Although Christmas Day is the usual alternative name for 25 December it should not be forgotten that 25 December is also one of the traditional quarter days on which rents fell due.
In December 1942, a letter was sent to Mrs R. Forward about rent due on her property in Wimborne. The address on the rent reminder is just Hillbutts, Wimborne. However, from the 1939 Register it is possible to identify Mrs Sybil Forward (nee Haines) wife of Robert G Forward, Gamekeeper, of 543 Abbotts Street Pamphill (next to Abbott Street Forge) as the recipient of this rent reminder.
Sylvia and Robert Forward had 3 three children according to the 1939 register. As a gamekeeper it is likely that the cottage was provided at a reduced rent for the Forward family, but it is unclear what time period the 17/7 covers.
In 1942 14 West Street, Wimborne was offered by the Bankes estate for a rent of £20.00 per annum plus rates of £6 4/8 per annum. Current Zoopla rents in Wimborne include: 1 bed flat £725 per month; 2 bed flat £1950 per month; something of a small increase from 1942!
DHC also holds D-BKL/E/A/5/111 – April 1989 survey of 542 and 543, it is believed that this property was once one and at some point was divided into two cottages.