This last year has been difficult for us all during the pandemic and we have had to postpone our activities interviewing village residents, to keep everybody safe.
We have been fortunate however, to have received some wonderful contributions of written memories that residents have kindly given us, which are helping to continue to build a picture of the social history of the village.
Here are just a few snippets
"On a board in the Vestry, there is some interesting writing. It reads thus: Mrs Susanna Toogood, Relict of the Revd. C Toogood, late of Sherborne in this County by her Will dated 6 May 1826, left the sum of 200 pounds to the Parish of Osmington; the interest therof to be annually laid out by the Minister and Churchwardens of the said Parish; the one half part in the purchase of long warm cloaks, for such women of Osmington as they shall think most deserving; and the other half part, in the purchase of coats, blankets or rugs for men, as they shall also consider most deserving of the same. Such distribution to be made in the month of November every year".
"Yes, Osmington is a lovely place. The snug charm of its thatch, the houses all with their delightful names - Charity farm, Shell cottage, the Old Barn, Tudor 'Stone Lane Cottage', The Bee-hive, Little Orchard, The Garden House, Sunny Hill and the people match their village. In Summer it is just a riot of roses". Dorothy Franks
***
"We moved to Osmington village in the winter of 1948, I attended Osmington school in September 1949.
We lived in the last house in the village beside the lane that led to the drove and White Horse hill.
The Parker family lived next door, they had six children, the youngest was Michael who was 14 and I was 6 at the time. He was my hero , he rode his bike with no hands and whistled a lot, he taught me how to whistle, make a bow and arrow and make and fire a catapult. I progressed to whistling with two fingers!
I tried to follow him wherever he went - usually rabbiting, he would have none of it, however we did seem to eat an awful lot of rabbit pie and stew in those days. My aunt Lucy who was a country lady would take us foraging according to the seasons. Snowdrops in February, later cowslips, celandines, buttercups. Iris's from the wetlands of Kenny's fields, bullrushes for arrangements and later sloes, blackberries and mushrooms which were very plentiful in the top fields near to the White horse.
The lane leading to the White Horse was an assault on the senses, cowpats, honeysuckle and sweet briar resulting in a very sensual fragrance; the memory of which stays with me to this day".
Pauline Armstrong
Please can we ask - as the autumn nights draw in on us - that you take some time to reflect and possible write or type out some of your memories of living in the village to share with us.
We all have unique personal memories and these create a richness to social history that you cannot find anywhere else.
You can email contributions to lucy at osmington-history dot co dot uk or post to me at Franconia.
We intend to gather these collective memories together to share as a community to show why living in the village is so special to so many of us.
Many many thanks to those of you who have contributed so far. It's been really lovely reading your stories, and as life gets back to a bit more normality, we hope to be able to meet up with you again soon.
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