Wareham Grave, Shroton, Dorset

This is the memorial to three of my great grandfather's (Walter George) siblings. His brother George Russell Wareham who died 1864 age 14 of typhus, and sisters Emma who died 1880 age 14 and Ellen Louisa died 1876 age 17. It must have been awful for the family to lose children at such ages in the era prior to modern health services. At least one other of the 11 brothers and sisters died in infancy. There are other Wareham memorials still standing in the Shroton churchyard but I cannot identify any others in the direct ancestral line although others are buried here.

Shroton Fair, Dorset c 1900

This is a picture of the Shroton Fair taken at the turn of the century. It was held on the old showground to the north of the village and was a major event for decades in the area. It was held in September and I know that my great grandfather, Walter, used to return to the village at fair time each year and it is sure that previous generations of Wareham's enjoyed the event. At least one of my ancestors was, I believe with very good foundations, a gypsy and who may well have been connected to the fair or the large gypsy community of the Cranborne Chase. Indeed our family name should be Small and not Wareham on the basis of this gypsy ancestry. This picture is supplied courtesy of Blandford Museum in Dorset. To get a copy please contact the museum and they will send one for a very small charge.

Old Workhouse, Shroton

I believe, from another Wareham family researcher who spoke to some current Shroton residents, that this building which is near the Cross is the Old Work House in Shroton. I am waiting to verify this from official records. If it is the place then George and Jane Wareham and their family lived here in scheme number 55 in the 1871 census. My great grandfather Walter was 3/4 when they lived in the Workhouse. Despite seeming rather small and not of a typical workhouse design it is quite possible this is the buidling because in 1881 and 1891 They lived at Cross Cottages which are the other side of the road. Was this an old Poor Law WorkHouse because if it was times must have been hard for the family during these years and living would have been tough.

Holy Trinity, Shaftesbury

Holy Trinity parish in Shaftesbury is connected to a number of ancestors on my Wareham and Hiscock lines. This current church building was built in 1842 on the site of the older one. The most recent ancestral connection being a burial of Thomas Foot here in 1848 (see Hiscock ancestry). On the Wareham side there are connections to the families Brine, Case, Lodge, Lush, Stainer and others.

Rose Cottage, West Harnham, Salisbury

My great x 2 grandparents, Richard and Sarah Stainer, were living here in 1916 when Sarah died. Richard was working as a 'cowman' at the time, probably looking after cattle on the watermeadows.