Before the town of Poole in Dorset existed, Ower, towards the south-eastern side of Poole harbour in the Isle of Purbeck (now lying within the Rempstone Estate) was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Ora'. The entry in Domesday reads 'The same Abbey (i.e. Milton Abbey) holds Ora.' In the time of King Edward the Confessor (1003-1066A.D.) it was taxed for 3 hides. 'No ploughland is held here, but 13 salt workers (salinarii) pay a rent of 20 shillings.' H.P. Smith M.B.E, J.P. wrote an enchanting and informative article titled 'Memories of Ower' published in The Dorset Year Book of 1940 and observes: 'In the days when Corfe Castle was under construction, Ower Quay saw busy days, for it is on record that timber ... Read More

Before the town of Poole in Dorset existed, Ower, towards the south-eastern side of Poole harbour in the Isle of Purbeck (now lying within the Rempstone Estate) was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Ora'. The entry in Domesday reads 'The same Abbey ... Read More

During the recent dry spell in the summer of 2018 Silent Earth filmed the Mount Pleasant of Wessex prehistoric site and its environs from the air. As there is little to see from ground level and the field remains under plough to this day, this enigmatic site on which the known activities of man span the first half of the third millennium BC through to Saxon times is much overlooked. Here at the heart of Hardy's Wessex on the southeastern outskirts of Dorchester (and 600 metres to the west, Thomas Hardy's house at Max Gate) is a complex site that played a significant role in the evolution of the peoples of Wessex over millennia. Below: The prehistoric complex lies in the upper centre of this photograph on a gentle ... Read More

During the recent dry spell in the summer of 2018 Silent Earth filmed the Mount Pleasant of Wessex prehistoric site and its environs from the air. As there is little to see from ground level and the field remains under plough to this day, this enigmatic site ... Read More

In February 1971, a young lad of fourteen years of age by the name of Timothy Roberts of Bristol was on a family visit to Maiden castle in Dorset. During the course of walking along the second (middle) bank on the southern side of the hillfort, he noticed the above carved chalk object protruding from the makeup of the bank, with its outer face towards the crest of the bank and 'opposite the point where the ramparts curve inwards in conformity with the original defences of the eastern knoll'. In an article on this chalk carving by Mr RAH Farrar, published in the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Proceedings for 1974, Volume 96, published in 1975, Mr Farrar writes in respect of the date attributed ... Read More

In February 1971, a young lad of fourteen years of age by the name of Timothy Roberts of Bristol was on a family visit to Maiden castle in Dorset. During the course of walking along the second (middle) bank on the southern side of the ... Read More

The publication Monumenta Britannica by John Aubrey is described as 'in four parts, chiefly written in about 1665-93, with notes added by John Evelyn and Dr. Thomas Gale. These volumes contain a large amount of curious observations and original work, and are of considerable value from the numerous illustrations and the first-hand information relating to British antiquities.' The manuscript is available to view via a link on Tim Daw's blog here. On page n23 of the manuscript available to view on the link above, after describing a visit to Nine Stones stone circle near Winterbourne Abbas in Dorset, Aubrey adds: 'In this roade, halfe a mile farther westwards stand three stones as in fig. 2. These stones are four foot high+. From A to B eight paces. ... Read More

The publication Monumenta Britannica by John Aubrey is described as 'in four parts, chiefly written in about 1665-93, with notes added by John Evelyn and Dr. Thomas Gale. These volumes contain a large amount of curious observations and original work, and are of considerable value ... Read More

Of Kingston Russell stone circle in Dorset, Historic England state on their Pastscape record that it 'is a large irregular circle of Late Neolithic or Bronze Age date, consisting of eighteen fallen conglomerate or sarsen stones situated on a chalk ridge 750 metres northeast of Gorwell Farm. In 1815 one stone to the south was still standing. The circle appears to retain its full number of stones, although many of them may not be in their original positions. Two stones of a similar kind to those comprising the circle lie by the side of an adjoining fence (see record 450259). The circle has a diameter of 30 metres and has 18 visible stones. The stones vary in size from 2 metres by 0.5 metres to ... Read More

Of Kingston Russell stone circle in Dorset, Historic England state on their Pastscape record that it 'is a large irregular circle of Late Neolithic or Bronze Age date, consisting of eighteen fallen conglomerate or sarsen stones situated on a chalk ridge 750 metres northeast of ... Read More

The abbey of Cerne Abbas in Dorset was founded in 987 AD, as confirmed in its charter written in the 12th or 13th century. A summary of the history of this house of Benedictine monks is here at British History Online. Below is an artist's impression of how the original abbey may have looked. The North Gate entrance (no longer in existence) opened onto the main road from Sherbourne, which passes below the Giant on the farm track currently known as Eastfield Drove. It would have been used by wagons taking produce between the farm and barns. Cartloads of firewood would have regularly passed through this entrance, brought in from the abbey lands at Middlemarsh. The South Gate, with its porter's lodge, leads directly via Abbey ... Read More

The abbey of Cerne Abbas in Dorset was founded in 987 AD, as confirmed in its charter written in the 12th or 13th century. A summary of the history of this house of Benedictine monks is here at British History Online. Below is an artist's impression ... Read More

On 20 November 2016, after visiting a secondhand books fair at Dorchester County  Museum, as it had turned out a gloriously sunny afternoon and on the spur of the moment, Patricia and I decided to complete our day out with an autumnal visit to St. Augustine's Well or The Silver Well at Cerne Abbas in Dorset. On a wall (and unfortunately without credit to the author) close to the location of the well is a highly informative description of the Legends, truth and superstitions of this most ancient and sacred well, which are reproduced with thanks below: Legend Legend says that St. Augustine once visited Dorset. While there, he met some shepherds grazing their flocks and asked them whether they would prefer beer or water to ... Read More

On 20 November 2016, after visiting a secondhand books fair at Dorchester County  Museum, as it had turned out a gloriously sunny afternoon and on the spur of the moment, Patricia and I decided to complete our day out with an autumnal visit to St. Augustine's ... Read More