One of the first items The Archive was given to copy and preserve digitally was a booklet entitled “One Hundred Years in Childe Okeford 1883 – 1983” written by “Clarice M. Smith”. We thought it might be of interest to share some of the content here. A copy of the original cover can be seen here and we have also listed the “Acknowledgements” shown in the booklet.
“There have been at least six bakeries in Childe Okeford over the years though never more than four at a time. One was on the south side of Ridgeway Lane kept by Mr. Henry Tuffin, and the site of another is buried under the roadway of Nutmead Close. A Mr. G. Rose had a bakery opposite The Cross where the hairdressers salon now is (* now Midsummer House), and Mr. Fox had one opposite the Post Office. There was also a bakery behind where the Pottery now is in the Shaftesbury Road. The population in 1911 was around 600 – all needing the staff of life – thus making plenty of work for the individual baker.
Besides bakers, there were many other shops. In the days when transport was by horse and cart a visit to Blandford would have been a major excursion, but there was little need to travel as most things could be obtained in the village, though Teddy Savory, the Carrier, who lived in the gabled house, Yew Tree Cottage, opposite the school used to take parcels to Blandford every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for a small charge, and likewise bring other parcels back from Blandford in his trap.
Opposite the church, next to the Baker Arms, was the thatched butcher’s shop kept before the First World War by a Mr. Turner who had a parrot outside the shop which sang, “Now the Day is Over” all day long! Next to the butcher was the saddlery of Ernest Cottle in one of the five cottages which are now incorporated into one house under one fine thatched roof recently renewed.”
David Pope.
Acknowledgments
The co-operation of the undermentioned is gratefully acknowledged:
Mrs. P. Bell
Mrs. P. Bussell
Mr. Fred Cooper
Mr. & Mrs. H. Crane
Mrs. A. Davies
Mrs. Gumbleton
Mrs. Harris
Mr. R. Hutchings
Mrs. Kemp
Mr. & Mrs. H.E. Kershaw
Mr. V.T. Lewis
Mrs. C. MacKay
Mrs. K. Marriott
Mrs. Merrifield
Mr. H. Mogridge
Capt. & Mrs. R.P. de R. Openshaw
Mr. & Mrs. Pride
Mr. George Richards
Miss P.E. Savory
Lynda Shephard
Mr. & Mrs. A.W. Shephard
Mrs. E.L. Shepherd
Mr. G.C. Smith
Mr. & Mrs. G.C. Swain
Mrs. V. Tuffin
Mr. S. Tuffin
Mr. & Mrs. A.F. Wareham
Mrs. M. Wingrove
The Hev. R.F. York (Rector 1971-1981)
The Rev. Richard Taylor (Rector 1950-1966)
