Local History Talks With Wareham History Group

By the Wareham and District Archaeology and Local History Society

The Wareham and District Archaeology & Local History Society is a friendly group of like-minded people from all walks of life, who are brought together by our shared interest in archaeology, local history and heritage.  The society offers a diverse lecture programme of ten monthly meetings, from September through to June each year. Their speakers vary from university lecturers to world-renowned authorities.  They also organise visits and guided walks during the summer months.

Find out more about the Society on the Love It Local Community Pages 

All talks will be at the Furzebrook Village Hall, Wareham from 7.30 pm.

Everyone is welcome. Members FREE. Visitors £5

For further details contact Karen by email karen.brown68@btinternet.com or phone 01305 812876

Or do look at their new website https://wareham-archaeology.com

Here’s the upcoming talks from September 2024…

May 20th 

Andrea Frankham-Hughes: Exploring the hidden prehistoric archaeology of the Isle of Portland

The Isle of Portland has a rich archaeological history but is little understood in comparison to the rest of Dorset. Archaeologist and Post Graduate researcher Andrea Frankham-Hughes explores the hidden evidence of Portland’s prehistory, with a focus on the Iron Age and her work on the enigmatic site found by Susann Palmer and AC archaeology at Weston in 2006. Also a book sale.

June 17th 

Paul Cheetham: Drowning in Dorset

Drowning is the term for the annual flooding of the many extensive engineered water meadows to be found in Dorset – the specialist agricultural workers who did this were called ‘drowners’. Water meadows were a key element of the so-called ‘sheep-corn’ agricultural system that produced cereal crops to support the burgeoning towns and cities in the run up to, and during, the Industrial Revolution. This reliance on homegrown corn had reduced drastically by the end of the 19th century, and so almost all the water meadow systems had been abandoned and/or fallen into disrepair before the middle of the 20th century. This talk will consider the social and economic aspects of this agricultural engineering achievement, how the systems worked, why they were abandoned, and the unlikely knock-on effects for helping interpret some important archaeological sites of Dorset.

September 16th 

Lilian Ladle: Victorian Wareham

Wareham’s recovery and growth after the devastating fire of 1762 continued throughout Victoria’s long reign (1837 – 1901). The economy and social growth of this self-sufficient market town was vibrant. New buildings proliferated, businesses flourished, and the development of health and education systems , the railway, and postal services was of benefit to all. However, by the end of the 19th century a dramatic change was afoot. The Boer war in far away South Africa affected the town, and the telephone and motorised transport had arrived. Life as it had been would never be quite the same again.

October 21st

Dr Wayne Bartlett: Viking Dorset

‘The very first recorded Viking raid in England took place in Dorset. From then on the county was frequently involved in Viking-age activity in one way or another. This involvement ranged from raiding and warfare to the establishment of some important monastic institutions with some surprisingly Christian Viking patrons. This talk examines some of these events and how traces of Viking Age Dorset can be found in some unlikely places even today.’