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The writing’s on the wall for historic sites around village

blackmorevaleMarch 19, 20210 Comment0

The Old Rectory, Greenhayes, was the birthplace of John Freke (1688-1756) who became the country’s first ophthalmic surgeon, at St Bart’s in London.

He also established the Company of Surgeons, and designed several medical instruments including the obstetric forceps.

Rectory Cottage on Higher Street is the birthplace of Sir Ernest Lemon OBE (1884 – 1954), an engineer who rose to become Director- General of aircraft production in the Second World War. His career has been in railways, becoming Chief Mechanical Engineer and Vice-President of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS).
The fourth plaque will be on the village gaol at The Cross, which dates from the late 1700s. Village lock-ups were common for holding offenders before going before a JP. The gaol door is all that remains of the small cell.

The Blue Plaque scheme was started by the Society of Arts in London, and its first recipient was the birthplace of poet Lord Byron.

There are now 900 plaques in London. The scheme has been replicated across the country but as there is no national governing body, the criteria used to determine where a plaque is installed varies widely. The installation of the plaques in Okeford Fitzpaine has been delayed by covid-19 but the plan is to have an unveiling day party later in the year.

Descendants of Lemon and Freke are being invited to attend, along with Martin Oliver, chief executive of the Great Dorset Steam Fair and son of Michael, who is recognised as the founder of the show.

Mr Vickers said: “Anthea Calcott, the owner of 75 The Cross, will also be there and Mickey Morgan, landlady of The Royal Oak is happy to hold a ‘Steam Up’, a collection of traction engines at a reception afterwards. “Needless to say, this is all on hold until we can resume normal gatherings and opening of the pub at a date to be fixed, hopefully at the end of the year.”