{"id":4358,"date":"2024-10-18T08:30:25","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T08:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/?p=4358"},"modified":"2024-09-16T09:16:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T09:16:49","slug":"life-through-a-lens-a-post-war-dorset-village-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/2024\/10\/18\/life-through-a-lens-a-post-war-dorset-village-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Life Through a Lens: A Post-War Dorset Village (Part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

We have recently had the pleasure of digitising a wonderful collection of 47 photographs of Sydling St. Nicholas, each with a caption clearly explaining the scene, and together they paint a wonderful picture of life in the small post-war West Dorset village in 1947.<\/p>\n

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These official photographs were issued by the Central Office of Information, London. Unfortunately so far we have not been able to find out the name of the photographer, which is a shame, as he (most likely a male at this time, though not necessarily) was clearly a very good photographer \u2013 the photographs are carefully and thoughtfully composed and beautifully printed \u2013 due to the slightly warm tone of the prints, for those interested, we strongly suspect they were printed on a chlorobromide paper. We also love how the time was taken to gather the names and information and stories about the characters of the village \u2013 such stories bring the past alive.<\/p>\n

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The Church clock is one of the oldest in the country, having been built in 1593 \u2013 we love this photograph showing Mr Sherry winding it \u2013 does anyone know him or any of his relatives? The clock mechanism is large, note how it is braced to the wall by a bar above Mr Sherry\u2019s head. A visit must be had!<\/p>\n

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The village school was small, and sadly closed in 1966, (we have their registers dating from 1873 to 1966<\/a>) with children now attending school in other nearby areas. The school was a Church of England School, and we know from the caption that 34 children attended. Were you one of those children? Do you recognise anyone? We love the individual desks, and one member of the team remembers them in their primary school, with space to keep your schoolbooks inside and an inkwell and pen rest. It certainly looks a very calm and studious atmosphere!<\/p>\n