Between 2015 and 2018 Dorset History Centre undertook the ‘Unlocking the Bankes archive‘ project. During the life of this project, staff and volunteers contributed well over 100 blogs to the project website. As we reach 2024, this project website is no longer functional in the way it originally was, and we have made the decision to close the website permanently.
However, we didn’t want to lose all of the intriguing stories and individual research which had been done by so many people, and we are therefore going to slowly be recycling these pieces onto this blog site going forward, to ensure that these fascinating tales have a home for people to read (or possibly re-read)!
This week we look at Daphne Bankes, and how she spent her holidays…
—
Daphne Maud Adelaide Bankes was a keen traveller and avid member of the Studland community. Her childhood holidays in picturesque Studland blossomed into a love for and career within the Studland Bay Café. Her passion for holidaying took her across Europe through the 1950s, but her heart lay within the waves of Studland beach.
In the 1900s, Daphne spent her childhood holidaying with family at Studland, equipped with spades and an adventurous rock climbing spirit. In 1914-1915, Daphne and her siblings were excitedly paddling in the water, wearing matching swimsuits. Quick snapshots of them posing at the water’s edge show the family with smiles swept across their faces.
Working at the Café
Within the Bankes Archive, there are many invoices, signed by Daphne, which show items she stocked on the shelves of her café (D-BKL/E/C/8/16). These include bathing caps and suits, as well as locally sourced confectionery and tea cakes. During her adult life, Studland took precedence – work at the café was a priority. She even wrote to her nephew John Bankes, telling him of her plans to capitalise on the Queen’s coronation in 1953 by ordering royal celebration souvenirs! (D-BKL/H/S/1/54).
Exotic Holidays
Through reading letters and postcards she sent to her nephew – who she obviously adored – it is easy to see Daphne’s love for exploring whilst holidaying. When away from Studland she visited beautiful places such as Paris, Cologne, Mount Etna and the island of Ischia in the Gulf of Naples.
But what did she think of these exotic places?
Her Italian trip in 1955 sounds jam packed with adventure. The island of Ischia was beautiful, she remarked how the sands were nearly black, due to the island’s volcanic nature (D-BKL/H/S/1/157). Whilst travelling to Sicily she tried ‘the most intoxicating liquor‘ which made her struggle to stay awake on her travels (D-BKL/H/S/1/151). And writing to John from the top of Mount Etna, she paints the image of a snowy landscape, covered in over 200 craters as she ascends to the top of the ‘active volcano‘ (D-BKL/H/S/1/152).
Did she enjoy Paris in 1956? In another letter to her nephew (D-BKL/H/S/1/213) – which was mainly written in French – she told the tale of her first time riding the Underground… and getting fined 100 francs for sitting in the wrong carriage! She would often ask locals where the best places to eat were, and she remarked at how Americanised Paris had become since she last visited.
—
Daphne also commented on Cologne in 1959:
‘The war damage here is still very apparent everywhere, New buildings are all round the cathedral.’
—
Have you ever been overcharged in a hotel? Daphne described such an experience to John in 1958 –
‘[I] could only get into a horrid little hotel…attic room – where they had the cheek to charge me 10 marks -… in the best hotel it’s only 7.50. I was unable to expostulate but glared ferociously at the manager when I left!’
—
Daphne always squeezed the most out of her travels as possible, but she saw through the tourist traps and fuss of holidaying abroad. Being in Studland was unquestionably the happiest part of her life. She lived there, worked there and had cherished memories of childhood holidays.
So what can Daphne teach us about holidays? There’s no place like home when it comes to relaxation and cherished beaches. Studland truly is a beautiful Dorset location!
Author: Chloe Taylor
Originally published: 31/8/2017