Entries by Ian Kellett

Taking a New and Critical Look at Our Statues

On Tuesday 02 January 2018 at 2.30p.m. at Gold Hill Museum Dave Martin will talk about Cast Bronze Reputations in the Wessex Street. Author of history textbooks and frequent contributor to The Historian magazine of the Historical Association, Dave travels the country in search of statues in public places. He seeks to answer the questions: […]

‘The two Beckfords of Fonthill’ Podcast

Thanks to Keri Jones for creating, and former Lord Mayor of London Sir John Stuttard for contributing to, a six minute podcast about Sir John’s forthcoming talk on the William Beckfords, father and son, at Gold Hill Museum on Tuesday 05 December at 2.30p.m. This lecture is free to Shaftesbury & District Historical Society members, […]

‘Shaftesbury Remembers The Great War’ Podcast

Shaftesbury & District Historical Society member Keri Jones has created a superb 16 minute podcast relating to the launch of the Shaftesbury Remembers website on 11 November. You can hear interviews with Ann Symons, Claire Ryley and Chris Stupples (seen above with website designer Rob Frost, far left, and the Mayor and Mrs Lewer) as […]

‘Shaftesbury Remembers’ Website Launched on Armistice Day

It was standing room only in the Anna McDowell Garden Room at Gold Hill Museum for the official launch of the ‘Shaftesbury Remembers’ website created by The S&DHS Great War Community Project team. Ninety Project contributors, accompanied by the Mayor of Shaftesbury and Mrs Lewer, saw the website demonstrated by designer Rob Frost (far left) […]

My Family And Other Smugglers by Roger Guttridge

Roger Guttridge is a direct descendant of North Dorset’s most notorious smuggler and proud of it. In his talk at Gold Hill Museum on Tuesday 07 November at 2.30p.m. he will tell how family legends about his ancestor’s exploits first sparked his interest and led to his first book, Dorset Smugglers, published in 1983. He […]

Half-term Autumn Crafts Day Wednesday 25 October 10.30a.m.- 3.30p.m.

An all-age Autumn Crafts Day at Gold Hill Museum on Wednesday 25 October will enable participants to try their hand at pressing apples, making Dorset buttons, and clay and paper crafts. Nick Crump will lead special workshops at 11.00a.m. and 2.00p.m. in the art of making woven fish. These workshops are suitable for ages 6 […]

TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for Gold Hill Museum

Travel website TripAdvisor has awarded its Certificate of Excellence for 2017 to Gold Hill Museum. 61% of nearly 200 contributors to the website rated the Museum as “excellent” while the average score was 4.5 out of 5. The most recent reviewers enthused about a “brilliant MUST VISIT museum with FREE entry.” Chairman David Silverside, pictured […]

Lord Mayor and Diplomat Feature in New Season of History Lectures

Contributors to the 2017-18 programme of Shaftesbury & District Historical Society lectures include a popular local history writer, a former Lord Mayor of London, an Ambassador to Japan, two leading academics, and a student of statues. The historical subjects covered include Dorset Smugglers, William Beckford Senior, Statues within 50 miles of Shaftesbury, Shakespeare’s Guildhall, and […]