South Street: runs north to south through the center of Dorchester
connecting the center of the High Street, where the distictive buildings of St Peters Church and the clock tower of the Corn Exchange can be seen in many of the postcards shown below, and the site of the old Roman South Gate into Dorchester. It is clearly marked on John Speeds Map of Dorchester dated 1611 with the town pump shown in pride of place at its northenmost end and Nappers Mite and the Grammer School towards its southernmost extremity. The top quarter of its length however has been known as 'Cornhill' since before 1652 and is marked as such on Kingston's map dated in 1771. Where the town pump was is a small building called a Cupola. This Cupola is referred to in Municipal Records. On 28 Apr 1758 the Corporation ordered 'Mr William Bryer, our Steward to employ proper persons to take down the lantern of the Cupola which is very ruinous and dangerous, and to fit up the wood-work and other parts of the Cupola in as good and cheap method as he can'. Seven years later on 1st Oct 1764 there is reference to 'Mary, wife of Edward Hibbs of Knighton Dorset labourer to be whipped tomorrow morning at the cupola'. The significant entry however is for 28th Feb 1783 when it states "The Cupola being in a very ruinous state, and in its present situation quite a nuisance to the street, and it being the opinion of the gentlemen present that the Road would be more commodious for travelling if the same was entirely removed, It is resolved that the same be taken down, and that the Pump, which ought to stand for the Benefit of the Neighbourhood, be ornamented in such manner as shall be approved of at a future meeting. PS Mr Robert Stickland is desired to be assisting with the Town steward in taking down the cupola.". Cornhill was the site of the old coaching inn 'The Antelope' (now an arcade), and where the old pump stood is now an obelisk shown in the first card below. The two most historical buildings in south street are Nappers Mite the old Almshouses established in 1615 and the old Grammer or Free School |
30a. Cornhill - 1909 Link to Obelisk 2008 From the junction of High West & East Streets looking down Cornhill to South St Behind the gas lamp is Wilts & Dorset Banking Co. Limited, 34 High East street |
30b. Cornhill 1909 The shop opposite behind the policeman is 'Riglars' the tobacconists at 1 Cornhill Posted Maiden Newton 14th May 1909 |
31. Cornhill - Robinsons - 1903 Link to Picture 2010 Robinson's (left) sold stationery and musical instruments and were concert agents Looking back at St Peters Church & the Corn exchange (Negative F. Frith 50841) |
32. Cornhill - Antelope Hotel - c1943 The Antelope Hotel on the left closed in 1990's and is now offices and the entrance to a shopping arcade (Negative Valentines H4370) |
33. Nappers Mite - (c1910-1915?) Founded by Sir Robert Napper (Napier) 1615 Completed after his death (Negative Judges 802) |
34. Nappers Mite- c1910? Card by ETW Dennis Image P63209 The street frontage was rebuilt in 1842 |
35 The Free School, Nappers Mite - 1910 Building front right Dorchester Free School before it moved to Culliford Road in 1928 Further on 'Nappers Mite' and 'Thurmans' - on left Henry Perham's hairdressers Posted in Dorchester 9.45pm February 24th 1910 (Negative Kingsway Real Photo Series S3167) |
36. Far end of South Street - 1923 This end of South Street was the site of the old South Gate into Dorchester The shop Tilley & Son were cycle agents & based at 45 South St Posted in Dorchester 22nd September 1923 (Negative Judges Real Photo Series 801) |
37. Nappers Mite - 1958 Link to Picture 2009 Established for 10 poor men, 4 from the country & 6 from the town had a small courtyard out the back (Negative Wades Real Photo Series 777) |
38. South Street - 1970's? The spire is All Saints Church (Negative J Salmon Ltd Sevenoakes 1-54-13-12L) |
Genealogical Notes:-
Cards 31 & 32. CORNHILL 1903 & 1943 [Return to Card 32]
(9) Jane DUNN was the widow of Charles DUNN (baptised Gillingham Dorset 1 Nov 1818 the son of a labourer Henry Dunn by his wife Elizabeth). Jane herself was born at Henstridge in Somerset c1826. Charles a porter and Jane a laundress initially worked in Wincanton but soon moved to Dorchester where they jointly ran the White Heart Hotel in High East Street. They had a son Clement Charles DUNN baptised in All Saints church on 16th May 1855 but Charles DUNN (1818-1863) died after a short illness aged 44 on 17th May 1863 and was buried at the Civic Cemeterey at Weymouth Ave in Dorchester. Jane now a widow moved to Fordington where she was the landlady of the Junction Hotel for many years. Her son Clement moved to London working as a commercial clerk in Finsbury (1881) and later at the Manchester Hotel in Aldersgate (1891). Jane was still running the Junction Hotel in 1881 but had moved to Cornhill to manage the 'Antelope' by 1889. She died in Dorchester at the age of 71 in 1894 and her son Clement returned to Dorchester to take over management of the 'Antelope'. In kellys Directory of Dorchester for the year 1895 the stables were being advertised (see below) by William HAMMOND Junior. (10). Clement Charles DUNN married in 1900 in Newton Abbott to Helena Joanna MERRICK and they were still running the 'Antelope' in 1915. |