As an ex-Woodcutts resident of 25 years, I was very interested to read of the Paradise Ted and Madge Cox have found ‘down the lane, past the Manor’.
I too, with other residents, experienced much happiness, and many delightful moments despite living in ‘the urbanised area of Woodcutts’. A stately elm tree (alas no more, being a victim of Dutch Elm Disease), denoted the approach of the hamlet at Woodcutts, as one travelled westwards on the B3081 from Sixpenny Handley. In the early years there was the ‘corner shop’, kept by Mrs Baggs, which welcomed you inside with a jingling jangly bell. Strains of hymn singing escaped from the chapel to enliven our gardening.
Having lived in suburbia, and worked in cities for many years, it was good to watch the progress of the seasons, the husbandry of the fields around, the rotation of crops and the grazing of sheep and cows. Cars occasionally stopped to look at the large flock of sheep in the field leading up the ‘British Village’.
All the farm workers had to use the B3081, a vital access into the fields, and for the delivery of milk, post etc to the six houses alongside. Greetings, hand-waves, and occasional chats at gateways were all part of our relaxed retirement days, and we learnt a lot about country ways and country folk, very similar no doubt to Ted’s boyhood in Hampshire.
When the demands of house and garden permitted, (often these were ignored) we explored our environment on foot. A short rectangular walk would take us westwards along the road, southwards down a once beech-tree lined path to Priory Cottage, eastwards past The Manor, and then north and west again to return home. This walk was particularly favoured in the spring, when we would look for the wonderful carpets of snowdrops within a walled piece of George and Marion Tozer’s garden, and search for violets, both white and blue in the hedgerows, and look for lambs gambolling in an earthworks type of field.
With more time and energy, we would cross the road and head northwards along the bridle path into the woods, which form part of Cranborne Chase. We met woodcutters, who showed us the art of hurdle making. We found banks of wood anemones, primroses, violets, large stretches of bluebells, but our greatest joy was discovering early purple orchids and Solomon’s seal. Perhaps the most exciting visit was on a dull, damp June evening when we heard nightingales and a nightjar for the first time ever.
Bird watching from the house, in the garden in the lanes and the woods became a new hobby. We made a count of fifty-four different kinds of bird seen around the area. Our main joy came from watching the yearly visits of the Great Spotted woodpecker. Male and female came for food suspended from an old apple tree only a few feet from the kitchen window. Then to our surprise and delight Mum and Dad brought their two offspring to join their meals. Although the tree had to be removed because of age, other generations of woodpeckers continued to find nuts in the re-sited cages. We also welcomed house martins in May, and regretted the departure in October. But perhaps the most moving and exciting ‘bird experience’ of all, was the sight of a solitary barn owl on its search for food in the twilight - magic moments watching it silently, slowly, and rhythmically flying about six feet from the ground searching for supper. Sadly I believe loss of habitat has taken away these delights.
The position of our house, even though alongside the B3081, gave unrivalled views of open countryside bounded by trees of Cranborne Chase. This for me brought the greatest pleasure, watching the changing ‘skyscapes’ - glorious sun rises and sunsets. One could note the progress of the seasons, and determine behind which trees the sun would unfailingly set at the summer and winter solstices - hopefully given a clear fine evening.
Now residing almost at the top of the hill in Handley, such joys must be sought (if inspired) further afield, from the Recreation Ground. But the memories of ‘Woodcutts Delights’ endure.
THE CHURCH OF ST. ANDREW
At the Southernmost corner of our parish and about three miles distant by footpath, will be found the little Church of St. Andrew.
When King Alfred build Shaftesbury Abbey in 880-893 he endowed it with 24,000 acres of land, 2,400 of which was in Gussage and Minchington. He appointed his eldest daughter €lfrida the first Abbess and she ruled over the Abbey for 45 years, dying at the age of 64. It is almost certain that she built the first church here for the use of the inhabitants of her manor. It was served by the Church of Iwerne Minster, which was also under the Abbey.
About the middle of the 13th century it was destroyed by fire, and the present church was built. Some Saxon herring bone work can be seen at the base of the West end wall.
In 1480 the advowson was sold to Edward IV, who was then building St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. The Abbess still held the patronage until the Dissolution in 1539, when the Dean and Canons of Windsor became the patrons.
The Return of the Commission in 1650 was:
"That the Vicare of Hanley was a member of Iwerne Minster and presentable with it. That there belongs to the Chapel, Gussage St. Andrew and Minchington distant two miles. The cure of souls be supplied by the Curat of Hanley. That the Chapel be fit to be made a Parish Church in regard to the distance from Hanley, and that there be sufficient congregation for the said Chapel, viz., the inhabitants of Deane, Gussage and Minchington."
The church is 57 feet long and 14 feet wide inside. The floor drops from East to West about 2 feet. The chancel is level and is formed by a 6 inch step. The little bell cote on the West gable contains one bell dated 1560.
In the chancel window will be seen the Aumbry and the Piscina. The Norman arch of a door in the South wall opposite the font is still in good preservation, but the doorway has long since been built up. The font is Norman. The brass ewer came from Brittany, and the font cover was presented by the Vicar of Pewsey, Wilts. The brass chandelier was presented to the church by the late Mrs. Pitt Rivers in 1920. The silver communion service was presented by Henry Alie in 1600, who lived in the Manor House next to the church. It is still in use.
There are three grave slabs, two in the aisle and one in the chancel, this one lying North to South under the communion table. This is most unusual.
The inscription reads:
"Gulielmus Williams de Woodcotts, Generous, extremum suwm diet clausit, Nov. ye 17, 1725, aged 100."
One of the other slabs is badly worn and nothing of an inscription can be seen. The other covers the bodies of John Lush, his wife Mary and his daughter. It says:
"Here lyeth y bodie of John Lush, of Donhead St. Mary, who departed this life at Cashmoor, Feby. 16th, 1722. Born ye 8 Maie, 1668," with the curious epitaph added: "Them that are with Christ need not repent."
On the South wall is a tablet to two infant babies, son and daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Biles, Yeoman. The son, Benjamin, died on Dec. 21st, 1812, and the daughter, Eliza, on June 16th, 1818.
In the Register of Baptisms, beginning in 1813, there is one entry reminding us of coaching days:
"In 1824, Dec 28th, Caroline Harding, D of Wm. and Letcha Harding, Keeper of the Turnpike Gate."
There were no marriages here and so far as we know there is no burial ground.
A payment was made out of this church to a stall in Salisbury Cathedral.
In 1895 the church was thoroughly restored. The high box pews were taken out and the present open pine seats replaced them, giving accommodation to 52 adults. The gallery at the West end was removed. The present pulpit was built up from the best of the Jacobean panels, but the sounding board which was over the old pulpit was accidentally destroyed.
In 1951 the walls were cleaned and distempered and it was during this operation that scraps of a wall painting were discovered. These have been examined by an expert, who suggests they are of the late 12th or early 13th century. Apparently the subject is a ‘Passion Cycle.’ It is the wish of the congregation of this little church to have the painting restored.
This short history cannot be closed without a tribute to the late Rev. A. R. Turing Bruce, Assistant Priest, who for 36 years faithfully served this church. He was responsible for the carved oak altar back, which he erected in memory of his parents; also the little window West of the door, the medieval tiles round the base of the font, the fish on the bell cote, and the medallions in the East windows. He passed away on February 18th, 1952, aged 78 years.
Extracts from a booklet compiled originally for the use of children to learn a little of the life of their grandparents, written by Mr. F. Adams of Handley, and published circa 1953.
Further to the most interesting piece concerning the unveiling of the War Memorial, as reported in the last issue of The Downsman, and in pursuance of my article published in the October 1998 issue, I am now able to provide a little more detail in respect of the late 2Lt. Sidney Vandyke Hasluck and his father, the Reverend Ernest Edward Hasluck.
Referring to Crockford's Clerical Directory for 1930 (held in the reference section of Salisbury Library), it is recorded that his father, who had graduated from Trinity College Cambridge in 1880 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, arrived in the village of Sixpenny Handley, with his wife and son (Sidney was then aged five), in 1893. His appointment was coupled with that of Gussage St. Andrew but, surely, what must have impressed Ernest Hasluck and his family most was the tranquillity of rural North Dorset compared to the hustle and bustle of their previous abodes in the city of Birmingham. Here the Reverend Hasluck had served three parishes since 1881 and it is also noted that during the tenure of his last appointment, he bore the additional responsibilities of Chaplain to Birmingham City Asylum.
Between 1893 and 1906, Sidney Hasluck received his formal education, culminating at Marlborough College where, it is reported, he was a keen member of the college Cadet Corps. This interest in the military was further enhanced by three years spent with the Dorset Yeomanry. In 1909, Sidney, now 21, left Sixpenny Handley and sailed for Ceylon (Sri Lanka) where he took up a post with one of the island's many tea and rubber plantations. Soon after his arrival, he joined the Ceylon Mounted Rifles, though maintaining his position as a planter. For the next five years he combined his civilian work with his military duties but on the outbreak of war in August 1914, he immediately volunteered for active service, as a private soldier, with a force known as the Ceylon Contingent (though I suspect the Ceylon Mounted Rifles were part of this Contingent).
By the end of the year the Ceylon Contingent had been sent to Egypt and it was here in the January of 1915 that Sidney, now aged 26, was granted a commission in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers.
As a 2nd Lieutenant he was attached first to the 89th Punjabis and secondly, after accompanying the "89th" to the Dardenelles, to the 14th Sikhs and it was with the latter that he fell in the savage fighting at Gallipoli on the 4th of June 1915.
From his obituary, recorded in Volume 1 of The Roll of Honour, compiled by The Marquis De Ruvigny and published by The Standard Art Book Company of London, it is evident that in addition to the official notification, by the War Office, to his father of his son's death in action, Ernest Hasluck received at least two further letters, which likely brought him and his wife, Agnes, some comfort. The first was written by the Officer Commanding 89th Punjabis, the unit to which Sidney had been attached following his commission: "During the time your son was with us, both in Egypt and the Dardenelles, he worked hard, both at Hindustani and at his military duties. During the fighting at Kantara, he showed himself cool under fire. Again, in the Dardenelles, when Captain Scruby was wounded, he and Lieutenant Masters carried on under a heavy fire, while the Double Company dug itself in, and he gave a good example to everyone near him. I may mention that I sent both his name and Lieutenant Masters' to the General Officer ommanding Brigade for a "Mention in Despatches", though it is probable that owing to the large number of recommendations their names have gone no further."
Despite the misgivings of his Officer Commanding (whose name is not recorded in the obituary) and the bureaucracy that is endemic in all military formations, the recommendation for a "Mention in Despatches" was duly promulgated and this honour has been annotated against his entry in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission register for The Helles memorial at Gallipoli. The "fighting at Kantara", mentioned in the same letter, refers to the attack in February 1915 on the Suez Canal by Turkish forces, their assault being successfully repulsed by Imperial troops which included the 89th Punjabis.
With this key link between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea (and, ultimately, the Indian Ocean) secure, the "89th" embarked for the Dardenelles and what was to culminate in the disastrous campaign against the Turks in the Dardenelles.
The second letter was penned by Captain Scruby and an extract reads: "We were together in a trench for 3 days and at the time I got hit we had gone up to take a new position in front of the old line. He was left in charge all day; we had fairly heavy casualties and I feel sure that if it had not been for his influence our company would not have held the new line. Your son made the men dig a hole for me and looked after me until we were relieved that night."
Understandably, since 1915, many books have been written about the Gallipoli campaign, a handful appearing whilst the First World War was still in progress and I can thoroughly recommend one of the most recent to be published, namely "Gallipoli" by Michael Hickney. His careful analysis of the campaign and its aftermath is a model of objective historical writing.
From a force of nearly half a million men, around half became casualties of which over 36,000 were killed, the Australians in particular suffering in the region of 7,600 fatalities, or nearly a fifth of all Australian servicemen involved. When mention is made of ANZAC Day, it is Gallipoli that is foremost in the minds of the people of Australia and New Zealand.
Over the years, few of those responsible for the planning and execution of the campaign have escaped censure; Churchill, then at the Admiralty; Kitchener the War Minister, both come in for criticism but it was the commander-in-chief on the spot who, ultimately, shouldered most of the blame and for General Sir Ian Hamilton, Gallipoli marked the end of his active service career.
And what of the Reverend Ernest Hasluck; not only did he and his wife grieve the loss of their youngest son but also the death of their second child, Ernest Gordon, who was born soon after their arrival in the village but who died in infancy and well before Sidney left for Ceylon, never to return. In 1925, Ernest retired from the church and settled at Warren House, Caversham near Reading. As recounted earlier, he is listed in the 1930 edition of Crockford's and his name also appears in the 1937 issue after which there is a gap in the Salisbury collection of directories until 1957, in which his name does not appear.
Cold spells in November can have a serious effect on morale in our house. Although we know they will not last long and are almost always superseded by a mild spell, it is the possibility, however remote, that the cold will stay with us until March. Meanwhile the television seems to be filled with holiday and gardening programmes, mostly showing hot, exotic locations or the glories of spring and summer flowers. Nowhere do you see the reality of the autumn devastation that needs clearing up, nor the wet and windswept face of our national resorts at this (or any?) time of year! I do not want to worry anyone but Colin Elford, the Forest Enterprise Conservation Warden, saw his first Redwing on 5th October and flocks of migrant thrushes from Russia were in the area from early November: Brambling have also already appeared locally this month. Are we in for a hard winter? It is clearly too early to jump to conclusions but we have been lucky with quite mild winters for some time and could be in for a change in the new millennium. Whilst the prospect of winter is demoralising, the reality of autumn in the woods is quite the opposite. The leaf colours and space created by their fall gives a whole new perspective to the rides, it is a joy to wander through on a sunny afternoon. I recommend it!
Dormouse monitoring has now just finished for the year and records are being sent off to the National Recording Centre. This year 180 boxes were in place in Garston Woods and these were checked from April to November. The main Dormouse survey for October had to be carried out over two days due to a torrential downpour on the Sunday that completely soaked the handlers and their records! It may have been that wet spell and the subsequent frost that caused the death of an adult dormouse found in a box during the November survey. This is the first time we have found a dead adult and unfortunately it was too far eaten by maggots to send off for a post-mortem. By the November survey, all the animals had retired to hibernation quarters in the ground except one.
Breeding numbers were down on last year with no young ones found until August and a reduced number of broods after that. After three years monitoring we have yet to find a nest of young in the lower half of the wood and in some areas, dormice were completely absent this year. However there were an increased number of nests built so we believe periods of cold and wet weather were to blame for this reduction.
Monitoring now takes place in over seventy sites in those areas of the country where dormice are usually found, with nearly 2400 individuals being recorded. Clearly this is not a very large number for the whole country which is why there is a protection and monitoring scheme but at least we now know the basic distribution of the species. In March next year, all the groups involved in the conservation programme are meeting in Cheddar to review progress and share the knowledge acquired in the last four years. We hope that will make a significant contribution to maintaining one of the most delightful animals native to this country.