EVERYONE WELCOME. MEMBERS FREE AND VISITORS ONLY £5
Meeting Location
Furzebrook Village Hall, Furzebrook Road, Wareham, BH20 5AR
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uaQgNVm2rLutPRvZ7
2026 – 27 meeting schedule
16 Sept 2026
Victorian Wareham
Lilian Ladle
Wareham’s recovery and growth after the devastating fire of 1762 continued throughout Victoria’s long reign (1837 – 1901). The economy and social growth of this self-sufficient market town was vibrant. New buildings proliferated, businesses flourished, and the development of health and education systems , the railway, and postal services was of benefit to all. However, by the end of the 19th century a dramatic change was afoot. The Boer war in far away South Africa affected the town, and the telephone and motorised transport had arrived. Life as it had been would never be quite the same again.
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Saturday 10 October 2026 – Our 40th anniversary afternoon with Lilian Ladle and Julian Richards.
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21 October 2025
Viking Dorset
Dr Wayne Bartlett
The very first recorded Viking raid in England took place in Dorset. From then on the county was frequently involved in Viking-age activity in one way or another. This involvement ranged from raiding and warfare to the establishment of some important monastic institutions with some surprisingly Christian Viking patrons. This talk examines some of these events and how traces of Viking Age Dorset can be found in some unlikely places even today.
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18 November 2026
Arne and Stoborough though time
Ben Buxton
The history of the parish of Arne is full of surprises. For instance, salt was produced on an industrial scale in Roman and medieval times, the first railway in Dorset was built here in 1806, and the Arne peninsular was heavily bombed in a single night during the second world war. Ben will outline the history of the parish, including the discoveries of the Moors at Arne Project.
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02 December 2026
In Search of Caratacus: Great king of Iron Age Britain
Miles Russell
Although little remembered today, Caratacus arguably deserves the title of Britain’s greatest King. Not only did this Iron Age war leader single-handedly direct armed resistance to the legions of Rome for eight long years, but his name, deeds and exploits resonated down through later medieval history. The first full biography of this king, placing him in archaeological, historical and landscape context, has just been published. In this talk, Miles Russell will describe the background and exploits of Caratacus, explaining how his story evolved in later mythology and folklore,