PIGOT & CO. DIRECTORY 1842
Extracted
from copies of the directories at Dorchester Reference Library (now held at the Dorset History Centre)
by Jan Genge
Kennedy 2003.
SHAFTESBURY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. Shaftesbury, or Shaston, is a market town and very ancient borough, both corporate and parliamentary, with separate jurisdiction locally in the division of East Shaston and hundred of Monckton up Wimborne; 101 miles W.S.W. from London, 28 N.N.E. from Dorchester, and the like distance N.N.W. from Poole; situated on a high hill close to the north-eastern extremity of Dorset abutting upon Wiltshire. In ancient times Shaftesbury was widely famed for its rich monastery; the church contained the remains of Edward the Martyr, whose shrine was the resort of an immense concourse of pilgrims from all parts; amongst the, the illustrious name of Canute, who died here, appears most conspicuous. Elizabeth, it is said, granted to Shaston its first charter; but the one by which the borough was governed prior to the operation of the present municipal act was conferred by the second Charles.
The municipal body, as now constituted, consists of a mayor, four aldermen and twelve councillors, with the usual assistant officers; and is styled "the mayor and burgesses of the borough of Shaston, or Shaftesbury, in the county of Dorset." The mayor and recorder have power to hold a court of record weekly, for the recovery of debts under £10; the court is held, and the business connected with the borough transacted, in the town hall a handsome building, erected at the expense of Earl Grosvenor a few years since. The borough sent two members to parliament from the 23rd of Edward I. to the period of passing the reform bill, by which enactment it was deprived of one representative; the present sitting member is Lord Howard, eldest son of the Earl of Effingham. Shaftesbury confers the title of earl on the family of Ashley Cooper.
The manufacture of shirt buttons, which formerly was carried on extensively in the town and its vicinity, has, of late years, very much declined; the fine wires, however, used in this branch are still made here. Of the twelve churches that, in ancient days, imparted consequence to this town, only three remain; these are respectively dedicated to St. Peter, the Holy Trinity, and St. James. The first is of considerable antiquity; the living is united to that of the Holy Trinity, also a venerable edifice. St. James is one of the smallest dimensions of the three. The livings of all are in the gift of the Earl of Shaftesbury, who is lord of the manor. The Independents, Society of Friends, and Wesleyan Methodists have each a place of worship. The principal charities are comprised in the almshouses founded by Sir Henry Spiller, knight, and Mr Matthew Chubb; and a free school, endowed by Mr William Lush. The market is held on Saturday; and the fairs on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, June 24th, and November 23rd. Shaftesbury borough (including its several parishes and the liberty of ALCESTER) contained, by the returns made in 1831, 3,061 inhabitants, and by the late census (1841) 3,091. POST OFFICE, Salisbury Street, Richard Buckland, Post Master. Letters from London arrive every morning at a quarter past five, and are despatched thereto every night at a quarter past eight. Letters from Exeter and the West arrive every night at a quarter past eight, and are despatched thereto every morning at half past five. Letters from Bath, Bristol, Bruton, Castle Cary, Wincanton, Melborne and Stalbridge arrive every morning at a quarter before nine, and are despatched every evening at a quarter before five. |
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Shaftesbury St James Shaftesbury St Peter Shaftesbury Holy Trinity