History

LOST DORSET NO. 19 SHERBORNE

David Burnett, The Dovecote Press

There were two bitterly cold winters in the late 19th century, those of 1881 – ‘the Great Victorian Blizzard’ – and 1891– labelled the ‘Great Snowstorm’ by the press. During the former Sherborne was effectively cut off by heavy snow blown in by gale force winds. Streets became impassable. People had to be dug out of their homes, and a soup kitchen was set up to distribute 30 gallons of soup and bread a day. In 1891 the ice on Sherborne lake was thick enough to roast an ox on it, which once carved was given to the ‘poor and needy’. A notice was placed on the lodge gates and at the Digby Estate office in Cheap Street informing the townspeople that the ‘ice is bearing’.

Lost Dorset: The Towns 1880-1920, the companion volume to Lost Dorset: The Villages and Countryside, is a 220 page large format hardback, price £20, and is available locally from Winstone’s Books or directly from the publishers.

dovecotepress.com

DORSET’S CUNNING MEN

Cindy Chant and John Drabik

Contrary to popular belief, not all witches were female. Wizards, warlocks, conjurers and cunning men, were all names given to male witches. Of course, some were malevolent and seemingly responsible for such misfortunes as crop failures, poor milk yield, illnesses, and general domestic or agricultural problems. However, like their female counterparts, most were healers and offered a range of services to the community, including to those who had been ‘bewitched’ or ‘overlooked’. They practised both folk and ritual magic and with their knowledge of herbs, spells and incantations, they performed their deeds and sold their charms.

In his novels, and personal writings, Thomas Hardy made reference to several. In The Withered Arm, Gertrude, a young wife suffering a debilitating problem with one arm, was directed to a cunning man over Egdon Heath. He was John Trendle, known for his humble ways and many accomplishments, which he always played down. After an examination he proclaimed, ‘Medicine can’t cure it… ’tis the work of an enemy’. He broke an egg, and allowed only the white to fall into a glass of water. Gertrude was invited to look at the resulting shapes and identified the face of the one responsible for her withered arm… a sad tale, which you may like to read for yourselves.

One of the earliest recorded cases in Dorset, is that of John Walsh of Netherbury, near Beaminster. He trained as a surgeon and physicist and later claimed to communicate with the Devil, who personally asked him to give a drop of blood each year, as well as a gift of two living things - a cat, dog, or some chickens were the animals of choice. Walsh also had ‘familiars’ (animal guides), and sought counsel from the faerie realm who assisted him in finding lost or stolen goods and animals, and also in counteracting spells for those who had been bewitched. At his trial in Exeter in 1566, he was accused of divination and sorcery. Although he denied doing harm to anyone, he was cruelly treated. There are no details as to the poor man’s fate, but sadly these accusations would have carried the death penalty.

In the 17th century John Read, a self-educated

duncan1890/iStock

farmer from Milborne, had a great interest in the occult and secretly collected many books on the subject. He demonstrated his knowledge and magical abilities by using ancient symbols and incantations which he had learned and practised. On one occasion an astonished friend became very disturbed after witnessing one of these proceedings, ‘…the air became sudden changed and grew darkish and became like a mist with jostling wind, and with thunder and lightning in the distance.’

Two centuries ago Dr Buckland, a famous Dorset cunning man who lived near Kings Stag, developed a cure for scrofula (the ‘Kings Evil’), also known as tuberculosis. It consisted of cutting the head off a live toad and placing the still wriggling, clammy body into a small muslin bag. This would immediately be placed around the neck of the patient, under their garments, against the skin. For those who fainted during this process, there would be no hope. This well-tried remedy served just as well for those who were ‘bewitched’. Each May he held an annual ‘Toad Fair’ in Stalbridge, and there he sold his miraculous cures. Seven shillings, a considerable amount, was the usual asking price for the unfortunate decapitated toad. The entrepreneurial doctor eventually decided it would be more profitable to tear the limbs from the toads, and sell these separately.

Another cunning man, with a huge reputation having convinced the locals that he possessed magical powers, was said to have lived at the top of Glue Hill in Sturminster Newton. When a farmer discovered his sheep had gone astray, he sought the man for help. ‘Cross me ‘and with silver,’ he would say, ‘and you’ll vind be marnin’ the sheep be back in vold.’ Sure enough, the anxious farmer found the sheep all safe and well in the morning. But after a few days they would stray again, and the farmer again would visit the cunning man, with more silver coins. Sheep and cattle seemed to stray often in that area. Farm tools also went missing, and when consulted, the cunning man asked everyone to cross his palm with silver, then he told them all to put out the lights and in the morning they would find their tools. But one of the men peeped in the dark, and found the cunning man replacing the tools. Needless to say the farmer was livid with rage, and shouted out, ‘you wold bugger! So ‘twas thee was it! Give I back my money.’ His reputation was soon in tatters, and very few crossed his hand with silver.

Now that you have had an insight into the old ways, take a closer look at your men folk. You may find most will profess to be ‘cunning’ – but only a few are!

Specialist Matthew Denney will be in the Sherborne area on Thursday 27th January to value your objects & antiques

George Russell, `AE` (1867-1935), Two Ladies Amid Sand Dunes Oil on Canvas, in original frame Estimate: £6000-9000

Forthcoming Fine Art Sales

18th, 19th, 20th & 21st January 2022

Consigning Now for our Spring Sales

FREE VALUATIONS ALSO AVAILABLE

Online | Phone | Email | Whatsapp

To make an appointment call or email 01460 73041 matthew.denney@lawrences.co.uk

Professional Valuations Available for Probate & Insurance

Complete House Contents & Attic Clearances Arranged

OBJECT OF THE MONTH JAMES PARK’S PURSE

Elisabeth Bletsoe, Curator, Sherborne Museum

This small but very special artefact, a khaki purse trimmed with red leatherette, measuring 9.5cm by 5.5cm, acts as a touchstone for the history of an extraordinary man. Inside, in one of its four compartments, is a tiny slip of paper on which is handwritten, ‘given to James Park on his return from S.A. war. Contained ½ sovereign I think?’

Recent research shows that James was born in Sherborne on 9th February 1879, the son of Mark and Harriet Park of Newland. On leaving school he entered the building trade, but in January 1900 he lied about his age in order to enlist with the Dorsetshire Regiment, which was then engaged in the Second Boer War. In April of that year he was posted to the 2nd Battalion and embarked for South Africa. His departure from Sherborne railway station, along with two other local recruits, was reported in The Western Gazette: ‘fog signals were exploded and the townspeople assembled in strong force to see the men off, cheers being given and hearty wishes expressed for the safe return of the trio.’

The Dorsetshire Regiment saw action with the Natal Field Force, under the command of General Buller, at the decisive Battle of Laing’s Nek. It was here, in June 1900, that the British succeeded in outflanking the Boers; this prevented the disparate enemy forces from communicating with each other through the pass in the Drakenberg mountains.

James returned home to Sherborne in June of the following year. The purse, donated to us by his daughter Hilda, was given to him as a memento of gratitude from the town; on the back is stamped ‘With Sherborne’s Thanks’. Just before the outbreak of the First World War, James was once again working as a builder and contractor but was called up again in 1914 and served with the Dorsetshire Regiment in India and Mesopotamia. The Second World War saw him once more in khaki, this time as Quartermaster of the Sherborne Company of the Home Guard, in which his wide experience was found of considerable value.

There followed a great many more years of service to the town he loved. James was known as the ‘Father of Sherborne Urban District Council’ and was three times its Chairman, as well as representing the council on numerous committees, where he was a great advocate for the poor and the sick. He was a founder member of the Sherborne Branch of the British Legion, a member of the South African War Veterans Association and of the Dorset Regiment Old Comrades Association. In 1931, he became Chief Officer of the Sherborne Fire Brigade.

In later life he became unwell and was warned of the consequences if he did not curtail his activities, but this he found almost impossible to do. On Christmas night in 1948 his health took a serious turn for the worse, and he died at home in Westbury the following Tuesday. The Western Gazette lamented that Sherborne had ‘suffered the loss of one of its most devoted sons.’

From 11th January, the museum will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10.30am to 4.30am. If you’d like to volunteer as part of the front of house team, please contact info@sherbornemuseum.co.uk

sherbornemuseum.co.uk