Comments on: Dreams of Britain: My Love Affair with Shaftesbury Dorset Finally Explained http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/ The Website for People Who Love Britain - Anglophiles Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:01:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gwen Harvey http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-118860 Gwen Harvey Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:06:15 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-118860 Hi Mary, Just happened across you. My family originate from Shaftesbury, my grandfather was a well know Watchmaker and Jeweller from Salibury Street. In the late 1890's he was also band leader (I think) with the local town band probably before your grandfathers time. I have tried, without success to find information about the band. My mother, 1 of 6 children from his last marriage left Dorset in 1947 but I would spend any time off from school in Shaftesbury with my Aunt Rose, she took over the shop when my grandfather died. My best memory is of the weekends when we would go to the surrounding churches to wind the church clocks. I now live in Scotland by my dream was always to go back to live there, no chance now! If you have any information on the town band I would be pleased to hear from you. Best regards, Gwen Hi Mary,

Just happened across you.

My family originate from Shaftesbury, my grandfather was a well know Watchmaker and Jeweller from Salibury Street. In the late 1890′s he was also band leader (I think) with the local town band probably before your grandfathers time. I have tried, without success to find information about the band.

My mother, 1 of 6 children from his last marriage left Dorset in 1947 but I would spend any time off from school in Shaftesbury with my Aunt Rose, she took over the shop when my grandfather died. My best memory is of the weekends when we would go to the surrounding churches to wind the church clocks.

I now live in Scotland by my dream was always to go back to live there, no chance now!

If you have any information on the town band I would be pleased to hear from you.

Best regards,

Gwen

]]> By: Mary http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-72687 Mary Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:46:40 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-72687 Johnathan, You are a breath of fresh air. I've been researching Shaftesbury because my grandfather lived there from his birth in 1892 until 1906 when he immigrated to Canada. We have lots of Gold Hill pictures and notepaper ... because he was the only one of a large family to leave the town. I was amazed to learn that when he lived there the town was only about 1800 people. I still have a great aunt living on Shooters Lane, and a far removed cousin who is a hair dresser. My father loved to visit the town with my mum in the 60s - 80s and nothing made him happier than to go to The Two Brewers Pub and have a couple of pints and talk to the locals. He said it was like stepping back in time. If you get a chance to check out my blog you'll see I'm writing a memoir. I'm at the stage where I'm trying to understand why my grandfather, seventh born of 11 siblings, opted out of the family business of well drilling and metal work to leave as a seventeen year old boy to make his way in Canada. When my grandfather joined with the Canadian army in WWI, he was assigned to Shoreham Camp, not far from Shaftesbury. HIs mother visited him and gave him a fringed silk pillow with the words, There Will Always Be An England scrolled on it. I have the casing here somewhere. And now I must try to understand the boy who left it all behind. I too have dreamed of going to Shatfesbury. I'm glad it hasn't changed much (as it would have in the railway had come there.) My grandfather used to play an instrument, the euphonium in Shaftesbury's town band. (I have a photo). At one time I think a relative owned one of the Gold Hill homes, and as they were historically designated, only the inside could be changed. I envy you and your wife walking the town, and seeing the scenery from the high point. I'm unbelievably over the moon to know that the town cast a magic spell over you. Johnathan,
You are a breath of fresh air. I’ve been researching Shaftesbury because my grandfather lived there from his birth in 1892 until 1906 when he immigrated to Canada. We have lots of Gold Hill pictures and notepaper … because he was the only one of a large family to leave the town. I was amazed to learn that when he lived there the town was only about 1800 people. I still have a great aunt living on Shooters Lane, and a far removed cousin who is a hair dresser. My father loved to visit the town with my mum in the 60s – 80s and nothing made him happier than to go to The Two Brewers Pub and have a couple of pints and talk to the locals. He said it was like stepping back in time.

If you get a chance to check out my blog you’ll see I’m writing a memoir. I’m at the stage where I’m trying to understand why my grandfather, seventh born of 11 siblings, opted out of the family business of well drilling and metal work to leave as a seventeen year old boy to make his way in Canada.

When my grandfather joined with the Canadian army in WWI, he was assigned to Shoreham Camp, not far from Shaftesbury. HIs mother visited him and gave him a fringed silk pillow with the words, There Will Always Be An England scrolled on it. I have the casing here somewhere. And now I must try to understand the boy who left it all behind.

I too have dreamed of going to Shatfesbury. I’m glad it hasn’t changed much (as it would have in the railway had come there.) My grandfather used to play an instrument, the euphonium in Shaftesbury’s town band. (I have a photo). At one time I think a relative owned one of the Gold Hill homes, and as they were historically designated, only the inside could be changed. I envy you and your wife walking the town, and seeing the scenery from the high point.

I’m unbelievably over the moon to know that the town cast a magic spell over you.

]]> By: Clive http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-64717 Clive Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:11:45 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-64717 Hi Andy - thanks for your words which I found truly inspirational. I have lived in the Blackmore Vale all of my life and in Shaftesbury for some 24 years. I have travelled a bit and still think this is a great place, a bit quite, a bit slow, but genuinely wonderful. Your comments have reinforced to me why I still live here! Thanks. Hi Andy – thanks for your words which I found truly inspirational. I have lived in the Blackmore Vale all of my life and in Shaftesbury for some 24 years. I have travelled a bit and still think this is a great place, a bit quite, a bit slow, but genuinely wonderful. Your comments have reinforced to me why I still live here! Thanks.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-42979 Rebecca Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:28:14 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-42979 What a fantastic story! I am fortunate enough to work in shaftesbury and I visit gold hill every day on my lunch hour for a little bit of peace and quiet. However, it's not untill I hear somebody talk about shaftesbury with such passion as you have, that I realise just what a great part of the world I live in and how lucky I am to have somewhere like gold hill on my doorstep. I hope you get to visit it again soon! What a fantastic story! I am fortunate enough to work in shaftesbury and I visit gold hill every day on my lunch hour for a little bit of peace and quiet. However, it’s not untill I hear somebody talk about shaftesbury with such passion as you have, that I realise just what a great part of the world I live in and how lucky I am to have somewhere like gold hill on my doorstep. I hope you get to visit it again soon!

]]> By: Bronwen http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-35252 Bronwen Thu, 13 May 2010 13:38:04 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-35252 I, like Andy above, just stumbled across your post and I too am a resident of Shaftesbury. Delighted you have such a passion for it. As an Australian, having lived in and around Shaftesbury for about 18 years, my return from Australia is always brightened when I look walk out on Park Walk and drink up those magical views. Indeed one never tires of paradise what ever the weather. I, like Andy above, just stumbled across your post and I too am a resident of Shaftesbury. Delighted you have such a passion for it. As an Australian, having lived in and around Shaftesbury for about 18 years, my return from Australia is always brightened when I look walk out on Park Walk and drink up those magical views. Indeed one never tires of paradise what ever the weather.

]]> By: Andy http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-16286 Andy Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:38:11 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-16286 I stumbled onto your site whilst searching for something else. I love your delight with Shaftesbury, and share it - we've lived here for 29 years. It is indeed an unspoilt corner of England. I never tire of the view from Park Walk across the Blackmore Vale. I stumbled onto your site whilst searching for something else. I love your delight with Shaftesbury, and share it – we’ve lived here for 29 years. It is indeed an unspoilt corner of England. I never tire of the view from Park Walk across the Blackmore Vale.

]]> By: Megan http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-15246 Megan Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:27:32 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-15246 Absolutely loved reading your post! I could see a lot of my own feelings in your experiences -- after all, I'm a total Anglophile, too. :) I love your story about the poster and could really relate to the moment you finally set foot in Gold Hill was how I felt the moment I walked out onto a street in London. My two trips to the UK were some of the absolute best experiences of my life! Hope you're having a fantastic time!! Absolutely loved reading your post! I could see a lot of my own feelings in your experiences — after all, I’m a total Anglophile, too. :) I love your story about the poster and could really relate to the moment you finally set foot in Gold Hill was how I felt the moment I walked out onto a street in London. My two trips to the UK were some of the absolute best experiences of my life!

Hope you’re having a fantastic time!!

]]> By: Anna http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-14329 Anna Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:14:48 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-14329 What a wonderful story. You simply don't need that poster any more, do you? Anna x What a wonderful story. You simply don’t need that poster any more, do you?

Anna x

]]> By: jonathan http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-14264 jonathan Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:55:34 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-14264 Thanks so much. Dreams really do come true. :-) Thanks so much. Dreams really do come true. :-)

]]> By: BritFancy http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-14228 BritFancy Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:26:19 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-14228 Oops - One week after you, I won't be in Gold Hill (though I kind of want to, now!). But I WILL be in England! Oops – One week after you, I won’t be in Gold Hill (though I kind of want to, now!). But I WILL be in England!

]]> By: BritFancy http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-14227 BritFancy Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:25:05 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-14227 Jonathan, thanks for sharing with us the story of your long journey getting to Gold Hill! You must be so proud that you finally made it! You're going to have a blast later this month. And just one week after you, I will be there! Definitely my dream come true was also traveling to London, and traveling solo, as I had always planned ever since I was a little girl! I was also ecstatic to see the Beatles sights in Liverpool. I love the credo of if you want something badly enough, go out and get it! That's the way to live! Jonathan, thanks for sharing with us the story of your long journey getting to Gold Hill! You must be so proud that you finally made it! You’re going to have a blast later this month. And just one week after you, I will be there!

Definitely my dream come true was also traveling to London, and traveling solo, as I had always planned ever since I was a little girl! I was also ecstatic to see the Beatles sights in Liverpool. I love the credo of if you want something badly enough, go out and get it! That’s the way to live!

]]> By: Chad N. http://www.anglotopia.net/countries/england/dorset/dreams-of-britain-my-love-affair-with-shaftesbury-dorset-finally-explained/#comment-14205 Chad N. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:59:28 +0000 http://www.anglotopia.net/?p=4016#comment-14205 An inspiring story! I love it! An inspiring story! I love it!

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