Village History
The village has a large archive of historical ephemera as well as a lot of original research. Items in red can be downloaded.
Date | Event | |
1887 | Queen Victoria Jubilee | Copies of the original documents detailing the event |
1957 | Melways Hatchery | Copy of the catalogue of sale of plant and stock-in-trade dated 2nd October 1957 |
1977 | Silver Jubilee and Photograph Album | Original photographs and other items relating to the event |
1996 | The Olde House | A History of the house dating back to 1700 compiled by Chris Giles and an undated architectural sketch |
2000 | Millennium Street Party Photograph Album | Original photographs of the event |
2002 | Calor Gas “Village of the Year” Presentation | 1993 and 1996: Newspaper cuttings and photographs relating to the village winning the Dorset “Best Village of the Year” competition’ 2002: Presentation of the village entry into the national “Village of the Year” competition representing Dorset. Hard copy only |
2002 | Golden Jubilee Photograph Album | Comprehensive record and original documents of the event |
2004 | Child Okeford & Hanford Parish Plan | Digital and Hard copies |
2007 | Child Okeford Village Design Statement | Digital and Hard copies |
2014 | Village Directory | Copies from 2002, 2005, 2007 & 2014 |
2017 | British History On Line | Copies of the Child Okeford section |
2017 | ![]() ![]() | The Child Okeford Union Benefit Society Banner. Comprehensive file including original photographs. An account of the various ‘Friendly’ societies in the village can be found here We-Unite-to-assist-one-another.pdf |
2017 | ![]() | In 1845 the remaining common land of Child Okeford was ‘inclosed’ [their word]. A detailed analysis of the award can be found here Notes-on-the-enclosure-of-common-land-in-Child-Okeford.pdf |
2017 | Footpaths & Bridleways | Comprehensive file of maps and records dating back to 1841 |
2017 | ![]() | Comprehensive file and photographs on the history of the bridge. A history of the bridge can be found here Hayward-Bridges.pdf In 2016 Hayward Bridge was replaced for the umpteenth time in it’s history. Dorset Council took a time lapse video of its replacement which can be seen here. |
2017 | Manors of Child Okeford | A paper detailing the history of the village from 1086 |
2017 | ![]() | A paper looking into the names of the village and the surrounding fields may be downloaded here “What’s in a name ?” |
2017 | Old Post Office Cottage | A paper on the history of the property |
2018 | Domesday Book | A paper on the village’s entry in the Domesday book. |
2018 | Emigration to Australia | In 1848 some 30 villagers from Child Okeford abandoned a life of poverty and emigrated to Australia under the auspices of the Blandford Colonisation Society. This is their story. |
2018 | Samuel Arnold Child Okeford’s Aussie Pioneer. | The article above on Emigration to Australia was posted on the village website and a reader in Australia kindly took up the story of one man and his life their. |
2019 | ![]() ![]() Child Okeford Brickworks | A short history of the brickworks at Gold Hill. The archive also has an original drainage pipe manufactured at the brickworks |
2020 | ![]() | How was it that the tail fin from a German bomber was found in one of Markstone cottages? Sadly we never found the answer ? |
2020 | Home Guard & The Secret Auxiliary Unit | A history of these units from Child Okeford in the Second World War |
2020 | ![]() The Graf Zeppelin over Hanford | Perhaps the most extraordinary picture of Child Okeford, or more accurately Hanford, in the archive. This is an account of the flight of the Graf Zeppelin’s tour of Britain and it’s appearance at Hanford. |
2020 | Raft Race![]() | An incomplete record of this charity race run on the river Stour A video taken by Tony Ward of the event in 1991 can be seen on YouTube – here. |
2021 | Hanford | Comprehensive file of articles, cuttings, photos and data |
2022 | Platinum Jubilee Celebrations![]() ![]() | Video of the celebrations and Village photo. |
2022 | ![]() | 80 page book looking back at the village’s celebrations of royal events from 1887 to 2022 The book can be read and downloaded from here |