Category: Local History

The local History section is a collection of fascinating North Dorset history articles featured in the BV magazine.

In this section we present each of Roger Guttridge’s ‘Looking Back’ columns. These columns tell the often-forgotten stories of local heroes, villains, characters and their places within the Blackmore Vale.

Also Roger’s ‘Then & Now’ comparisons – how the Blackmore Vale looks now compared to the same spot perhaps 120 years ago.

Also featured is Paul Birbeck’s column – a Blue Badge local guide based in Sherborne, Paul examines various local places and shares their social history.

All these columns give a fascinating insight into the history of the Blackmore Vale.

Local History

Ibberton Church | Then and Now

Ibberton Church is one of three in England that are dedicated to St Eustace, the others being at Tavistock in Devon and Hoo in...

Editorial team - 10 January 2021

Local History

Sherborne Bombings | Looking Back

It was North Dorset’s worst day of the Second World War, yet it was also a case of mistaken identity. When 37 Heinkel He.111 bombers...

Editorial team - 11 December 2020

Local History

Milton Abbas | Then and Now

It’s regarded as one of Dorset’s most picturesque villages and a magnet to tourists, but it wasn’t always so. In fact the tyrannical village squire...

Editorial team - 10 December 2020

Local History

Blandford Railway | Then and Now

This was the moment when Blandford’s railway history reached the point of no return. The arches at the eastern end of East Street had survived...

Editorial team - 11 November 2020

Local History

Smugglers! | Looking back

Roger Guttridge recalls North Dorset’s most notorious smuggling gang As many readers will know, I only need half an excuse to talk about my smuggling...

Editorial team - 10 November 2020

Local History

Fire St James’s Street, Shaftesbury | Then and Now

Roger Guttridge recalls a fire that ripped through terraced cottages at Shaftesbury What a difference 63 years makes! The above picture shows some of the devastation...

Editorial team - 11 October 2020

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Bucked in the Yarn

Editorial team - 11 September 20240

Three small Somerset villages had a huge impact on global exploration and trade – Rachael Rowe talks to Professor Terry Stevens “Nothing much ever happened...