BLANDFORD FORUM VISIT THURSDAY 10TH JULY 2025

This event will focus on the catastrophic fire which destroyed most of the town in 1731, which like Dorchester’s fire of 1613, started in the workshop of a tallow chandler who produced candles and soap.

The fire destroyed the business premises of the Bastard Brothers, the renowned Dorset architects, builders, designers and cabinet makers. However, they recovered their losses and made considerable profits from their reconstruction work which now define the centre of the town.

The history of the Bastards, and of their work in Dorchester, was discussed in a DCS blog of 2023 which is still available on the Society’s website.

The walk round the town will be led by Colin from the Blandford Town Museum. It should not exceed two hours.

The START TIME is 14.30 and the MEETING POINT is the fountain commemorating the fire on Market Place, outside the entrance to the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul built by the Bastards (see the reproduction of the 18th century print).

If you want to make a day of it, we suggest that in the morning you visit:

– the Town Museum (open from 10.00 to 16.00) in Bere’s Yard, a passageway off Market Square. It currently a special exhibition on rural life.

-the Fashion Museum in Lime Tree House (open 10.00 to 16.30), at the top of Church Lane, on the corner of the Plocks.

It was built after the fire by the Bastard Brothers to house their sisters. It has a cafeteria.

-the first floor of the Age UK charity shop at the beginning of East Street, on one corner of Market Square, where the original samples of the Bastards’ architectural designs still exist on the walls and ceiling of the shop.