Local Trips and Visitors

Ellen and Tony, from Portsmouth, visited us for the day. It was good to see them. We last saw them in Capetown in February. It was nice of them to bring the South African weather to Ringwood. It was dull the following day!

White Mill, Sturminster Marshall, Dorset

This mill dates from about 1175.

The mill as we see it today was rebuilt in 1776 on very much older foundations, on a site that is older still. Throughout this final incarnation, the tenancy of the mill was held by successive members of the Joyce family.

The present edition of the mill worked under water power until 1866 when a severe winter flood breached the diversionary works in the river so severely that they were deemed beyond economic repair. By this time the miller was also the local baker so, rather than simply closing the mill, he converted one half of it to run from a portable steam engine in order to keep his bakehouse supplied with flour. Commercial milling however appears to have ended with the flood.

We had a tour which was well worthwhile. the inside is larger than it looks.

The bridge, over the River Stour, which is adjacent to the mill is probably a sixteenth century structure. We know from an investigation of the foundations a few years ago, that it stands on timber pilings which have themselves been carbon dated to the twelfth century. This is alleged to be the oldest bridge site in Dorset.


Lady Wimborne Bridge, Wimborne, was built to carry the Southampton and Dorchester Railway over the main drive of Canford House. The railway closed 3rd May 1977.

A geocaching outing with Sue and Bailey in the woods north of Burley.

Bailey with the cache, slightly puzzled by the first item out.

Not one for arachnaphobes.