GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET

1. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET A CUTURAL HISTORY 2007/08

2. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET PROJECT BACK GROUND • This seminar and presentation is the result of a research and oral history project carried out by Dorset Community Action staff over the past 9 months. • The project is being funded by way of a grant from the Equality and Human Right Commission.

3. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET RESEARCH • One of the earliest references to Gypsies ‘ Egiptian’ is shown as a child being baptised in Lyme Regis church in 1558. • Census information for 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 show Gypsies living and carrying out trades in Dorset.

4. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • The 1881 census shows that around 120 - 130 people likely to be Gypsies were living in Dorset • The census also shows many Gypsies as being born in Dorset and still living or returning to the area.

5. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • In 1881 occupations were mainly listed as - hawker, chimney sweep, peddler, peg maker. • Also shown were - flower gatherer, broommaker, tinman/tinker, agricultural labourer. Photo courtesy of Jack Loveland

6. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • Families included :- James, Barney, Lee, Benham, Cooper. All well known names in Dorset today. Photo courtesy of Jack Loveland

7. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • There are further references to Gypsies & Travellers shown in documents, parish records and articles written during the late 1700’s 1800’s and early 1900’s. • In Corfe Castle parish records it shows a Peter Stanley - razor grinder & tinker - as having been issued with a removal order on 10th May 1792.

8. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • In 1847 a Gypsy School opened in Farnham, North Dorset. • An article in the Christchurch Times March 5th 1927. Leads with the headline - Chief Traveller Death - and tells of the funeral of Noah Hughes.

9. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • An article by G.E.C. Webb about his 1920’s childhood in Poole. Makes reference to ‘ dark- visaged people sat in groups among numerous tents & caravans’. Went again in 1950’s - houses bungalows & recreation ground on land. Photo courtesy of Jack Loveland

10. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • There continue to be references to Gypsies throughout the 1900’s. • In 1938 a ministry of health worker writes about having an encampment on her beat near Ferndown. • Dominic Reeve author of ‘Smoke in the Lanes’. Tells a story of parking up in a lane near Dorchester in 1958.

11. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET ORAL HISTORY • Both the settled community ‘ gorgio’ and Gypsies & Travellers were interviewed as part of this project. Photo courtesy of Jack Loveland

12. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET Memories from older members of the settled community : - • “Gypsies always came to Martinstown Fair to deal horses. I remember roast badger sandwiches were always sold at the fair.” • “When we lived in Came Rectory Gypsies came around selling pegs and knife grinding.”

13. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “In the 1950’s Gypsy children were ‘bussed’ to Christchurch School from the Thorneyhill site.” • “In September the classrooms would be very empty as families would go hop picking in Kent.”

14. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “I remember a Gypsy funeral, the body was lain out in a tent.” • “My father couldn’t have managed the farm with out them. Digging ditches, laying hedges, labouring.” • “When my daughter was born, a Gypsy family gave me a woven cradle.”

15. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “I have childhood memories of Gypsies arriving in Autumn early Winter and camping in Higher Frome Vauchurch, Compton Valence and Tollerford.” • “On the farm in Higher Burton, Gypsies used to help with harvesting.” • “The Gypsies asked my aunt to read their letters for them.”

16. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “The Benham family worked on the farm in Slyers Lane, Dorchester - they lived in trailers on the farm, in an area allocated to them.” • “They had 8 or 9 children, all born at home.” • “The women would go off selling paper flowers, mistletoe, holly and daffodils.”

17. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “Before World War Two, Gypsies used to come to Winterborne Valley farm to work at peak times like harvesting & hay making. There would be up to 20 adults plus children, living in traditional Vardos.” • “During World War Two, they were particularly useful to the farm, when the young men had gone off to war.”

18. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “During the 1920’s Gypsies used to appear regularly on the hill behind Halstock. There would be two or three Vardos with 7 horses.” “One of the Gypsies used to repair horse harnesses.” Photo courtesy of Jack Loveland

19. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET Memories from Gypsies : - • “I spent much of my younger life travelling around the Blandford area. I was married at Corfe Mullen and most of my family are buried in Blandford churchyard.” • “My mother was Caroline Hughes who was very well known for her singing.”

20. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “I was born in Sherborne in 1920 and have stayed in Dorset much of my life.” • “My husband worked on farm in Dorset. During World War Two he was in the Royal Engineers and fought in Belgium and Dunkirk. He also spent some time in India.” • “My father fought in The Great War as did his brother and brother-in-law who were killed.”

22. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “I have lived around the Dorset Wiltshire area nearly all my life and have been settled on the Thornicombe site for a number of years now.” • “I am married to a ‘gorgi’, Although my family found it difficult at first, the marriage has been accepted now.”

23. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “I have memories of picking and selling heather, primroses and daffodils. This is now illegal and no longer a trade for Gypsies.” • “Hawking has also died out because you need a license and people are always suspicious. One or two bad Gypsy families give all of us a bad name.”

24. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “My parents settled in the area so that us children could go to school.” • “I have bad memories of school - being called dirty gypos - other children would spit in my hair.” • “On a few occasions, I am ashamed to say, I would pretend I wasn’t a Gypsy to avoid the bullying.”

25. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “Travelling is in the blood and we still go away for six weeks in the summer.” • “It is not like it was in my grandparents’ day. There aren’t the stopping places there used to be.” • “Granddad used to live in a bender, then a vardo. He would sit out by the fire and people would stop to talk.”

26. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET • “My family history goes back through a long generation of Gypsies. Many have lived and worked in Dorset over the years.” • “We have to stand up and be proud.” • “I AM PROUD TO BE A GYPSY ”

27. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET

28. GYPSIES & TRAVELLERS IN DORSET ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS DCA are very grateful for the input to this project from all those involved. *Jack Loveland *Sue Day - Romany Genes Website *Priest House Museum - Wimborne *Romany Roots Society *Sherborne Museum *Philpot Museum - Lyme Regis *Equality & Human Rights Commision for the Funding ***And especially to all those individuals who kindly agreed to be interviewed. THANK YOU