Thanks to an inattentive soap boilers’ apprentice, who lost control of a fire in a tallow chandler’s workshop, nearly 90 % of Blandford Forum went up in smoke on June 4, 1731.
As with the Great Fire of London, this allowed for some radical town planning. From humble shops down cobbled alleys to the Purbeck stone-clad Palladian town hall, brothers John and William Bastard (pupils of Sit Christopher Wren), rebuilt their hometown in brick and tile creating one of the finest complete examples of Georgian town architecture in the UK. Known as ‘a little Bath in bricks’ this market town offers handsome Georgian buildings great and small to admire. Market days are Thursday and Saturdays, with Blandford Forum Farmers’ and Makers Market usually on the last Sunday of the month. facebook.com/blandfordforummarket
Dedicated Followers of Fashion
John and William Bastard built Lime Tree House on The Plocks for their five sisters. Dating from 1760, this handsome house is home to the fabulous Blandford Fashion Museum. Its collection of over 4000 pieces ranges from corsets, bonnets and waistcoats from the 1740s and beyond to 1920s flapper frocks to 1970s hot pants. Exhibitions currently running there include The Textile Collection of Dame Elisabeth Frink featuring some stunning patchwork quilts They also host expert led workshops including Upcycled Jewellery (August 16) which shows you how to repurpose and reimage broken and discarded jewellery into new pieces. blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk
Visit a piece of D-Day History
The former RAF station at Tarrant Rushton, three miles from Blandford, played an important role in the Allies’ secret war over 80 years ago. Flying as low as 60 feet to avoid radar and German night fighters, Halifax crews from Tarrant Rushton dropped supplies, agents, and arms into occupied Europe and Scandinavia. On the night of June 5 1944, three waves of Halifax bombers took off towing Horsa wooden gliders carrying soldiers bound for Normandy. These were the first troops to land on D-Day, seizing a vital bridge near Caen, later named ‘Pegasus Bridge’. A small strip of runway and a couple aircraft hangars is all that remains. Tarrant Rushton airfield memorial postcode is DT11 8SB. raftarrantrushton.org
Pop-Up Badgers
Hall and Woodhouse Brewery has been making real ales here since 1777. They also run some 250 pubs across Southern England including The Crown on West Street. This independent family brewer is a keen supporter of the local community which includes the annual litter pick by employees on Founder’s Day (June 8). New for 2024 is their ‘Pub Inn a Field’ an experiential pop-up bar complete with beer garden which serves both their Badger Beers and Outland craft beer. Look out for H & W pop-ups at festivals across the southwest this summer. Book a Brewery Tour (from £17) of their state-of-the-art brewery in Blandford St Mary, followed by a flight of Badger Beers. badgerbeers.com
What connects Winnie-the-Pooh, Hobbits, Military Intelligence and Blandford Forum?
World War One turned Blandford into a military town due to the railway. Blandford Camp is home to the Royal Signals and its fascinating Museum covering everything from Morse Code to Cyber Warfare. New for this year is an exhibition about the creators of Winnie-the-Pooh and The Lord of the Rings as A A Milne and J R R Tolkien were both World War One Signals Officers. Valid photo ID required by all adults for entry. royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk
A Wild Treasure
The Stour sweeps past the edge of town, either side of the river are the extensive Stour Meadows. Easily reached on foot or by bike from town, it offers flat dog-friendly riverside walks. It’s a great place to watch kingfishers and otters. The North Dorset Trailway, a 14-mile traffic free route (from Sturminster Newton to Spetisbury) is a level access route for walkers, runners, cyclists, horse riders and mobility scooters, made up of sections of the former Somerset and Dorset Railway track. Follow signs and tarmac paths across the meadow to the black bridge over the Stour to pick it up. northdorsettrailway.org.uk
