19th Century Life

  About the year 1876 the prices of food sank to a level alarmingly low as it seemed that the lower the price of commodities the less money there was for purchasing the same. It was said at this time that, through over-production on the virgin soil of North America, wheat was such a druig in the market as to be shipped from the States as ballast in outward-bound vessels. I heard of a baker who sold three-quarter loaves for a shilling.   American salt pork came on sale at fourpence a pound, but this meat did not become popular among us as, by a local prejudice it was called Slated Tiger.   English cheese of a sort could be had for 2d a pound; I have seen it, a white and crumbly kind, in fact, a joke of the period was that some people carried a lump of this cheese to use as chalk! Good farmhouse butter at 9d, eggs at 6d a dozen, fresh pork at 6d, best beef at 9d, mutton still less and other prices in proportion. In 78-9 there came loss and disaster, to farmers, thro...

  During the first half of the 19 th Century a considerable trade with Newfoundland was carried on in the town, a sub depot was housed in the premises now occupied by Messrs Barnett where, in the room which formed the office, I am told there may still be seen traces of the transactions of that busy time.   The chief depot was established at Poole between which seaport and Sturminster. there passed a steady stream of traffic.   (See mentions of the old ‘Road Wagon on Page 4). The exports from our town were warm clothing, boots, gloves and other necessaries for the men engaged in the arduous labours of the distant fishing fleet.   The imports consisted of large quantities of codfish, salted and dried, barrels of caplin, a small dried fish of a peculiar flavour and cranberries in small wooden kegs.   The latter formed a most useful fruit for winter use, they were very juicy and tender, much superior to the tough, thick-skinned variety which is now the only kind ...

  About the year 1877 there lived for a period in the town one how afterwards became world-famous, the great Thomas Hardy.   IT is safe to say that some of his early works must have been written during his residence in Sturminster where he became well known to the inhabitants. In fact I remember that, as an occasional assistant at the counter of our local Post Office, I once weighted and stamped a bulky package of manuscript, most probably one of his earlier novels, which he handed in for posting. Then, shortly before 1914, when I was living in Blandford, two gentlemen called at my home who, I found, were John Lane the London publisher and Thomas Hardy himself.   They had come to the town and to the house in the hope of discovering some remaining traces of the work of Alfred Stevens, the celebrated sculptor, who designed the Wellington memorial, one of the chief ornaments of St Paul’s Cathedral.   An authority considers that ‘this important wok ranks Stevens amon...

    In the town there lived together, for many years, in a celibate establishment two old men, father and son, old Simon and young Simon.   Between them they carried on a singular occupation – that of making clogs, patterns and wooden hay makers.   Clogs were made of wood, fitted with straps, and were worn by women folk to keep their feet dry in rainy weather.   Patterns were similar, but were mounted on iron frames which raised the feet of the wearers some two inches above ground.   A later account of our muddy roads explains the necessity for such appliances. These old men also acted in a public capacity, they were our official town criers. I cannot say by whom, or by what authority this offices was conferred; our only corporate bodies being the Board of Guardians and the church vestry meetings, But the old men jealously guarded their prerogative which was never infringed by any unauthorised intruder.   Their announcements were made in a form whi...

  But I have often heard of two features which are no longer included in our programmes of Christmas amusements – The Mummers and the Humstrummers.   From descriptions given by some who remembered performances by Old Dorset Mummers it appears that the actors were a party of local lads and men, fantastically garbed to represent various characters, historical and mythical.   The chief character was St George who made great play with a long wooden sword.   After some preliminary dancing and speechmaking various obnoxious potentates (including Pauonfarte) and other men of evil repute, engaged the ‘Saint in single combat, preceded by a dialogue.   In every combat the latter was victorious, every opponent being laid low.   From a radio broadcast, a year or two ago, I learned that a version of the old play is till extant in another part of the country. The humstrum was a rudely constructed, home-made fiddle with a body of tin instead of wood.   It was playe...

A far more joyous melody was flung abroad when our ringers commenced to practise for Xmas, the familiar music bearing the promise of festivities to come.  On winter evenings it was a keen enjoyment to sit on a bench in the ringer’s loft, then situated on the first floor of the tower, during the weekly pealing of the six find old bells.  A curious sensation came as the ropes were pulled downward, straight and steady as so many metal rods, while on their upward journey the same ropes set up a snake-like wriggling and rattling which almost drowned the clanging of the bells themselves as they swing in their chamber, two floors above. Then cam Xmas itself when our ringers gave us full measure of their labours.   In my time those ringers were not so proficient in their art as later performers became.   The head ringer would shout out the sequence required for the next change; perhaps1.3.5.2.4.6. Then, ensued a dire confusion as the various bells found, or forced their ...

  Shurton Fair on September 25 th was a favourite fixture known to a wide district,   All of our people who could do so journeyed thither either in farm wagons, other kinds of horse power, or on their own sturdy legs.   This fair was formerly a noted market for clothing, rolls of cloth from Somerset and Wilts and many household requisites which could there be seen in greater variety than at home.   Many horses also changed hands, some good but certainly many indifferent, the peculiar faults and failings of the latter kind becoming painfully apparent in following days. Somewhere during the summer came the day of Blandford Races, mentioned here because of a bitter and long standing feud which would boil up on that day between the men of that town and those of Sturminster.   I will not attempt to suggest how such strained relations came about but I know that the one set bestowed on the other the name of ‘Sturminster Ashers’ and allusion to the long ‘ground ash’ ...