[Anything like a comprehensive organised history of
the village would take months, if not years, of full-time research. In
the meantime here are some disconnected items from local newspapers,
reference books and documents in the Dorset Record Office and
elsewhere about Evershot's past.
I have tried to reproduce the spelling and punctuation of the
original source, so don't be surprised at any, um, surprises.]
1628
1720
1758
1764
1775
1830
1844
1865
1871
1877
1895
1911
1918
1919
1921
1923
1939
1975
The New Millennium
1628
[Christopher Stickland founded a Free School in
this year. The Deed reads, in part:] ... to have a free school for
reading, writing and grammar erected and settled within the town of
Evershot where he was born, for the instruction and breeding of men
children ... a schoolmaster there for ever to train up, instruct and
teach the same child in good learning, true religion and the fear of
God.
1720
[From an auction catalogue of a sale of blown glass bottles held in USA
in 2003:]
Black glass seal bottle, "T. BIDDELL / EVERSHOT /
1720" (on applied seal), English, ca 1720, deep olive onion, 6"h., 4
1/2" base diameter, pontil scarred base, applied string lip and seal.
[The suggested price range was set by the auctioneer at $2000 – $3500.]
1758
[The Dorset Record Office has a fascinating hand-written notebook
containing the Militia list for Evershot. It consists of the names and
occupations of all the village men between the ages of 18 and 50 who
were thus liable for service in the Militia.
The Militia were reformed by parliament in 1757, the year before this
notebook, following allegations of inefficiency during the Scottish
uprising of 1745. The counties' quotas were divided up into parish
quotas, and 30,000 men were raised in the whole of England. A man who
did not want to serve was allowed to nominate a substitute, if he
could persuade another man to serve instead. Or he could buy his way
out of service for £10, a considerable sum in those days. The
men served for three years, training annually for a week or two in the
summer and exercising throughout the year. To begin with, the parishes
kept the arms and equipment, but this was soon taken over by the
counties. The lord lieutenant of each county was in command on behalf
of the king, a chain of command that (hopefully) prevented any
political bribery and corruption. The Militia eventually became the
Territorial Army which exists to this day. There was a parallel
organisation, the Yeomanry, consisting mainly of small farmers and
gentry who had horses. This became in effect the Militia cavalry. I
believe the Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, has a drum marked
'Evershot Volunteers'. I will try and get a photograph of it.
Some of the names of the jobs are quite obscure nowadays. A
cordwainer was apparently a leather-worker, generally employed in
making boots. A yeoman was a tenant farmer. I don't know what a
driller was: perhaps someone who drilled land for sowing? An
apothecary was a pharmacist: this one also apparently kept the shop
(see under 1775 below). But why would they
need three barbers in a village of this size? I thought (nearly) all
the men had beards! [Later: A reader from New Zealand points out that a barber was also a surgeon.]
Other villages had several occupations that might have been expected
to appear in Evershot's list, but which do not: eg plowman, servant,
shepherd, innholder, velmonger (what was this, I wonder: it's not in
the multivolume Oxford English Dictionary [later:
after much searching I found "vell, the maws or stomachs of calves fed
entirely on milk, used for making rennet", from which one may deduce a
velmonger would sell you the material you need to make cheese]),
weaver, dairyman. In some villages the lists had annotations after
the names, presumably to point out to the authorities infirmities
that might prevent the men from being completely reliable and
competent soldiers. Such handicaps as 'has but one eye', 'lost one
finger', 'rheumatic', 'foolish', 'both ankles out', or 'deaf' might
well exclude their sufferers.
I summarise here the numbers of men under each occupation. Following
that I reproduce the whole list, names and all, for the benefit of
those who are seeking their ancestors. Some of the names are difficult
to read, and one, William Palling, the apothecary, may be the William
Patten who was the apothecary and shopkeeper in the 1775
Sun Fire Office insurance records.]
|
Militia lists, Evershott, July 30th
1758
Richd Heal, Woolstapler
Richd Grimes, Labourer
John Morris, Labourer
John Short, Cordwainer
Thomas Pearce, Cordwainer
William Squibb, Butcher
Joseph Conway, Carpenter
Edward Bolton, Tanner
Jeremiah Pitman, Tanner
Thomas Dicker, Labourer
William Darch[?], Labourer
Thomas Maidment, Clerk
John Hambrey, Labourer
Francis Wareham, Butcher
Malachi Guppy, Yeoman
John Guppy, Yeoman
John Stone, Clark
Richard Abrahams, Labourer
Wm Frampton, Driller
John White, Cordwainer
Saml Mead, Cordwainer
Thomas Edwards, Yeoman
Benjamin Hopkins, Taylor
Reuben Toogood, Clark of Parish
Edwd Chubb junr, Cooper
James Daw, Cordwainer
Francis Bennett, Yeoman
Robt Oliver, Stockingmaker
Reuben Oliver, Woolcomber
James Roberts, Smith
Benjamin Bartlett, Labourer
Thomas Bartlett, Labourer
John Groves, Thatcher
John Roberts , Labr
Richd Groves, Thatcher
Thomas Broadby, Mason
Thomas Daw, Cordwainer
Robert Daw, Cordwainer
John Swattridge, Tanner
Isaac Hobby, Driller
Robert Whiting, Labourer
James Dalliber, Labourer
Timothy son " [?Dalliber], Labourer
John Oldis junr, Labourer
George Derryman, Labourer
John White, Tyler
Paul White, Tyler
Wm Palling [?Patten], Apothecary
Erasmus Parley, Cordwainer
Erasmus Cox, Driller
Harry Cox, Driller
George Young, Plumber
Joseph Walters, Plumber
James Chubb, Cooper
Thomas Crocker, Cordwainer
William Chubb, Cordwainer
Richard Stone junr, -- [?Cordwainer]
Thomas Bartlett junr, Woolcomber
John Bartlett, Clothier
Henry Brett, Barber
Thomas Roberts, Labourer
John Abrahams, Labourer
George Toop, Labourer
William Russell, do.
Edward Barrett, Cordwainer
John Sibly, Labourer
John Whackens, Joyner
James Bracey, Labourer
George King, Woolcomber
John Feald, Taylor
Willm Adams, Barber
Jacob Morris, Labourer
Sturmy[?] Baker, Woolstapler
James Willock, Labourer
William Randal, Barber
William Bates, Labourer
[Signed] Richard Miller, Constable of Tollerford
1764
[From 'Dorsetshire' in England Illustrated, 1764]
Evershot stands upon the borders of Somersetshire, about 123 miles
from London, and is a little obscure town, in which there is little of
note.
[When he was here, it was probably raining and the pub was shut.]
1775
[From Sun Fire Office records, 1775–87]
Bartlett, John (woolstapler)
Kellaway, Thomas (yeoman)
Maidment, Thomas (gent)
Patten, William (apothecary, shopkeeper)
1830
[From Pigot & Co., Directory: Dorsetshire, 1830]
Evershot is a small village and parish, in the hundred of Tollerford, situated midway between Beaminster and Cerne Abbas;
distant from London 129 miles by way of Sherborne. The village is a neat and clean
little place, without possessing any thing worthy of especial notice.
The river Frome rises in this parish, and a tributary stream to the
Iver has its source on the north side of the hill here. The church, an
ancient structure, was originally a chapel of ease to Frome St. Quintin, but the living is now
independent of that parish. The principal seat in the neighbourhood is
"Melbury house," the seat of the Earl of
Ilchester. Formerly a market was held here on Saturday, but it
has been discontinued some years; a fair is held on the 12th of May,
for cattle, pigs and cloth. The parish contained, in 1821, 587
inhabitants.
POST OFFICE Alexander Wellman, Post Master.–
Letters from all parts arrive from Dorchester
every day at twelve, and are despatched every afternoon at two.
NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY.
Bellamy Rev. Thomas, Chetnole
Bower Rev.–, Melbury Osmund
Coxwell Rev. Charles, Evershot
Ilchester the Right Hon. the Earl of,
Melbury house
Jenkins Miss, Chetnole
Matthews Rev. John, Chetnole
Perkins Mrs. Chetnole
Petty Henry, gent. Evershot
Petty John, esq. Frome St.
Quentin
Scott Capt. R.N. Chalmington
house
Woolcott Philip, esq. Chetnole
PROFESSIONAL PERSONS.
Coxwell Chs. academy, Evershot
Jennings John, attorney, Evershot
St. Quintin Ed. H. surgeon, Evershot
PUBLIC HOUSES.
Acorn (& excise office) John Chubb
Fox, Robert Way
SHOPKEEPERS & TRADERS.
Bow Richard, plumber, &c.
Cave Thos. & Son, linen manufrs. &
maltsters, Melbury Osmond
Chubb Edward, cooper
Chubb James, baker
Chubb John, auctioneer & maltster
Chubb John, jun. cooper
Cox James, tailor
Cox Thomas, tailor
Cox William, tailor
Deem Thomas, linen draper
Devenesh Jas. shopkeepr, Cattistock
Gilbert Wm. boot & shoemaker, &c.
Guppy Robert, shopkeeper
Jennings William, land agent
Jessop Joseph, boot & shoe maker
Knell James, boot & shoe maker
Lilly Sarah, tobacco manf. Chetnole
Martin John, land surveyor
Mullins George, baker
Nobbs John, shopkeeper, Cattistock
Nobbs Ts. veter. surgeon, Cattistock
Norman Henry, tanner
Palmer Rich. linen draper, Melbury
Osmond
Pouncy John, saddler &c
Short Joseph, shopkeeper
Swaffield Benjamin, timber merchant, East Chelborough
Trenchard William, butcher
Way Robert, butcher
CARRIERS.
To SHERBORNE, John Cox,
daily.
To YEOVIL, Thos. How, every
Friday.
1844
[From A Topographical Dictionary of England, Samuel Lewis,
5th edn 1844]
EVERSHOT, a chapelry, in the parish of Frome St
Quentin, union of Beaminster, hundred
of Tolleford, Dorchester
division of Dorset, 7½ miles (E. by N.) from Beaminster;
containing 566 inhabitants, and comprising 1409a. 2r. 33p. [1409
acres, 2 roods, 33 poles, or about 1409.7 acres, or 570 hectares]. A
fair for fat-cattle is held on the 12th of May; and there was formerly
a weekly market on Saturday, which has been discontinued. The tithes
have been commuted for £173. 10. 6., and the glebe comprises
about 1 acre. The chapel is dedicated to St Osmund. There is a
free grammar school, with an endowment in land, bequeathed, in 1628,
by Christopher Strickland [sic], the rent for
which is about £100 per annum; also a school for girls,
supported by the Earl of Ilchester.
1865
[From the Western Gazette, Friday 29 September 1865]
EVERSHOT.
DREADFUL FIRE.—TWENTY HOUSES DESTROYED.
On Tuesday last, a dreadful fire, which was not extinguished until
nearly twenty houses had been destroyed, and more than a hundred
people had been rendered homeless, occurred in this little town.
Summers Lane is a somewhat narrow thoroughfare leading out of the main
street of the village in a southerly direction, towards Cattistock. On Tuesday, at noon, this lane
contained several houses, but only one or two detached cottages now
remain. It was on the west side of this lane, a few paces from the
main street, and at the back of a house occupied by a carpenter named English, that the fire broke out. As far as we
could ascertain from personal enquiries on the spot, it was caused by
hot ashes placed in a back-house connected with Mr. English's
premises. The flames were discovered about one o'clock, the whole of
the house being almost instantly enveloped in them, as if by magic.
The neighbouring houses being thatched, and the thatch being as dry as
tinder in consequence of the long-continued drought, P.C. Hare, and others who were on the spot immediately, at
once saw that the whole of the lower end of the town was in danger and
messengers were instantly despatched for the two engines kept at
Melbury House. In the meantime, the wind blew the flames and sparks
across the narrow thoroughfare, upon the roofs of the barn,
slaughterhouse, &c., occupied by Mr. Trenchard,
butcher, and these were soon discovered to be on fire. The flames now
spread rapidly towards the main street, until the whole of the houses
in Summers Lane, with the exception of the one or two detached
cottages to which we have before referred, were one mass of fire, and
the lane was no longer passable. Telegraphic messages were now sent to
Yeovil for more engines, and to Dorchester for a staff of policemen. The request
for the engines reached Mr. Bradley, the
Captain of the Yeovil Volunteer Fire Brigade, at a quarter past two,
and his engine started in fifteen minutes after its receipt, and
reached Evershot in 45 minutes. Before its arrival, however, the wind
had changed and driven the flames across the main street, and house
after house in this thoroughfare also fell a victim to the flames. At
this time, the scene was a grand but dreadful one. Both sides of the
street and the lane were masses of fire, both thoroughfares were
impassable, the heat was so great that it was impossible to approach
any of the burning premises, and it appeared probable that the fire
would sweep up both sides of the street, and wipe Evershot out (as a
Yankee would say) altogether. It was only by dint of the most
strenuous and well-directed exertions of those in charge of one of the
Melbury House engines, and of the Yeovil Brigade engine, that this
catastrophe was averted, and the fire confined to the lower end of
the village. Two other engines were present—a second from Melbury
House and the West of England Company's from Yeovil,
but these were less serviceable than the two first named. To attempt
to extinguish the fire in the seventeen or eighteen houses in which it
was already raging was useless, and the efforts of the firemen were
directed to the cutting off of the flames, and thus preventing their
further spread up the street. There was an abundant supply of water
in a stream, one or two hundred yards distant, or the engines would
have been comparatively useless, and the total destruction the of the
place inevitable. By keeping the houses next to those which were
burning completely saturated with water, the firemen eventually
succeeded in checking the progress of the flames, and saving the
remainder of the little town.
The following are the names of the persons who were burned out of their
houses:— Charles White, labourer; George Brett, tailor; E. Rutley,
labourer; T. Frampton, labourer; A. English, carpenter; S. Christopher,
butcher; W. Groves, labourer; J. Groves, shepherd; J. Childs,
labourer; J. English, labourer; J. Tompkyns [?Tompkins], labourer; J. Groves, gamekeeper; A. Sartin,
widow; J. Perrett, cooper; S. Chubb, shopkeeper; J. Edwards,
bootmaker; E. Knell, tailor; S. Jessop,
labourer. Besides the premises occupied by these persons, one empty
house, and the barn, &c., occupied by Mr. Trenchard,
butcher, were entirely destroyed. Those persons who lived in Summers
Lane lost nearly the whole of their furniture; but those whose
residences were in the main street, having more time to prepare for
the reception of the enemy, managed to save the greater part of their
property. The whole of the buildings were the property of the Earl of Ilchester, and were uninsured. Mr. Chubb's stock and furniture were insured to some
extent, but his loss will, nevertheless, amount to £100. With
these exceptions, none of the property destroyed was, as far as we
could ascertain, insured.
A body of police soon arrived from Dorchester; and, under Supt. Brown,
who happened to be in the village, and Sergeant Vickery,
they rendered valuable assistance. We need hardly say that, at such a time as this,
everybody turned out, and, without regard to class or station, and
with a sublime indifference to dirt and discomfort, did all that could
be done to arrest the progress of the flames. Among the most active
were Mr. Baskett, solicitor, Mr. Martin, Mr. Baring, the Earl
of Ilchester's steward, the Rev. – Greenhill,
Mr. Clapcott, and Mr. Forward;
and even the Rev. – Collins, the clergyman of
the parish, and his wife and daughters, were seen handing to each
other the buckets of water for the engines. Mr. Clapcott,
Mr. Collins, Mr. Martin
and others, opened their houses and provided refreshments for all who
needed them. One was almost tempted to lose sight for a moment of the
crowd that had been rendered homeless, and to feel something like
satisfaction that so fine an opportunity had been for once afforded
for the working together in one common use, and with one mind and
soul, of a whole community. Such a sight is certainly quite as
uncommon as the destruction of half a town in a single afternoon.
Although the loss of property was great, no life was lost, nor any
personal injury sustained. This being so, the inhabitants have good
reason to comfort their souls with that reflection, so full of
resignation and true philosophy, "It might have been worse." We say
that no "life" was lost; and when we say this, we are not thinking of
human life only. It was reported that some pigs were unintentionally
converted into roast pork, but we are happy to say that such was not
the case, that the animals in question are still living, and that,
whenever they go the way of all swine, they will probably do so in a
strictly orthodox manner.
There has not yet been time for any steps to be taken to raise a fund
for the relief of the poorer sufferers from this sad affair, but we
are greatly mistaken in our estimate of the wealthy inhabitants of
Evershot and its neighbourhood if some such steps are not taken
shortly. Of the families left houseless, several were allowed to take
possession of a large unoccupied house, the property of the Earl of Ilchester, some have gone away to a distance,
and the remainder have been taken in temporarily by their neighbours.
Our news-agent was burnt out among others, but we cannot refrain from
expressing a hope that this circumstance will in no way interfere with
the discharge of his duties on Friday. One calamity a week is enough;
and it would be sad indeed if, immediately after such a catastrophe as
that of Tuesday, the Evershot people should be deprived of their
weekly copies of the Western Gazette.
[From the Western Flying Post,
3 October 1865]
EVERSHOT
EXTENSIVE FIRE
This place was on Tuesday last the scene of one of the most
destructive fires it has fallen to our lot to record. Eighteen
dwelling-houses, besides a barn and some stalls, were totally
destroyed, and but for the exertions of those entrusted with the
working of the engines employed in stopping the progress of the
flames, there is every reason to believe that property to a much
greater amount would have fallen prey to the devouring element. As it
is, the loss to the noble owner will, we understand, be considerable,
and although many articles were saved, yet the greater proportion of
the furniture, &c., belonging to the unfortunate inhabitants was
destroyed. A grocer's stock in trade and some fat pigs are also
mentioned as being among the property lost on the occasion. On the
breaking out of the fire the engine belonging to the Earl of Ilchester was soon on the spot, and a
telegraphic message was sent to Captain Bradley,
at Yeovil, requesting the aid of the Brigade.
On receipt of the news a muster of the members was soon made, and the
brigade drawn by four of Mrs Bulleu's best
horses, with their engine and apparatus, were soon on the scene. On
their arrival they at once set to work, and in conjunction with the
other engine succeeded in preventing the fire from spreading, and
aided by a good supply of water, the fire was pretty well got under by
eight o'clock. The engine belonging to the West of England Insurance
Company from Yeovil which arrived during the
evening, relieved the Brigade, who as soon as they saw no danger of
the fire spreading, set off on their return journey, arriving at
Yeovil at half-past nine. We are informed that very little of the
property was insured. Many conjectures are made as to the origin of
the fire, but the cause most generally assigned seems to be that some
straw was ignited by wood ashes thrown by one of the tenants on the
ground adjoining one of the houses. The thatched roof of one of the
dwellings by some means was ignited and the rapid spread of the fire,
aided by the wind was the result. This catastrophe has rendered some
twenty families houseless.
[From The Dorset County Chronicle,
5 October 1865]
EVERSHOT
The late Fire
We learn that to mitigate the losses of the poor cottagers a
subscription has been started, and the youthful Earl of Ilchester, Mrs. Strangways,
Mr. Martin and the principal residents are
among the subscribers. Eighteen families, living in fourteen houses,
have severely felt the ravages of the fire. Their names are as
follows: Aubrey English, carpenter (in whose
house the fire is supposed to have commenced); Charles White, labourer; George Brett,
tailor; Edward Rutley, labourer; Thomas Frampton,
labourer; Stephen Christopher, butcher;
John Groves, labourer; John Groves,
jun., gamekeeper; John English, labourer;
James Childs, labourer; John Tompkins
(?Tompkyns), labourer; Ann Sartin, widow; John
Perrett, cooper; Samuel Chubb,
grocer; John Edwards, shoemaker; Esau Knell, tailor; and Samuel Jessop,
labourer. In addition to the destruction of the cottages we learn
that two stables, two slaughter-houses, a barn, cowshed, and several
linhays [a shed or other farm building open in front, usually with a
lean-to roof (Shorter OED)] were involved in the conflagration.
Mr. Chubb's stock-in-trade we hear was insured
in the West of England Insurance Office; and Mr. Trenchard,
butcher, who had property in the outbuildings, was also insured in
the same office. The cottagers' furniture suffered as much from the
hasty removal as from the effects of the fire, and we hope the
subscription list will be sufficient to recoup them for the loss they
have sustained. The total damage is estimated at about £3000.
[From The Dorset County Chronicle, 5 October 1865]
A Railway Guard Killed
H. Lock, Esq., the deputy-coroner, held an
inquest at the Lion Hotel on view of the body of William Phillips, a Great Western under guard. It would
appear that on Friday evening in company with Thomas Kilby,
the head guard, deceased was 'working' the down goods train, a
heavily laden one. It was behind time, and about 11 o'clock at night
they left Yetminster Station, shortly after
which one of the driving rods broke. This necessitated the division of
the train, the head guard going on with the first portion and leaving
the deceased in charge of the remainder. The engine, after getting the
first portion to Evershot, returned, and upon approaching the tail
end of the train the driver saw that Phillips shewed by his lamp 'all
right'. Deceased should have connected the engine, but finding he did
not do so the engine-driver jumped down and found the deceased lying
between the rails with his head near the tender wheel. Deceased was
raised, but though breathing was found insensible, and shortly after
died. The impression of the driver and stoker was to the effect that
the deceased sat down between the rails just in front of the
carriages and fell asleep, and the coupling chain struck him on the
side of his head which led to his death. This theory was disputed by
Mr John Clapcott, surgeon, who was called in to
see the body. Saving a slight abrasion he could discover no marks on
the head, but the left shoulder was smashed and driven in, producing
hemorrhage. His opinion was that he was struck while standing,
probably asleep, and crushed by the buffer, falling afterwards.
Verdict "Accidental Death."
[From the Western Gazette, Friday 6 October 1865]
EVERSHOT
Fatal Railway Accident.—On Saturday evening, an inquest was held at
the Lion Inn, Holywell, before Mr. Lock, deputy coroner, and a respectable jury, of
which Mr. Wm. Kellaway was foreman. From the
evidence adduced it appears that, on Friday night, about eleven
o'clock, the goods train from Yeovil arrived at a
place about a mile and a quarter from Evershot station, when a portion
of the trucks was left there in charge of an under guard, named Wm. Phillips, whilst the other portion of the train
was taken on to Evershot station. On the return of the engine from
Evershot, the driver saw the lamp signalling "all right," but the
guard in charge was afterwards found in a senseless state on the
line. He was quickly got into one of the vans, and removed to the
Lion Inn, and medical aid sent for. Dr. Clapcott,
with P.C. Hare, quickly arrived, but on
examination, the poor fellow was found to be quite dead, the
collarbone having been driven into the lungs, causing fatal
hemmorrhage. It is supposed that the deceased must have placed the
lamp which signalled "all right," and then leaned against the buffer,
waiting for the engine from Evershot, and, whilst there, fallen
asleep, and continued so until the engine came up and caught him
between the buffers. The poor fellow was from Swindon, and about 30
years of age; he has left a widow with two children, which will
shortly be increased to three. The jury returned a verdict of
"Accidental Death."
The Late Fire.—We regret to state that a number of unprincipled
people carried off many of the articles rescued from the flames. A
correspondent informs us that plunder was the order of the day.
Blankets and bedroom carpets which had been saved from the fire
disappeared most mysteriously, and the contents of a butt of cider,
the property of Mr. S. Christopher, which
had been removed to Mr. Knell's garden for
safety, were likewise stolen.We trust that the heartless wretches who
took advantage of this great calamity to rob their neighbours may be
speedily brought to justice. On Sunday by nine o'clock, the
inhabitants of the neighbouring towns and villages began to pour into
the place to view the scene of the fire. The street was literally
crowded throughout the day, not less than from 600 to 1,000 people
being present at one time. In the evening, the church was crowded,
many strangers being present in the expectation of hearing the Rev. E. Collins make some reference to the sad event. The
rev. gentleman selected his text from the first verse of the 27th
chapter of Proverbs:—"For thou knowest not what a day may bring
forth." A considerable part of his sermon related to the recent
catastrophe, so that those who went to hear his references to the one
topic of the week were not disappointed. We are pleased to find that a
subscription has been set on foot for the benefit of the poorer
sufferers, and that the youthful Earl of Ilchester,
Mr. Martin, and other gentlemen in the
neighbourhood, have contributed liberally. £70 was raised in two
days.
1871
[From the Beat Book of the Evershot police constable, in the section
detailing local convicted persons]
Name: Thomas Jeans
Address: Rampisham
Age: 47
Height: 5/7 [5ft 7in, or 1.70m]
Complexion: D [?dark]
Eyes: DB [?dark blue or dark brown]
Hair: B
Figure: Stout
S or M: M [?male, but what is 'S'?]
Ostensible means of support: Blacksmith
Date of conviction: 6th March 1871
Crime: For Arson
Punishment: 7 years transportation
Prosecutor: Mrs Jeans
[Presumably transportation was still to Australia at this time.
This case of arson was easily the most serious crime in the
constable's Beat Book. Most of the other incidents were poaching,
allowing horses to stray on the highway, driving an engine (no doubt a
steam engine) outside permitted hours and, well out in front, drunk
and disorderly. The Tiger's Head at Rampisham
seemed to be the centre of the constable's problems in this.]
[From Mercer & Crocker's Directory ... Dorchester, 1871]
Evershot is a parish and village 6 miles from Beaminster.
The church, dedicated to St. Osmond, is a modern building [!]. The
living is annexed with Frome St. Quinton, value
£325 per annum; patron, The Earl of Ilchester.
The Rev. Edward Collins, M.A. is the rector.
Letters via Dorchester; the nearest money
order office is at Maiden Newton.
Baring W. Windham, Esq.
Baskett Charles Henry Esq., solicitor, clerk to Maiden Newton Turnpike Trust [a turnpike was like
a tollgate on a motorway charging a fee from anyone using the road],
solicitor to West Dorset Association for the Protection of Property,
steward of the manor of Wyke Regis and Elwell [no prizes for guessing who supplied all
this information for the Directory]
Christopher John, butcher
Chubb Samuel, shopkeeper, cooper, and postmaster
Chubb Mrs. Mary, cooper
Clapcott John Joseph, Esq., surgeon
Collins Rev. Edward, M.A.
Conway Henry, builder
Frampton Thomas, turner
Grammar School, Mr. Thomas Hawkins, master
Guppy Mrs. M., farmer, Gurt farm
Jessop Robert, shopkeeper
Kellaway William, baker and farmer
Martin Arthur, Esq.
Peach Mrs. Ann, farmer
Pouncy John, saddler
Pulman Mrs. Jane, blacksmith
Richards George, Strangeways Arms
Roberts Mrs. Elizabeth, blacksmith
Ryall Rebecca and Susan,
shopkeepers
Snaith Mrs. Mary, farmer
Spong Mr. Charles, senr.
Spong Charles, Acorn Tavern
Squire Francis, boot maker
Spracklin Mrs. Elizabeth, laundress
Terry Henry, tailor
Trenchard John, farmer and butcher
[Three lady blacksmiths in the village! Perhaps they just owned the
smithies and employed men to do the metalbashing. But perhaps not.]
1877
[The shop was run as a cooperative from the 1870s to at least the
1890s. The Dorset Record Office has the minutes of the management
committee from 1877 to 1893, and they make fascinating reading. The
committee seem to have been faced by all the problems now confronting
Tesco or Marks & Spencer. For instance:]
10th May 1880: Mr Tuck reported That the Assistant
was in the habit of driving furiously through the street. A resolution
was passed requesting him to desist.
31st June 1881: The Storekeeper [an employee of the cooperative]
enquired of the Committee the cause of his dismissal and was informed
by the Chairman that it was owing to mismanagement.
12th September 1881: Resolved ... to blow up Mr John
Samways for not sending up a parcel which had been at the station
since Saturday morning. [Committee meetings were held fortnightly on
Monday evenings.]
12th June 1883: The Storekeeper reported That much damage was done
to the bacon by rats. It was considered advisable to adopt some means to
prevent the same [the management feebly passing the buck!].
[Other problems include the question of which outstanding bills from
their suppliers the cooperative could afford to pay; pilfering by the
Assistants (generally employed as apprentices) who on one occasion
were caught having taken six cakes from the packages they were
bringing from the station; no reliable way of ensuring that parcels
delivered by rail and arriving at the station at Holywell
were passed quickly to the store at Evershot before the goods rotted
in the sun; how to find and keep good Storekeepers and Assistants and
how much to pay them; finding suppliers of goods of all sorts of
reasonable quality at reasonable prices; and even a case of the
Storekeeper and his wife having 'undue influence' on the apprentices
in matters of religion!]
1895
[From JS Udall, Dorsetshire Folk-Lore, 1922]
Dumb Maids' Plot. Amongst my notes I find a reference to a tradition
attaching to a field called the "Dumb Maids' Plot" in the parish of
Evershot, not far from Stutcombe Bottom (the fine weather musketry
range of the old Evershot Volunteers), according to which three dumb
sisters used to meet to while away the time by dancing on the green.
This tradition was mentioned by the late Mr. S.R. Baskett,
who acted as cicerone [guide for sightseers] at a meeting of
the Dorset Field Club in that neighbourhood in August 1895; but no
further particulars appear to have been given, nor can I find any
reference to it in the published accounts of that meeting either in
the Dorset County Chronicle or in the Proceedings of the
[Folklore?] Society.
1911
[From Kelly's Directory, 1911]
EVERSHOT is a parish and railway station, 149 miles from London by rail, 7½ east-by-north from Beaminster, 12 north-east from Bridport and 13 north-west from Dorchester, in the Western division of the
county, hundred of Tollerford, petty
sessional division of Dorchester, union of Beaminster, county court
district of Bridport, rural deanery of Whitchurch
(Cerne portion), archdeaconry of Dorset and
diocese of Salisbury. The Weymouth branch of
the Great Western railway passes near the borders of this parish, and
the Evershot station is about 1½ miles east from the church,
at a place called Holywell, but within the
parish of Frome St. Quinton. A fine stream
called "St. John's Spring," rises here, and forms one of the principal
tributaries of the river Frome. The church of St. Osmund, restored,
with the exception of the tower and chancel, in 1853, is of Forest
marble, with dressings of Ham Hill stone, in the Gothic style of the
Early 15th century, and consists of chancel, nave of three bays,
aisles, south porch, and a western tower containing a clock and 6 bells:
the stained east window is a memorial to the late Mr. Martin and his wife: the church has 350 sittings.
The registerdates from the year 1694.The living is a chapelry, annexed
with the rectory of Melbury Bubb to that of
Frome St. Quintin, joint net yearly value £380, with residence,
in the gift of the Earl of Ilchester, and
held since 1907 by the Rev. William Gilbert Cobbett.
The Earl of Ilchester J.P. is lord of the manor and the principal
landowner. The soil is chalk and sand; subsoil, chalk and sand. The
chief crops are wheat, barley and oats. The ara is 1,409 acres;
rateable value, £2,267; the population in 1901 was 353.
Post, M.O. & T. Office.—Miss Joanna Pouncy,
sub-postmistress. Letters arrive from Dorchester at 6.40 a.m.&
1.15 p.m. & and are dispatched at 11 a.m. & 6.50 p.m.
Grammar School, with residence for master, endowed by Christopher Stickland esq. in 1628, but now merged in a
mixed elementary school, built 1874, for 130 children; average
attendance 95; James George, master.
Railway Station, William Henry Shord, station
master.
County Police Station, Charles Light, constable.
Carrier to Yeovil.—William Wyatt, tues. &
fri.
PRIVATE RESIDENTS
Angas Richard Lindsey, Moorfields
Baskett Samuel Russell, Laurel Hill
Bingley Frederick Sparkes Norman
Clarke Eustace F. The Old Cottage
Cobbett Rev. Wm. Gilbert (rector)
Conway Henry
Gay Rev. Charlie Matthews M.A. (curate)
Green John R.
Hirst Ernest William, Summer lodge
Vincent Capt. William
Whitaker Alfred Gurth, The Mansion
COMMERCIAL
Ancient Order of Foresters, Court Robin Hood, 6,358 (John R. Green, sec.) Acorn Inn
Angas Richard Lindsey, estate agent to the Earl of
Ilchester, Moorfields
Barber & Sons, farmers, Common frm
Baskett & Son, solicitors
Baskett Samuel Russell (firm, Baskett &
Son), solicitor
Bird & Son, general stores
Burbidge Geo. farmer, Loxtree farm
Chubb Elizabeth (Miss), beer retailer
Chubb Elizabeth (Mrs.), apartments
Conway Theo. Limited, builders
Crabb Albert G. Acorn inn
Groves Louisa (Miss), dress maker
Hawkins Hedley G. farmer, Burl frm
Hill Emma (Mrs.), dress maker
Iggulden James, shopkeeper
Jeans James, baker
Legg Albert, farmer, Girt farm
Lock Joseph Marven, butcher
Morris John, Strangways Arms hotel
Penny Wm. Percy, frmr, West Hill frm
Pike Edwin, boot maker
Pouncy John, saddler
Pullman Jane B. (Miss), blacksmith &
farmer
Pullman Robert, coal dealer & farmer
Toop Harry, farmer, Lewcombe wood
Whitaker Alfred Gurth M.R.C.S.Eng.,
L.R.C.P.Lond., physician & surgeon, & medical officer &
public vaccinator Evershot district, Beaminster union, The Mansion
1918
18 July: First meeting (after an Inaugural meeting held earlier the
same year) of the Evershot Women's Institute in the Club Room of the
Acorn Inn.
1919
10 July: Evershot Parish Council proposed building a village hall.
Evershot WI proposed buying a hut from the War Office. The WI plan was
adopted, and the hall was duly built as a Peace Memorial.
1921
28 April: The first WI meeting in the new village hall.
1923
29 September: A 99-year lease agreed between the Earl of Ilchester and the Trustees of the
village hall on a plot of land where the hall still stands.
1939
All WI meetings during the Second World War were held in members'
houses because the army occupied the village hall. See 1919 and 1921
above.
[From Kelly's Directory, 1939]
EVERSHOT is a parish with railway station, 135 miles from London by rail, 7 east-by-north from Beaminster, 12 north-east from Bridport, 12 miles from Sherborne
and 13 north-west from Dorchester, in the
Western division of the county, hundred of Tollerford,
petty sessional division of Dorchester,
rural district of Beaminster, county court
district of Bridport, rural deanery of Cerne, archdeaconry of Sherborne
and diocese of Salisbury. The Weymouth branch of the Great Western railway
passes near the borders of this parish, and the Evershot station is
1½ miles east from the village, at a place called Holywell, but within the parish of Frome St. Quintin. A fine stream called "St.
John's Spring" rises here, and forms one of the principal tributaries
of the river Frome. Electricity is available. The church of St.
Osmund, restored, with the exception of the tower and chancel in 1853,
is of Forest marble, with dressings of Ham Hill stone, in the Gothic
style of the Early 15th century, and consists of chancel, nave of
three bays, aisles, south porch, and a western tower, containing a
clock and six bells: the east window and other stained windows are
memorials: there is a memorial tablet to the men connected with the
parish who fell in the Great War, 1914–18: among the memorials in the
chancel is one erected by O.A. Collins esq. to
his father [?Rev. Edward Collins: see Index
of people and places]: the church has 300 sittings. The register dates
from the year 1694. The living is a rectory, with those of Frome St. Quintin and Melbury
Bubb annexed, joint net yearly value £450, with 19 acres of
glebe and residence, in the gift of the Earl of Ilchester
O.B.E. and held since 1926 by the Rev. Willie Gulliford
B.A. of London University and L.Th. of Durham University. There is a
Gospel hall. The Earl of Ilchester O.B.E.
(vice-lieut.) is lord of the manor and the principal landowner. The
soil is chalk and sand; subsoil, chalk and sand. The land is mainly
pasture. The area is 1,569 acres; the population in 1931 was 295.
Post, M.O. & T. Office. Letters through Dorchester
Railway Station, Holywell
Police Station
Carriers, F. Legg & Sons, to Yeovil, omnibus mon. fri. & sat. & Dorchester, wed. & sat.
PRIVATE RESIDENT.
(For T N's [telephone numbers] see general list of Private Residents
at end of book.)
Bingham Rear-Adml. Hon. Edward Barry Stewart
V.C., O.B.E. Four Gables
Fry Mrs H.S. The Old rectory
Gaster Sidney
Gulliford Rev. Willie B.A. (rector), The
Rectory
Leycester-Penrhyn George, The Mansion
Rapson Louis Richard
Stavordale Lord, Summer lodge
Vincent Comdr. Eustace H. R.N
Woodford Capt. Douglas Frederick F.L.A.S.
Moorfields
COMMERCIAL.
Marked thus ° farm 150 acres or over.
Acorn Inn (Jas. Fredk. Sweet)
Ancient Order of Foresters, Court Robin Hood, 6,358 (Hy. T. Williams, sec.), Acorn inn
Bird & Son, family grocers, drapers &
ironmongers, Fore street. TN 23
Broadway Claude Victor, farmer, Common farm
°Buckland Benj. farmer, Burl farm (postal
address, Holywell, Dorchester)
Buckland Stanley Chas. farmer, Girt farm
Burbidge Ernest H. farmer Loxtree fm
Christopher Arthur, agricultural
implement agt. TN 47
Clements S.K. (Miss), district nurse
Cousins Fredk. Regnld. farmer, West Hill
Gaster Sidney M.R.C.S.Eng., L.R.C.P.Lond physcn.
& surgn. & medical officer & public vaccinator Evershot
district, Beaminster Area Guardians Committee. TN 39
Holland House Properties (Capt. Douglas F. Woodford
F.L.A.S. genl. manager), Moorfields. TN 22
Legg F.& Sons, carriers. TN 43
Legg Frank, farmer, Ladymeade & Lewcombe
woods
Meech Thos. Frank, baker
Randall Harold J. beer retlr. Royal Oak
Shields Christphr. St. B. riding school
STRANGWAYS ARMS HOTEL
(Eric Elias James Shiner M.C. proprietor),
Evershot station (postal address, Holywell, Dorchester). TN Evershot
55
Strangways Estates Ltd. (Capt. Douglas Woodford
F.L.A.S. genl. manager), Moorfields. TN 22
Sweet James Frederick & Sons, taxi
proprietors, Acorn inn. TN 28
Vine Rt. newsagt
Wheller Valantine Roberts, blacksmith
Woodford Capt. Douglas Frederick F.L.A.S.
estate agent to the Strangways Estates Ltd. & to the Earl of Ilchester O.B.E. Moorfields. TN 22
1975
A list of village organisations entitled to appoint members to the
Evershot village hall committee, dated 16 December, is among the
village hall archives. The list consists of the following 16:
Evershot Parish Council
Parish Meeting of Frome St Quentin
Parish Meeting of Melbury Bubb
Parish Meeting of Melbury Sampford
Evershot Parochial Church Council
Evershot Gospel Hall
Evershot Brownies Group
Evershot Drama Group
Evershot Friendly Society
Evershot Mothers' Union
Evershot Play Group
Evershot Branch of the Royal British Legion
Evershot Sports and Social Club
Evershot Women's Institute
Evershot Young Farmers' Club
Sticklands School
Of the 13 Evershot organisations mentioned, only four, the Parish
Council, the Parochial Church Council, the Play Group and Sticklands
School, are still active in 2002.
The New Millennium
Like many other communities in Britain and around the
world, Evershot felt it should commemorate the new millennium in some way. But
in what way?
Evershot likes to do things democratically. The village
was consulted and asked for suggestions. Eventually some ten or twelve ideas
crystallised, ranging from a seat for the elderly to rest on after the long
walk to the post office, to the inevitable street party. The village voted on
the suggestions, and the one that won most support was an ambitious project to
make the source of the River Frome a feature which the village could be proud
of and which would be an attraction for the many visitors to the village.
The parish council elected Steve Crate, the village
baker, who had been the prime mover of the idea, to organise and oversee the
project. As the project took shape, other enthusiastic villagers came forward
to help, among them the untiring Pam and Brian Harvey. A
plan was thrashed out and put to the Ilchester Estates who own the land where
the river rises. The Estate approved the plan, gave a plot of land round the
source to the village and kindly waived many of the strings that might have
held up the work. The parish council agreed to provide a sum of money each year
for the upkeep of the site, which had always been planned to be a
low-maintenance affair.
A second concern was to safeguard the water
supply. Wessex Water was approached and Pam applied for
a grant of £250 from Wessex Water Mark. The Dorset Rangers helped with
free advice and artwork worth £500 for the planned information boards at
the site. Castle Gardens in Sherborne gave a free tree. West Dorset District
Council agreed to 'fund-match' up to £1,750, encouraged by the use of
local people and materials in the plan. The Dorset Rural Development Agency
contributed £500, and St Blaise £100. Denis Carpenter gave massive help and support at a crucial
moment.
The first job was to clear the site, which was overgrown with
brambles and every other kind of tough weed. The presence of a well only inches
below the surface was a worry. But a very careful JCB driver was found who did
a most difficult job and made it look easy. Some of the local stone, green
sandstone, was found in Melbury Osmund which the
Estate agreed we could have if we could collect it.
Now the need was
for skilled builders to do the construction work. Fortunately Paul
Bowditch, living in Melbury
Osmund, but mad keen to get involved, became the site chief and, with other
locals such as Paul Crate and Jamie Fry, spent many rainsoaked Sunday afternoons mixing concrete
by hand and making the wellhead and surrounding walls.
The research for
the information boards was done mostly by Pete Bachrach, Pam and
Steve, who between them found an amazing amount, much of
it in the marvellously organised Dorset Record Office. Trees were bought from
Scots Nursery which Karen Hansen and the children came
to help plant. A group from the World Earth people, who come once a year,
visited the site and told us that two laylines actually meet at this spot,
which is why the water is so pure.
Now the final work is complete, with the information
boards, the gravel and the pointing of the stonework all done. So the team can be
content that they have created from scratch something for Evershot which the
village can take pride in.
The Team
Steve
Crate, team leader
Pete Bachrach
Paul Bowditch
Denis Carpenter
Paul Crate
Jamie Fry
Pam
Harvey
Brian Harvey
Alan Hewitt
Martin Miles
Shelley
Potter
Rhiannon Potter
Becky Reynolds
Izzy Reynolds
Di Storey
Si
Storey
George Wright