{"id":4046,"date":"2023-12-29T09:30:32","date_gmt":"2023-12-29T09:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/?p=4046"},"modified":"2023-12-29T14:57:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T14:57:56","slug":"the-black-dog-and-a-slew-of-christmas-weddings-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/2023\/12\/29\/the-black-dog-and-a-slew-of-christmas-weddings-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Black Dog and a Slew of Christmas Weddings [Part 2]"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve been reading the account of Frederick Keynton<\/a>, early twentieth century Landlord of the Black Dog at Broadmayne, you\u2019ll remember that his father, George, was a Foreman with GWR\u2019s locomotive division at Weymouth, but in 1892 George Keynton changed tack.<\/p>\n

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He moved to become the Landlord of the Black Dog in Broadmayne \u2013 still a popular pub now. Evidence suggests that George continued as a responsible member of the village community- organising a \u2018slate club\u2019 and generously hosting club dinners as well as bearing witness against the thief of a blue jacket. Licenses granted show George running a bar at several events such as \u2018smoking concerts\u2019 and fairs. George suffered a stroke in 1893, and died in summer 1895, at which point his widow, Sarah, Frederick\u2019s mother, took over the license at the Black Dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weymouth Telegram<\/p>\n

26 November 1895<\/p>\n

P6 C5<\/td>\n

Broadmayne<\/p>\n

The chairman reminded the members that the association had suffered a great loss by the death of Mr G E S KEYNTON, and he suggested that they should pass a vote of condolences with the widow and family\u2026and the Hon. Sec. was requested to forward it to Mrs KEYNTON and family.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

A year after his father\u2019s death, Frederick was in the Dorset Militia, Volunteer Artillery, Wyke detachment where his engineering background and good performance had led him to a promotion. It\u2019s likely that Frederick was conveniently based at Nothe Fort, which was fortified with 12 muzzle loading coastal defence guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weymouth Telegram<\/p>\n

30 May 1899<\/p>\n

P6 C3<\/td>\n

Notice to DRF Detachment.<\/p>\n

Corpl. KEYNTON will arrange with members of this detachment for instruction on the working of the instruments during the fortnight may 29th<\/sup> to June 10th<\/sup>. Promotion \u2013 No 2555 F G KEYNTON, No 7 Company, to be corporal supernumerary to the establishment as acting instructor of DRF Detachment.<\/p>\n

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The 1901 census recorded Frederick George and Emily Jane living at West View, Wyke Regis. Frederick George was listed as an engineer at the Whitehead torpedo works. Also living with them was their 12-year-old adopted son Edward W FLISHER[i]<\/a><\/p>\n

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Frederick George was still a member of the Whitehead fire brigade in 1907.<\/p>\n

In November 1908 Frederick George, listed as \u2018a machinist (gunsmith)\u2019 sailed 2nd<\/sup> class to New York on Board \u2018SS Teutonic\u2019. The passenger list tells us that Frederick, now aged 42, 5 ft 10 with a dark complexion, black hair and brown eyes lived at Blenheim House, Rodwell Avenue, Weymouth. He had not been to the USA before and planned to stay with a friend, Mr Service. This must have been a hugely exciting trip for Frederick, but we can\u2019t be sure in what capacity he travelled. It\u2019s perhaps worth noting that the RMS Teutonic was an ocean liner built for the White Star Line in Belfast and was the first armed merchant cruiser.<\/p>\n

The 1911, 1915 and 1920 Kelly\u2019s Directories list Frederick George at the Black Dog, Broadmayne, which Frederick\u2019s mum had been running since her husband\u2019s death. Frederick, Emily and Edward move around the area in the following years \u2013 they appear on electoral registers in Rodwell, Bovington and Broadmayne, but from 1913 \u2013 1921 Frederick is listed as the Innkeeper at the Black Dog and the 1921 census recorded Frederick George as an employer working as a licensed victualler, living with his wife, mother and two servants at The Black Dog, Broadmayne. One of the servants is Edward Flisher \u2013 their adopted son. These must have been anxious times as Frederick\u2019s brother, Arthur, was serving in the First World War, and was mentioned in dispatches.<\/p>\n

Christmas 1925 may have been an unusually tough one as on 01 December, according to entries in The London Gazette, there was a debtor\u2019s petition filed by Frederick although subsequent entries suggest that all debts were settled March 1926.<\/p>\n

On 3rd<\/sup> \u00a0September 1938 Frederick George died and was buried at Broadmayne where there is an inscribed cross. The 1939 Register recorded Emily Jane living at Redbridge, Moreton, Dorset with Edward Flisher and his second wife.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve loved finding out about Frederick Keynton and his family and putting them in the context of Dorset life around the turn of the 19th Century. With connections to the GWR, Cosens Paddle-Steamers, the Dorset Militia, Devenish Brewery, the Whitehead torpedo factory and village life in Broadmayne; they seem to epitomise the Victorian and Edwardian age. But are we any nearer to understanding how such a clutch of early photographic images ended up at the Black Dog pub, Broadmayne?<\/p>\n

In his time as Landlord, Frederick\u2019s dad George had licenses to run fairs and gatherings in open spaces or barns \u2013 could these have been the sort of events which a photographer might have attended? Or did an army photographer work in the area during the First World War since we see so many men in uniform on the plates and photos? Or was Frederick himself, or Emily, or Edward Flisher able to take photographs which were left behind at the pub when they had all died? We may never know the full answer to these questions \u2013 but if you have any family memories, or ideas about the Black Dog and its mystery photo collection we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n