An appeal from the Village Hall & Recreation Trust Committee ( which runs the Village Hall for the benefit of the community)

Committees need members - it's a fact of life. Halls do not run themselves. The committee is looking for new members as most of the present committee have been serving for very many years and feel that some new and younger people would be of considerable advantage to the community. The time involved is not great, if you feel you could take part or would like more information, please speak to Dennis Hill, chairman, on 868366.

Who Were We? 

Connecting the lives of a 19^th century Dorset community

by Andrew Pastor

Our new book, Who Were We?, has been researched and written by members of the 21^st century community of Drimpton. It sets out to give our 19^th century neighbours a chance to speak to us today, to step out of the shadows and tell us something about themselves one more time. Over 500 families are recorded in our book which blends fact and imagination recreating a community where everyone mattered.

Who Were We? is to be published in mid-November.

For much more please go to the dedicated website www.whowerewe.org

Return of the Evacuees!

On Friday 11th September 2009 nearly 70 years after they left Drimpton, wartime evacuees William and Edwin Collis paid a visit to the village which held happy memories for them from 1940 to 1941 as 10 and 9 year olds.
Evacuated from bomb torn Southampton in July 1940 the two brothers lived in Spearmead with Mrs Harrison and Mrs Barden. Mrs Harrison's daughter Kath still lives in the same house and remembers the two youngsters when she was a teenager.

Many memories were recalled and, after visiting Spearmead, on to the old school where they were taught, although they said they didn't spend much time at school "we were out helping with farm work and gardening most of the time". It was then off to the Royal Oak for lunch and meeting with other locals who had gathered to say hello and reminisce times gone by.
By the time they left they said they had been overwhelmed by the friendliness shown by all they met.

Nice to know that Drimpton was as welcoming to visitors and newcomers in 1940 as it is today.

Pictured in front of 1 and 2 Spearmead (left to right)
Dennis Hill who lived at the New Inn opposite and used to play together with the boys;
Edwin Collis; Kath Taylor (nee Harrison), William Collis and Eric Bowditch.

Advance notice of the forthcoming
3rd Annual Potato Day
at the Village Hall on 13th February

This web site has been created to gather information, history, photographs, personal anecdotes and anything to do with the village of Drimpton or the neighbouring hamlets of Greenham and Netherhay.



Drimpton Cross 1907
But in 1493 the local tenant had to repair the road.

SMALL HISTORIES

These brief accounts tell of episodes, events and people selected from hundreds of years of village history from the ever-growing archive.

Small History No.3 - The Whetham Family
A tale of Cavaliers and Roundheads but on whose side?

Small History No.2 The Middle Ages.
Fascinating tales from 15th Century Court Rolls.
Who ran an illegal brewery? Who let their pigs roam freely? Who broke into a house with swords and daggers? Why were the tenants required to construct a gallows?

Click  HISTORY  to find out more.
 

PUB NEWS From The Royal Oak:
Keep an eye on the notice boards outside the pub for NEW EXTRA LUNCHTIMES from mid-April with SPECIAL OFFERS!
PUB QUIZZES run the first Sunday of every month from 8.00 for 8.30pm