1901, 22nd January, accession of Edward VII as king.
21st March, a Parish Meeting was held in the Schoolroom. Mr Dodd and Mr F. Barter elected overseers for the ensuing year.
This year's Census was on the night of Sunday, 31st March, and showed there were 145 inhabitants - 79 males and 66 females.
It will be noticed that several inhabitants are still engaged in the gloving trade, some by hand or machine at home, or at a factory - presumably at neighbouring Milborne Port. There, the factory in North Street was to close in 1984 because of foreign competition, with the substantial premises being redeveloped into apartments and businesses, and named Glovers Court. There is also a Glovers Close housing development close by.
Interestingly many familes are beginning to be more imaginative in naming their children, and now often with two christian names instead of the usual one. For some reason children are not noted as 'Scholars' as previously.
It will be noticed what fluctuation and overall decline there has been with the population of Purse Caundle: 1841 - 183; 1851 - 177; 1861 - 185; 1871 - 176; 1881 - 194; 1891 - 160; 1901 - 145. Thereafter there is to be a continuing gradual decline into the 21st century - see 2001.
1902, 29th March. A Parish Meeting was held. Mr F. Barter and Mr W. Holloway elected overseers.
1903, 26th March. A Parish Meeting was held. Messrs William and Robert Holloway appointed\overseers.
1904-1905 The church tower and chancel were again restored, at a cost of £400, with some work also carried out in the nave. Subsequently a painted and decorated notice-board was produced (see illustration), with the following wording:
The Incorporated Church
Building Society
GRANTED £10, A.D. 1905, TOWARDS
RESEATING AND REPAIRING THISCHURCH, UPON CONDITION THAT
ALL THE SITTINGS ARE FOR THE
FREE USE OF THE PARISHIONERS
ACCORDING TO LAW.
25th July. The Times reported on the Polo Tournament (Country Clubs' Junior Championship) that began on the ground of the Blackmore Vale Polo Club at Manor Farm, Purse Caundle the day previous (Monday). It had been promoted by the Blackmore Vale Club with a view to encouraging polo among country clubs, the members of which had not competed for the higher honours of the County Polo Associstion annual compeitions. Blackmore Vale supported three teams: Grove-house, Marnhull, and Sherborne, none of which played on the first day.
26th July. The Times reported on the second day's polo, when Grove House beat North Devon, but Marnhull lost to the Aldeshot military team. Sherborne had a bye. Only a handicap was to be played on this third day.
29th July. The Times reported the semi-final of the Country Clubs' Junior Championship, with no Blackmore Vale team competing.
31st July (Monday). The Times reported the last day's Championship Polo at Purse Caundle the previous Saturday. 'The attendance was a capital one, and Mr H. E. Lambe is to be congratulated on having brought the new competition to so successful an issue. The teams which were left in the final tie were Aldershot [8th Hussars officers] and Sherborne, with the former winning by ten goals to none. . . A much closer game was the final tie in the handicap tournament' which went to extra time. 'The prizes were distributed by Mrs Phipps-Hornby.'
15th August. The Times reported the previous day's (Monday) polo at the Blackmore Vale Club's ground at Purse Caundle, as part of the provincial tournaments being held around the country. Only one tie was played, with Admington Hall beating Grove House (H. E. Lambe, L. de Las Casas, J. C. Holford, and R. H. H. Eden) by 13 goals to two.
1906 The national Board of Education published a Return of Schools as at 1st January this year. Under 'Elementary Day Schools aided by Parliamentary Grants', for Caundle Purse: 'Number of Scholars for whom accommodation possible - 36; Average attendance - 24; Annual Grant - £49 0s. 9d.'
31st March. A Parish Meeting was held. Mr Robert Clarke and Mr H. R. Watson appointed overseers.
1907, 25th March. A Parish Meeting ws held. Mr H. R. Watson and Mr S. T. Ryall appointed overseers; Mr Gould and Mr Hayter appointed School Managers.
12th June. The rector, Rev. C. H. Cowan, and the two churchwardens H. R. Watson and C. A. Newman, petitioned the Diocese of Salisbury for a faculty for a stained glass window at the East end of the church in memory of the late Nathaniel Surtees who had died in 1902, and who will be found in the 1881 Census at the manor house, but not thereafter. The faculty was granted on 4th July 1907 (WSRO ref: D/1/61/43/21).
19th August (Monday), The Times reported 'A good entry of 11 has been received for the open (Blackmore Vale) tournament, promoted by the Blackmore Vale mPolo Club. Play begins today on the Purse Caundle ground.' The entry included a Blackmore Vale team of Captain A. Courage, Mr H. S. Harrison, Mr J. C. Holford, and Captain Phipps-Hornby.
1908, 21st January. There was a small Altered Apportionment of the Tithe Rentcharge under the Tithe Acts 1836 to 1891, of 18th March 1840, due to a new survey and inclusion of land previously free of Tithe Rent Charge, on land now owned by Sir Henry Hugh Arthur Hoare, and occupied by Samuel Thomas Ryall.
27th March. A Parish Meeting was held. Mr S. Ryall and Mr James Gould(?) appointed Overseers; Mr Gould and Mr Hayter appointed School Managers.
27th April (Monday). The Times reported: 'The snowstorm on Saturday prevented Mr H. E. Lambe and Mr L. Lambart, the joint hon. secretaries of the [Blackmore Vale Polo Club] spring tournament at Sherborne, from playing the final tie in the handicap, for which 16 men had sent in their names. . . Six teams entered in the competition for the Spring Cup, which opened the season on the Spurles and Purse Caundle grounds, and it was found possible to play off all the ties. . . Great disappointment was expressed that the tournament could not be finished, but the snow was several inches deep on both grounds on Saturday, and play was quite out of the question.'
1909, 25th March. A Parish Meeting was held. Mr James Gould and Mr Frank Curtis appointed Overseers; Mr James Gould and Mr John Hayter appointed School Managers.
1910, 8th April. A Parish Meeting was held. Mr Arthur j. Brine and Mr C. A. Newman appointed Overseers; Mr James Gould and Mr John Hayter appointed School Managers.
6th May, accession of George V as king.
1911, 22nd March. A Parish Meeting was held. Mr H. R. Watson and Mr F. Ryall appointed Overseers; Mr James Gould and Mr John Hayter appointed School Managers.
This year's Census was taken on the night of Sunday, 2nd April, (see http://www.1911census.co.uk/) showed there were 170 inhabitants in Purse Caundle. One series of entries show Mrs Ker as a resident at Crendle Court with her three unmarried daughters, and a large retinue of indoor and outdoor staff here and in other houses and cottages on the estate. She was Eva Frances Caroline, born c.1850, the eldest child of Sir Thomas Bateson, 1st Baron Deramore, and Caroline Elizabeth Anne, second daughter and co-heir of George, 4th Lord Dynevor. On 4th March 1871 she married David Alfed Ker, eldest son of David Stewart Ker of Montalto, co. Down, Ireland, who died 8th December 1877. She seems not to have re-married. The Building News of 9th October 1908 had contained a print and gound plan of 'Purse Caundle House' [sic - Crendle House], for the Hon. Mrs Alfred Ker. The architect had been Walter H. Brierley - see illustration.
Among the other inhabitants and families around the village were the Goulds at Home Farm, Mrs Caroline Newman and staff in the Manor House, the Rev. & Mrs George Cowan in the rectory, the Ryalls at Church Farm, the Brines at the Travellers Rest public house, the Hansfords at the Dairy House, the Watsons at Manor Farm, the Hayters at Tripps Farm, the Barters at Rue Farm, with the News and Dyers down in Rushton Bottom. There were naturally a number of children in the village, but it seemed to be the exception rather than the rule for children to attend school before the age of ten years: and even then the youngest recorded was aged seven. Judging by the recorded places of birth there is still clear evidence of widespread movement of labour around the country. Only one person was shown as still being involved in the glove-making industry.
10th July. This day ws held at Sherborne the sale by auction of much of Sir Henry Hoare's estate, consisting of Purse\Caundle, Stourton Caundle and Caundle Marsh. This sale was subsequently fully reported in the local weekly newspaper. Accoring to the auctioneer, as a result of the current situation Sir Henry "had come to the conclusionnthat he would be a wise man to get rid of some of his wide track of land. It was with very great reluctance that he had decided to sever the long connection and cordial relationship which had always existed between him and the tenants of the estate." The speaker also believed he was right in saying that it was with very great regret indeed that Sir Henry Hoare had come to the conclusion that it would be wise on his part bearing in mind all the different and changing circumstances that were prevailing then, to take that step, and he (the speaker) was sure that nobody would be more pleased than Sir Henry if he found at the end of the day's proceedings that the old tenants were still remaining on the farms with which they had so long been associated and which hitherto they had rented from him. The rents from farms had been little altered since 1850, due to the depression in agriculture. In much of Dorset the farm labourers and their families lived in poverty, working long hours for low wages, living in cramped cottages, often in a bad state of repair.The tenanted farms were held by copyhold tenure, which meant for the duration of three named lives. The low rents paid to the Manor estate Lord were subsidised by the payments made to the estate when a tenant died, and a new name was added to the copyhold. [Quite how much of this related to Purse Caundle is not clear, but Sir Henry Hoare obviously felt it was time to 'call it a day' as far as his large estate was concerned.
A copy of the Sale Catalogue is in the DHC, ref: D/FFO/38/126, but unfortunately without the accompanying map. However, use of the map relating to the Altered Apportionment of Tithe Rent of 1912 (see 1912 below) has been used to determine the locations of the various properties involved. Among the several Purse Caundle lots, and results of sale according to the newspaper report were:
Lot 2 Manor Farm of just over 351 acres, including the 'well-known and exceptionally good Blackmore Vale Polo Ground. The farm land is in a high state of cultivation (the tenants having taken many prizes for their flock of Dorset sheep). The Manor Farm ws held by Messrs Eden & Watson at a yearly rent of £126 [£9,198 at 2007 values], and the Polo Club premises by Messrs Ridley and others on a lease for 21 years from Michaelmas 1910 at a yearly rent of £50 [£3,650]. The lot met a starting bid of £2,500 [£233,607], but was withdrawn at £3,200.'
Lot 3 Church Farm, 'a capital dairy farm, in the occupation of Mr S. T. Ryall, at an apportioned rent of £60 [£4,380] per annum, just over 131 acres. It was started at £1,000, and sold at £2,150 [£156,955] to Mr W. R. Lake, Stalbridge (as agent).'
Lot 7 'A valuable agricultural holding of just over 46 acres, known as The Court Farm, in the occupation of Mr Samuel Ryall, the apportioned rental being £31 2s [£2,270] per annum. It was started at £600, and knocked down to Mr A. W. Parker of Cheltenham at £1,150 [£83,952].' Included were two cottages and garden - now Hardys Cottage.
Lot 8 'A picturesque cottage,, productive garden, and orchard, situate in Cockhill Lane, let to Mr L. Dennett at a rent of £3 [£219] per annum, was withdrawn at £45 [£3,285].' Now called June Cottage - see 1918.
Lot 9 'A freehold ground rent of £1 5s per annum (paid by Lady Theodora Guest, who was believed to hold the Leasehold interest), secured upon a cottage and garden in the parish of Purse Caundle, and containing an area of 1r 17p, leased to Mr George Pitman of Milborne Port, for 99 years from December 25, 1891, was witheld at £28 [£2,044].' Now called Villa Cottages - see 1918.
Lot 9A The Manor [LORDSHIP] of Purse Caundle with Quit Rents arising out of various properties situated in the Parish of Purse Caundle, and amounting to £1 1s 4d [£77] per annum.
Lady Theodora Guest, on Farm and Lands - 19s 8d.
Sir C. Medlycott, House, Garden and Orchard - 8d.
Lady Theodora Guest, Lands at Goat Hill - 1s 0d.
Total = £1 1s 4d.
together with A Small Plantation Adjoining the High Road from Milborne Port to Henstridge, and containing 0a. 0r. 19p., or thereaboputs. [This was the strip of woodland along the main A30 road just before the turning off right to Stalbridge Weston.] According to the newspaper report there was no bid for this lot - but see 1918.
Lot 10 This was a block of three cottages in the village, the total rent being £7 16s [£569] per annum. The property was withdrawn at £170 [£12,410]. This is now one of the cottages opposite the old Travellers Rest (which has itself since been renamed Purse\Caundle House) - being now Snowdrop Cottage or Brook Cottage.
Lot 11 'A Srone-built and thatched cottage, let to Mr S. T. Ryall, with Church Farm, the apportioned rent being £3 [£219] per annum, was withdrawn at £40.' This again was either Snowdrop cottage or Brook Cottage.
Lot 12 This consisted of Plumley Wood in the south-eastern part of Purse Caundle, and the land adjoining it to the East which is in Stourton Caundle. 'Held by Mr S. Rice at the apportioned yearly rent of £21. It was put up at the starting bid of £1,200, and rose to £1,600, when it was withdrawn.'
Lot 15 'A cottage and garden in Cockhill Lane, extending to 37p., let at £4, was withdrawn at £65.' This was what is now Hillside, on the triangular plot opposite Woodlands - see 1918.
Lot 17 'The agricultural holding, Tripp's Farm, together with The Woodlands, comprising an area just over 286 acres. The bulk held by Messrs Eden & Watson at the apportioned yearly rent of £139. The first bid was £2,200, and rose to £2,700, at which price the lot was withdrawn. It was subsequently sold to Mr K. W. Bartlett for £2,700.' This lot also included the two cottages and garden in Russon Bottom, now since demolished to build Russon in the centre of the village.
Lot 18 'A small and compact agricultural holding, containing just over 74 acres, known as Rue Farm, the bulk being held by Mr F. Barter at the apportioned rent of £28, and the rest by Messrs Eden & Watson at the apportioned rent of £11. At £550 the lot was knocked down to Mr E. W. Bartlett, solicitor, of Sherborne.'
There were also several lots of land which were described as being high land with splendid views, and admirable for a Hunting Box. For the lots that were withdrawn because of an insufficient bidding price see 1918 below. The Sale Catalogue said: 'Purse Caundle is developing into a favourite Residential Centre. Current year's Pound rates of the Land Tax to which the properties are subject are:
Stourton Caundle Parish - 1s [£3.65]
Purse Caundle Parish - 8 1/2d [£2.58]
Marsh Caundle Parish - 10d [£3.04]'
1912, 21st March. A Parish Meeting was held. Mr Gould and Hon. Mrs Alfred Ker appointed School Managers; Mrs C. A. Newman and Mr H. P. Watson appointed Overseers.
By a Conveyance dated 16th May, Sir Henry Hoare donated half an acre of land in Cockhill Lane to the Ecclesistical Commissioners for use as a Cemetery - see APPENDIX B2.
North Dorset (including Purse Caundle) was to suffer from Foot-and-Mouth Disease restrictions, as did adjoining Somerset and Wiltshire, which were advertised in The London Gazette of 2nd August 1912, page 5765.
At the DHC, ref: T/PCD, is a confirmation dated 23rd August of an Altered Apportionment Of Tithe Rent Charge Under The Tithe Acts, 1836 To 1891. The original Apportionment had been dated 18th March 1840, with the Alteration dated 22nd Janury 1908:
Landowners Occupiers Names & Descriptions State of
of lands and premises Cultivation
Lady Theodora
Guest Various House, Farms and land
Sir Henry Hugh
Arthur Hoare Bt In hand Plumley Wood Wood
Nurse Hill Wood
Husson Hanging Wood
Deadman's Covert Wood
Spinney Wood
Spinney Wood
Land at Toomer Hill Wood
Henry Matthew
Ridley & others Pasture Polo ground
Pasture Do. & Sheds
Pasture Lawns & Buildings
Robert Hilyard Henley
Eden and Henry Russell
Watson Homesteads, Arable, Pasture,
Orchards, Cottages & gardens,
Woodland, Roadway
Samuel Thomas
Ryall Homesteads, Orchards, Arable,
Pasture, Wood, Cottages &
gardens
Henry G. White Pasture
Frederick Barter Homestead, Pasture, Arable
2 Cottages and Gardens
School
Burial Ground
More fuller details (of premises and land, acreages and valuation) will be found in the Terrier.
1913 On Friday, 14th February, the Blackmore Vale Hunt met at the Henstridge Ash crossroads - see poor quality illustration derived from a sepia picture postcard which the author was kindly allowed to copy by the owner.
25th March. A Parish Meeting was held. The Hon. Mrs Ker and Mr S. T. Ryall reappointed School Managers; Mr John Ridout and Mr S. T. Ryall appointed Overseers.
1914, 14th April. A Parish Meeting was held. The Hon. Mrs Ker and Mr S. T. Ryall reappointed School Managers; Mr Ernest Green and Mr G. R. Cox appointed Overseers. The District Council was to be written to, to "repare" [sic] the Parish Pump.
During the year was published Highways and Byways in Dorset by Sir Frederick Treve, Bart. One item read: 'In the poor village of Purse Caundle most of the thatched roofs of the cottages have been rplaced by Corrugated iron, the churchyard is in a ruinous condition, while in the church the stone marking Highmore's grave is partly covered up.'
The GREAT WAR started on 4th August 1914.
1915, 25th March. A Parish Meeting was held in the Schoolroom. Mr Cox and Mr Drew were appointed Overseers; Mr Drew was also appointed a School Manager in place of Mr Diment who had left the parish, with the others to continue in office.
1st May, three fields of Glebe land were leased by the Rev. Cowan and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to Dorset County Council for Smallholdings - see DHC ref: MIC/R/1676.
The London Gazette of 31st August 1915, page 8663, advertised the cancelling by the Registrar of Friendly Societies on the 20th August of the Registry of the SHERBORNE SMALL HOLDINGS Limited, following the latter's meeting held at the then Travellers' Rest, Purse Caundle.
1916, 28th March. A Parish Meeting was held. Mr J. A. Drew and Mrs [--]zar appointed Overseers; the Assistant Overseer to be appointed by the Overseers being paid £3 a year and the usual expenses.
The Salisbury Diocese proposed that the parishes of Purse Caundle and Stourton Caundle be united. Purse Caundle churchwardens petitioned against this to the Bishop. The Diocesan solicitor replied to the rector, the Rev. Cowan at Purse Caundle, on 4th October 1916, with the Diocese's case for the union:
'The Benefice of STOURTON CAUNDLE at present has no certain income the Patron SIR HENRY HOARE making a voluntary payment each year which may be discontinued at any time. As Patron however he is anxious to help the position and has offered to provide an endowment for the Benefice consisting of a sum of £700 War Loan and tithe commuted at £20-15s.
'This endowment the Ecclesiastical Commissioners will be prepared to meet by the grant of £1000 which would provide £30 a year for the Benefice - they stipulate however that the Benefice must be united to Purse Caundle which is also in the patronage of Sir Henry Hoare.
'The result of taking advantage of this offer is that in place of a voluntary income of £50 a year Stourton Caundle will enjoy a permanent income of some £80 a year. Sir Henry Hoare would also be prepared to transfer to the Bishop of Salisbury the patronage united Benefice in addition to the above income. If the union were to take place the parsonage house of one of the Benefices would be available for letting purposes thus adding to the income.'
1917, 3rd April. The Annual Parish Meeting was held. Mr L. Green and Mr J. Ridout appointed Overseers; and that the Overseers collect the rates during the absence of the Assistant Overseer, Mr A. J. Brine on Active Service; the Acting School Managers were re-elected.
1918 Published in The London Gazette of 8th March was an Order confirming the exchange of the Patronage of Purse Caundle and Stourton Caundle from Sir Henry and Dame Alda Hoare to the Bishop of Salisbury. The actual Order from the Privy Council Office in Whitehall was dated 9th March (WSRO ref: D/1/36/4/10).
3rd April. The Annual Parish Meeting was held, with just three persons present - Rev. G. A. Cowan, Messrs E. Green and E. R. Cox. Messrs J. Ridout and H. White appointed Overseers; Mr E. Green appointed School Manager in place of Mr J. Drew who had left the Parish.
On Wednesday, 26th June, at 1.30 p.m. was the auction sale of some of Sir Henry Hoare's estates (which had not been sold at the 1911 auction - see above), held at the Blue Ball Assembly Rooms, Bruton, by auctioneers Messrs Knight Frank and Rutley, 20 Hanover Square, London W.1. - see illustrated plan DHC ref: D/FFO/38/137.
Lot 40 A Picturesque Cottage situate in Cockhill Lane. Stone Built and thatched, containing Kitchen, Pantry, Coal House, and Two Bedrooms. Productive Garden and Orchard. O.S. map No. 90, containing about 25 perches. Held by Mr Levi Dennett on a Quarterly Tenancy. Landlord pays Rates and Taxes. Land Tax 8d in the £. (This was the 1911 Lot 8 - June Cottage)
Lot 41 A Freehold Ground Rent of £1. 5s per annum Secured upon Two Cottages and Gardens. O.S. map No. 105, and containing about 1r. 17p. Leased to Mr George Pitman of Milborne Port, for 99 years from 25th December 1891. The rent is paid by Lady Theodora Guest, who is believed to hold the Leasehold Interest. (This was the 1911 Lot 9 - Villa Cottage)
Lot 42 The [LORDSHIP] Manor or Reputed [LORDSHIP OF] Manor of Purse Caundle with Quit Rents Arising out of various properties situated in the Parish of Purse Caundle, as follows:
Lady Theodora Guest, on Farm and Lands - 19s 8d [£34.33]
Sir C. Medlycott, House, Garden and Orchard - 8d [£1.26]
Lady Theodora Guest, Lands at Goat Hill - 1s 0d [£1.75]
Reverend G. Cowan, Rector of Purse Caundle, on Glebe - 5s 0d = £1. 6s. 4d.
together with A Small Plantation Adjoining the High Road from Milborne Port to Henstridge, forming part of of the Ordnance Survey No. 160, and containing 0a. 0r. 19p., or thereabouts. (This was the 1911 Lot 9A) Again this lot was not sold.
Lot 43 Two Very desirable Pasture Fields near Clayhanger Lane on High Ground admirably adapted for a site for a Hunting Box. O.S. map Nos. 60 and 61, 11a. 3r. 2p., £10. 0s. 0d [£349] Rental. Held by Mr Leonard Green on a Yearly Michaelmas Tenancy determinable by either party on six months' notice. Rectorial Tithe Rent Charge £1. 6s. 6d [£42.26]. Land Tax 8d in the £. 11a. 3r. 2p. (This lot had been withdrawn at £240 at the 1911 auction.)
Lot 44 'A Valuable Small Holding in Cockhill Lane. Stone built and Thatched Cottage containing Kitchen, Pantry, Two Bedrooms and Coal House. Excellent Garden attached. Adjooining is a Field, part pasture and part arable, adjoining a good road. O.S. map Nos. 54 and 56, 5a. 2r. 10p. Rental £15 0s. 0d [£523]. Held by Mr. William Case as Lot 43. Rectorial Tithe Rent Charge 12s. No. 54 Pasture and Arable = 5.328 acres, No. 56 Cottage and Garden = 0.232 acres, Total = 5.560 acres. Cottage and Garden, occupied by Mr. N. Case. [This was the 1911 Lot 15, with the cottge being Hillside.
In July there were further sales of Purse Caundle properties: Rue Farm, 57 3/4 acres for £1,550; Arable field 13 acres for £220; 7 acres of Meadow land for £140; Trip's Limekiln Farm 63 acres 0 rods 31 perches for £1,400.'
11th November saw the end of the Great War, which had begun in August 1914.
1919, 31st March. The Annual Parish Meeting was held. Messrs Henry White and H. Elsworth appointed Overseers; with Mr. A. J. Brine being asked to be Assistant Overseer at a slary of three pounds a year, plus usual expenses.
Some thought must have been given to a form of war memorial, but unfortunately no surviving records have been located as to what discussions were held as to its construction, or what names should be commemorated- see APPENDIX C4. As none of those our named appear to have been contemporary residents, perhaps the village thought it ought to have a War Memorial of some sort, but with only those names having any association with the village.
1920, 30th March. The Annual Parish Meeting was held. Mr A. J. Brine wished to resign as Assistant Overseer, with Mr. Somerville to be asked to undertake the duties at a salary to be fixed later. Messrs F. Elsworth and E. Green appointed\Overseers; Captain A. Tyrwhitt Drake to be asked to be Purse Caundle School representative to Dorset County Council; Mr. Leonard Green appointed\ School Manager in place of the Hon. Mrs Alfred Ker who wished to resign.
On 20th April the manor house (with grounds of three acres, and pasture of just over nine acres) was put up for auction at Sherborne by Lady Theodora Guest (nee Grosvenor, daughter of the 2nd Marquis of Westminster). Also included in the sale was 'The vendor's interest (if any) in the Lady Chapel attached to St. Peter's Church.' It was all to be bought by Lady Victoria Herbert, youngest daughter of the 4th Earl of Carnarvon and god-daughter of Queen Victoria - see APPENDIX C1G. The manor house (including this Sale) is comprehensively dealt with in APPENDIX B3.
22nd November (Monday), The Times reported that the Blackmore Vale Hunt met at Hinton St. Mary on the previous Saturday, and chased all around including through Stourton Caundle, Stalbridge Weston, Stalbridge Park, Frith, with the 'Hounds continuing at a better pace through Purse Caundle to the Holts, where a fresh fox deprived hounds of a well-earned kill. This was a really good hunt of one hour and a half over a fine sporting country.'
1921 This year's Census showed that Purse Caundle had 152 inhabitants (170 in 1911), 74 males, 78 females, 38 families, 38 Dwellings, 1,558 acres.
1st April. The Annual Parish Meeting was held. Messrs E. Green and G. Lawrence appointed Overseers; with an Assistant Overseer to be appointed as soon as possible at a slary of £3.
1922, 20th April. The Annual Parish Meeting was held. Mr A. Lawrence and Captain A. Tyrwhitt Drake appointed Overseers; Mr. J. White of Goathill reappointed Assistant Overseer at a salary of five pounds.
Lady Victoria Herbert moved into Purse Caundle manor house. During her time there she was restore the porch, and Minstrels Gallery in the Great Hall which was in a very bad state when she bought the manor house.
1923 Thursday, 25th January, the rector,the Rev. G. A. Cowan, whilst cycling near Inwood, near Henstridge, was seriously injured when involved in an accident with a motor-car. For full details see APPENDIX C3.
16th April. The Annual Parish Meeting was held. Messrs Leonard green and J. Ridout appointed Overseers; Mr J. White reappointed Assistant Overseer at the same salary as before. A letter to be sent to Sherborne Rural District asking them to take back the corner on the right-hand side leading into the main road; with Mr Green stating he was willing to give the land and to haul away the earth providing the Council erect a suitable fence and pay a reasonable price for the hauling.
1924, 26th February (Tuesday), The Times reported: 'The Blackmore Vale [Hunt] found at Tupps [Tripp's] Limekiln yesterday. Hounds found close to the meet and ran all day round and about the Holts, Plumly [Wood], Haydon, Hanover [Wood], Purse Caundle, and the Park. Scent was very poor, but hounds hunted well, although they must have changed foxes several times. It was a very disappointing day, owing to the lack of scent.'
7th April. The Annual Parish Meerting was held. Messrs leonard Green and J. Ridout reappointed Overseers, with Mr J. White reappointed Assistant Overseer; and Mr E. Green to be thanked for his help in improving the corner near the main road.
11th November (Tuesday), The Times reported: 'The Blackmore Vale [Hunt] met yesterday, and from Tripps Lime Kiln found directly and ran fast by Holts and Plumley [Wood] for Purse Caundle. They went on to Hanover [Wood], where hounds, hunting well in covert, pressed their fox into Haydon and across the road into Sherborne Park, where there were fresh foxes and little more was done.'
1925, 24th March (Tuesday), The Times reported on a Blackmore Vale Hunt meet the previous day, when a fox from Toomer Hill ran back to Frith, on to Plumley Wood, and away across the small vale, then through Purse Caundle up into Hanover Wood, where nothing more could be done. The 28th March edition announced that the Hunt would meet at Purse Caundle Corner on the Monday.
6th April. The Annual Parish Meeting was held. Mr E. R. Cox again continued to be chairman of the Parish Meeting for the ensuing year. Messrs A. Tyrwhitt Drake and G. Dennett appointed Overseers, with Mr J. Dalwood to be asked to be Assistant Overseer. Mr J. White allowed £1 for his work as Assistant Overseer for the last half year when he did not collect the rates.
1926, 13th April. The Annual Parish Meeting was held. Messrs G. Dennett and H. White appointed Overseers, with Mr J. J. Dalwood to be again asked to be Assistant Overseer.
Purse Caundle Parish Church united with that of Stourton Caundle.
1927, 4th April. The Annual Parish Meeting was held. Messrs A. Lawrence and E. R. Cox appointed Ratepayers Representatives for one year. Messrs R. B. G. Greig and H. Tucker appointed School Managers.
!0th June, Friday. Members of the Dorset Natural History & Archaeological Society's Field Club visited Purse Caundle manor house, where they were guided round by its owner, Lady Victoria Herbert. Details of this visit, and the paper she read at the time were published in the Society's Proceedings, volume 49, 1928.
16th July, The Times advertised for sale by auction of Purse Caundle rectory house, with a total area of 2 rods and 35 perches, at the Digby Hotel, Sherborne, on Thursday 22nd September. The property was to be eventually Conveyed by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to Miss E. A. G. Guest of Inwood, near Henstridge, on 10th November 1927, for the sum of £800.
In the Dorset Year Book 1927 was an article 'Forgotten Byways in Dorset' by Alys F. Serrell. This concerned the several Caundle villages. Purse Caundle was described as:
'a straggling, old-fashioned village of some one hundred and fifty inhabitants. . . The village consists almost entirely of old and much-decayed thatched cottages, but unfortunately for the lovers of the picturesque, the little Inn stands in a conspicuous position where the ways meet, has recently been given the modern comforts of a corrugated iron roof. A few cottages, too, have ben built lately with the orthodox tiled roofing, but such modern improvements are still in the minority, and the deep coverings of dark thatch line the village street, and dot the sides of the hill up whose steep ascent the visitor to the other Caundles must pass.'
There used to be fetes in a field believed southwards alongside Church Farm. The proceeds from these would be used to pay for annual charabanc trips to Weymouth, with the charabancs being provided by Seagers of Sherborne - see illustration.
1928, 10th January (Tuesday), The Times reported on the Blackmore Vale Hunt's meet the previous day. With a good scent the Hunt went all round the area, it eventually 'went over Hanover as if for Plumley. They did not go into it, but ran back by Frith and Toomer to Everlane's, and, after another circle, were whipped of at Purse Caundle.' The Hunt was to meet at Purse Caundle manor house on 22nd March at 11.30 a.m.
24th April. The Annual Parish Meeting was held. Mr A. Lawrence re-elected as Ratepayers Representative.
1929, 18th April. At the Annual Parish Meeting only the chairman, Mr E. R. Cox, was present.
1930, 18th March (Tuesday), The Times gave an account of the Blackmore Vale Hunt's previous day meet: 'a good fox from Goat Hill went away through Hanover to Purse Caundle. Swinging round past Tripps lime kiln' he was followed as far as the Yetminster area 'before scent failed.'
24th March, The Times reported that 'The Blackmore Vale [Hunt] met at Purse Caundle on Saturday. Finding a fox below Frith, hounds ran into that covert past Caundle Brake and killed. From Crendle hounds hunted through Hanover, Haydon Hill, past Ashcombe, through the Holts to Caundle Wood, and, running on slowly, they left Lanes and Rowden Mill on the right, scent failing near Stock. Finding again in Newleaze, hounds ran fast past the Holts down the hill by Ashcombe, through Haydon Hill to Tripp's limekiln.'
19th April. The Annual Parish Meeting held, with just Mr E. R. Cox again being appointed chairman for the ensuing year.
3rd November (Monday), The Times said 'The Blackmore Vale [Hunt] met at Purse Caundle on Saturday. Finding by Frith, hounds ran to Plumley and through the Holts, the fox being headed in Holt Lane. He then turned back through the Holts and was marked to ground in Plumley. Finding again in Stalbridge Big Wood, hounds ran round the park and killed. Another fox from the park was killed near Copse House.'
25th November (Tuesday), The Times reported: 'The Blackmore Vale [Hunt] met at Tripps Limekiln yesterday. . . There was a slow hunt from Holt's round Plumly. A Haydon Hill fox led hounds an extraordinary line. After a circle of Hanover and Goathill scent improved, and hounds raced to Bowling Green, going through Milborne Port Churchyard, the Main Street, and Cross House Garden to Crendly [Crendle], bring stopped at Purse Caundle Corner.'
30th December (Tuesday), The Times said: 'The Blackmore Vale [Hunt] met at Milborne Port Station yesterday. . . From Frith hounds ran through Caundle Brake to Toomer Hill. Swinging right-handed into Stalbridge Park and leaving the park, they ran by Stalbridge Weston almost to Newleaze, being finally stopped between Purse Caundle and Plumley.'
Sometime around this period the following hunting song was written by a John Budden, with music by Ashworth Hope, published by Leonard, Gould and Bottler, 47 Poland Street, London W.1. It was dedicated to Lieut-Col. F. J. B. Wingfield Digby D.S.O., M.F.H., Master of the Blackmore Vale Hunt.
THE SONG OF THE BLACKMORE VALE
1.
There be doughty men in Dorset,
There be boys of bone and brawn,
Who work and smile and sing all day
In the land where they were born.
As away down the vale they run;
There's a splash and a thud, and a roll in the mud,
And fine old Dorset fun,
Then there comes a crash! of the old Blackthorn,
The rend of the rasping rail,
Oh! the sound of the hound and the huntsman's horn,
The Song of the Blackmore Vale.
2.
When a man goes out from Dorset,
Out to the far, far west,
He longs for his lanes and pasture land,
And the songs that he loves the best.
There's the song of the kine in the cow-yard,
And the song of the nightingale,
But the song that dwells with a Dorset lad,
Be the Song of the Blackmore Vale.
CHORUS: 'Tis the old, old song of the Huntsman's horn, etc:3.
A man comes back to Dorset,
Back from the lands afar.
No need to yearn for the old milk churn
And the song of the swingle bar
Now shall he bide in Dorset,
Or once again set sail?
When there comes the sound of the huntsman's horn
Away in the Blackmore Vale
CHORUS: 'Tis the old, old song of the Huntsman's horn, etc:
1931, 26th March (Thursday). The Times said: 'The Blackmore Vale [Hunt] met at Purse Caundle on Tuesday and had an enjoyable hunt of 50 minutes with a four-mile point, seven as hounds ran. Finding in Frith, hounds ran fast by Haddon Lodge [up Cockhills Lane] and leaving Stourton Caundle on the left, ran into Holt's. . .'
27th March. The Annual Parish Meeting held. Mr R. H. Hiscock to be a School Manager in the place of Mr H. B. Tucker who has left the Parish.
This year's Census showed a Purse Caundle population of 148.
1932, 23rd March. The Annual Parish Meeting, when only Mr E. R. Cox again appointed chairman for the ensuing year.
Editions of The Times advertised meets of the Blackmore Vale Hunt at Purse Caundle manor house on 1st February at 11 a.m., and Tripp's Lime-kiln on 14th March at noon. Miss Guest's hounds would meet at Purse Caundle [manor house?] on 16th March.
The Times of 29th June and 6th July advertised in its lists of gardens open to the public on those days in aid of the Queen's Institute of District Nursing would be (Lady Victoria Herbert's) Purse Caundle manor house garden and part of the house, between 2-7 p.m. In December Lady Victoria also made an appeal on behalf of her Scheme for British ex-Prisoners of War.
According to the Kelly's Directory compiled at this time: 'Miss Guest was lady of the manor [sic] and the chief landowner. The soil is Limestone and clay; subsoil, clay and gravel. The crops are wheat, barley and mangold wurzel. The area is 1,588 acres; the population in 1931 was 148. Private Residents: Arthur Tyrwhitt Drake, Crendle; Robert Gillespie Greig, Manor house; Lady Victoria A. M. Herbert C.B.E., Manor house. Commercial: Frank Bertram Clarke, farmer, Rue farm; Geo. Dennett, shopkeeper; Isaac Durrant, farmer, Gospel Ash farm; Percival Durrant, smallholder, Clayhanger; Walter H. Durrant, farmer, Folly farm; A. Floyd, gardener to R. G. Greig esq; Ronald Henry John Hiscock, farmer, Court farm; Alfred Lawrence, farmer, Tripps farm (over 150 acres); John Ousley, Traveller's Rest P.H.; William Waltham, farmer, Manor farm; Henry George White & Sons, farmers, Home farm (over 150 acres).'
The Greig family apparently came to stay at the manor house during the winter months, and indulge in hunting with the local Hunt, which somtimes met at the manor house. Local children looked forward to these occasions because they could earn some money by opening gates for the huntsmen.
The Whites at first had a pony and trap; and later a car (with a 'dicky-seat') which was used as a taxi.
Mrs Polly Dennett who lived in one of the two Raghill cottages up on the A35 main road, she had a small shop in one of her rooms. Customers used a footpath that ran from Home Farm across a field. Informants have said that she was a very nice lady, and used to make her own butter and wine. Sometimes used to be "three-sheets to the wind", or used to "hit the bottle", when it seems she would get confused with the money and quantities of sweets. News of this would quickly travel around the village, and children would straightway go to the shop to take advantage. It would thus be possible to buy a large bag of sweets for a penny, or she would give the wrong change against herself.
Ousley had retired from the navy at Portsmouth, and was to die leaving his wife to keep on the Traveller's Rest. A previous owner had had a monkey, which was to give the establishment its nickname of 'The Monkey-house'.
1933 The Times of 18th February advertised a meet of Miss Guest's hounds on Tuesday, 21st, at 11 a.m.
13th March (Monday). The Times reported: 'The Blackmore Vale [Hunt] met at Bagber on Saturday . . . Going on by the Stalbridge Weston coverts almost to Frith, hounds turned to Plumley. Running by Biddescombe back by Frith, almost to Caundle Brake, they turned towards Purse Caundle and were stopped by Haddon Lodge, after a hunt of more than two hours, with a greatest point of five miles.'
A further Blackmore Vale Hunt meet was advertised for Monday, 27th March, at Purse Caundle mnor house, at 11.30 a.m.
1st July (Saturday). The Times advertised Purse Caundle manor house and part of the house amongst those being open that day on behalf of the Queen's Institute of District Nursing.
13th October. The last Annual Parish Meeting as such was held, with the Schoolroom also being used for the last time as a venue. Mr A. Tyrwhitt Drake now to be Chairman in place of Mr E. R. Cox who had left the Parish. Regarding monies of £7-1-0 left over from the Peace Day Fete, it was proposed by Mr H. White, seconded by Mrs Mathews that it should go towards a Supper for the Parish to which ex-service men be invited free of charge. Mr A. Tyrwhitte Drake moved an amendment, seconded by Mr Ridout, that the monies be used as a Fete Fund. The amendment being lost Mr A. Tyrwhitt Drake proposed, Mr R. B. G. Greig seconding, that Mr White be Chairman of the Supper Committee, which was carried. The Minute Book resumes on 23rd March 1954 (q.v.).
Children living in the Hornswell Lane area of Purse Caundle were said not to be able to get to school if the footbridge and ford out to the main lane were too flooded and impassable.
According to Dorset County Council the village school was closed-down on 27th July, and the children transferred to Stalbridge Senior and Junior Schools. According to an informant, children were taken by bus to and from Stalbridge, travelling up to Copse House to pick up children there, and any belonging to the staff at Frith House. The Board of Education ceased to recognise the school from 3rd September.
The area covered by the existing Hornswell housing estate was at that time just a farm field, seen on thre left of the photograph. The cottages in Hornswell Lane (now called Well Lane), had to get their water from the spring at the far end of the Lane. Laundry was done in collected rainwater. One year there was a drought when water had to be delivered in churns. The corner house was that of the Loader family; then came Bert Ashford; a tiny cottage in which lived Mr & Mrs Neal; then Ernest Ashford; and finally another Ashford residence, with the spring further along the Lane. Then there was a door which led to the manor house tennis court.
Sometime during the early 1930s there was a death in the road near the entrance down to Tripps Farm - it was certainly after 1923 when the house at the entrance was built. A baker named Luffman, from Milborne Port, had a delivery round by horse-drawn cart which passed through Goathill on its way to Purse Caundle. Here he was to become known as 'the midnight baker' on account of the lateness of his arrival. He used to go then into the Travellers Rest public house at the end of his round. One day the horse must have been frightened and bolted, during which Luffman was killed.
1934, 12th March (Monday). The Blackmore Vale Hunt met at Purse Caundle manor house at 11 a.m. From Plumley the hounds hunted down as far as the Pulham area.
18th December (Tuesday). The Times reported: 'The Blackmore Vale [Hunt] met yesterday at Purse Caundle. A fox found at Frith was marked to ground. Another found at Frith Gorse was killed in Purse Caundle Village. Finding at Rowden Coppice hounds hunted in a left-handed ring to Plumley, and then ran towards the Holts. Bearing left-handed past Biddlescombe to the Stalbridge Weston coverts and turning back to Haddon's Farm, hounds ran under Plumley to Rue Bushes and along the hillside to Swalletts. . . and were stopped owing to darkness at the River Coverts after a great hunt of 17 miles as hounds ran, with a five-mile point.'
In one of her contemporary letters, Lady Victoria Herbert wrote that she wished she had a field behind her manor house, which she dreamt to turn into an orchard - something in existence at the beginning of that century, but which seems to have since disappeared. She also mentioned that at that time she had a little class for sewing on Tuesdays. The Times of 9th June advertised Lady Victoria's manor house and garden again being open to the public on behalf of the Queen's Institute of District Nursing, on Wednesday, 13th July, between 3-7 p.m., at 1s 6d.
1935 Miss Guest's hounds were advertised to meet at Purse Caundle manor house on Tuesday, 5th March, at 11 a.m., and similarly on 12th November.
20th August (Tuesday). The Times reported: 'A motorist travelling towards Southampton on Sunday night found a man in a dying condition about 11 miles from Salisbury, and near him a motor-cycle. The injured man died in the ambulance when on the way to Salisbury Infirmary, where bhe was later identified as Aircraftman Reginald White, of No. 9 Squadron, R.A.F. Boscombe Down. His home address was Purse Caundle. How White met his death was not revealed at the Inquest yesterday, when a verdict of 'Accidental death was returned.' Reginald Thomas White, aged 27, was to be buried in Purse Caundle cemetery on 22nd August.
Kelly's Directory for Dorsetshire 1935 gave the principle residents, etc. as:
'Rev. Edward Henry Fincher (since 1926), of the London College of Divinity, rural dean of Stalbridge, who
resides at Sourton Caundle.
Drake, Arthur Tyrwhitt, Crendle.
Greig, Robert Gillespie, Manor house.
Herbert, Lady Victoria A. M., C.B.E., Manor house.
Clarke, Frank Bertram, farmer, Rue farm.
Dennett, Geo., shopkeeper.
Durrant, Isaac, farmer, Gospel Ash farm.
Durrant, Walter H., farmer, Folly farm.
Floyd, A. gardener to R. G. Greig esq.
Hiscock, Ronald Henry John, farmer, Court farm.
Lawrence, Alfred, farmer, Tripps farm.
Ousley, John, Traveller's Rest P.H.
Waltham, William, farmer, Manor farm, Milborne Port.
White, Henry George & Sons, farmers, Home farm.
1936 The Blackmore Vale Hunt was advertised to meet on Monday, 10th February, at Tripp's limekiln, at 11 a.m.; and on Monday, 21st December at Purse Caundle manor house, at 11 a.m. Miss Guest's hounds were due to meet on Friday, 14th February at Purse Caundle at 11 a.m.; and similarly on Tuesday, 17th November.
8th June, The Times advertised the manor house and garden being again open to the public on the 10th (Wednesday) for the Quen's Institute for Nursing , between 3-7 p.m., at 1s 6d.
A Petition dated 5th August was made o the Diocese of Salisbury by the rector, the Rev. Edward Fincher, and churchwardens Arthur Tyrwhitt Drake (who died 12th February 1938) and R. B. E. Greig, for the placement in the church's sanctuary of two 16th century brass German alms dishes, the gift of Lady Victoria Herbert of Purse Caundle. The faculty was granted 14th October 1936 (WSRO ref: D/1/61/84/20)
1937 The Sherborne Gas and Coke Company Limited was to commence supplying gas to Purse Caundle and neighbouring villages - (The London Gazette 26th February 1937).
14th June, The Times advertised the manor house and garden being again open on the 19th (Saturday) for the Queen's Institute for Nursing, between 3-7 p.m., at 1s 6d.
1938 Foot-and Mouth Disease again hit Purse Caundle and the countryside all around - (The London Gazette, 11th February, page 907). Restrictions over part of the affected area were relaxed from 22nd December, but not at first for Purse Caundle - (The London Gazette, 20th December 1938, page 8079).
11th February, The Times reported the death 'on 8th February, very suddenly at the Manor House, Purse Caundle, of Robert Bertram Gillespie Greig, beloved husband of Elsie Greig, and much-loved step father of Noel and Gordon Wall, elder son of the late Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Greig. Funeral at Purse Caundle Church, to-morrow (Saturday), at 2.30. Train leaving Waterloo at 11 o'clock will be met at Templecombe.' Burial took place in Purse Caundle cemetery.
28th April, The Times carried a legal notice on behalf of the executor of the will of the late Arthur Tyrwhitt Drake, of Crendle, Purse Caundle, retired stockbroker, who had died on the 12th February.
In the two latter illustrations, the two long buildings to the right of centre are part of Court Farm, with square shaped Court Farmhouse in the centre, while on the left is what is now named Well Lane going up from the road, being bordered with cottages on its left-hand (western) side. Parallel to the road on the right can be seen a narrow footpath which passes over a culverted stream which then flowed over the road as a ford. Both culvert and ford have since been removed - see second b/w photograph. At the top can be seen the manor house tennis court. The area and building to the right above the road is the (future) Brook Orchard. [The b/w photograph kindly donated by Danette Hemsley, to whom grateful thanks are extended].
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