assembly room which, on such occasions was usually crowded to the doors.   Among the pieces undertaken at various times I recall ‘Paul Pry’, jolly young Watermanm, a gypsy melodrama and a farce in which a miser kept the house
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The Railway

  In 1847 the old South Western line was extended via Wimborne to Dorchester.   Next from Hamworthy to Poole, the latter place being the terminus for some years during which time visitors to Bournemouth were conveyed from Poole in vans and waggonettes. About 1858 the old Somerset and Dorset line was laid from a junction at Wimborne up to Blandford where a station was built a mile below the town on the Spetisbury road.   The first train to reach Blandford was hailed by a public holiday with processions of schoolchildren etc. Finally the line was extended via Sturminster, Wincanton and Glastonbury to Burnham –on-Sea.   During the summers 1862-72 crowded excursions trains ran weekly from all stations between Blandford and Burnham.   Return fares 1s Children 6d for a distance of 50 miles each way.   This was the fare from Sturminster.   Much money was lost by local magnates who financed the railway, one landowner being so badly hit that he was compelled to retire to the Continent while
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The Old Common Band. All brass

  A few words are due to the memory of the above which enlivened most of our outdoor diversions down to 1900 or so.   I have heard that, when the band came into existence, probably in the early sixties , all it’s members belonged to one family (Elkins) their employment being that of farm hands and land workers.   The name ‘common’ referred to the locality beyond Broad Oak where most of the players lived.   This designation was somewhat unfortunate being employed, by local critics of musical art in a derogatory sense.   But considering that never, as far as I know, did the band receive any professional tuition or advice their self taught efforts must be acknowledged as most praiseworthy.   Their staying powers were wonderful.   On a Fete day or club-walking morning their vigorous strains might be heard from 10 O clock onward.   At 11 their duty and pride was to head the usual procession to the church.   At 12, with powers unabated they tramped a mile or two around the outskirts of the t
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On Inventions and Change

  After consideration of our present conditions and surroundings it must seem incredible that so many inventions, improvements and developments could have been perfected within the space of an ordinary lifetime.   Commencing with some details of bygone domestic affairs. And the use of the old time flint and steel for striking a light – Although I never saw this apparatus in use I have heard of moving incidents, nocturnal emergencies in which a light was urgently required.   My informant spoke scathingly of the uncertainty of this operation, how sorely the fingers might be pounded during a frantic attempt in midnight darkness and ho, often the tinder might be damp.   Then came the old style ‘Lucifer’ matches, tipped with sulphur and phosphorus, dangerous things, igniting at an accidental touch and often causing dangerous fires.   They threw off flaming particles when first lighted while their sulphurous fumes stung the nostrils and throats of the unwary in a manner painful and suffocati
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Quaint Remedies

  Over a century ago there were cases of a malignant disease known as ‘king’s evil’. A remedy prescribed for this malady was the leg of a toad, cut from the living reptile, then sewn up in a thin muslin bag and hung round the sufferer’s neck, to be worn constantly next to the skin. Epileptic fits were supposed to be curable by the following ritual;- The patient collected a penny each from eleven different friends, a twelfth friend then gave a shilling for the eleven coins.   The silver coin was then beaten into a ring to be worn by the afflicted one.   I remember seeing a ring which had been so acquired, but no benefit resulted.
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Wart Charming

  A mild form of magic, however, existed in Sturminster down to 1880, as practised by a ‘wart charmer’, a middle-aged woman who lived for many years in the locality known as ‘over bridge’, and who was so successful in her ministrations that I never heard of any failures in her undertakings.   This success I have never heard explained, But having once requested her beneficent treatment I can speak with confidence of my experience. In 1880 I was troubled by a number of warts which had appeared both on my hands and face, and which would not yield to any of the remedies I tried.   A fellow sufferer at the same time was a young lady visitor from London whose hands were badly disfigured by the same pest.   The blemishes had been treated in London by nitric acid, leaving unsightly scars in which the original growths flourished apace.   From information received the girl and I decided to consult the Charmer mentioned.   The treatment was a casual glance at the trouble after which   (and a sm
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The Cunning Man

  Was known also in varying localities as ‘Conjuror@ or ‘Wizard’.   A subject on which it is extremely difficult to obtain any information at this period.   After many enquiries in likely directions, without success, I reluctantly concluded that the Cunning Man and his doings had dropped out of living memory.   Indeed the matter had become so obscured by the mists of time that I hesitated to mention it in this record, until in Hardy’s novel ‘Tess’ I found some details which inclined me to persevere in reviving a phase of rural life which is worthy of rescue from oblivion. In my early days the Cunning Mand was often mentioned being a sort of household word among elderly people. For example,- in the case of some small article having disappeared a housewife might exclaim – ‘Where can it be?   I must ask the Cm about this!’   A jesting remark implying that, in earlier times, the aid of such a personage had been regarded as a recognised assistance in other, and more important difficulties
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