Victorian Telegraphy in Dorset 1869-70 Collection of 52 Wayleaves, Letters & Documents
An astonishing collection of Telegraph printed wayleaves (all with manuscript insertions) together with associated hand written consent letters and documents, all dated between 1869-70 and all from the County of Dorset. All come from the time when the Post Office decided to take over the running of the telegraph system from the private telegraph companies. To facilitate the take-over it appears that additional telegraph lines were required to remove the existing private company lines (which were situated at railway stations) to the nearest Post Office at Blandford, Bridport, Christchurch, Wimborne and Weymouth. Also additional new lines were added to the system at Cerne Abbas, Milton Abbas and Swanage which were remote from the railway system. The wayleaves are generally for the erection of telegraph poles or for the addition of brackets to be affixed onto buildings to carry the wires. Among the consent forms and letters are several from notable large land owners of the day. The following is an overview of the collection, please note that it appears to have been put together (possibly some time in the 1970’s) with a few annotated pages bound-in, on which some historical notes have been researched and added about the signees :
Blandford
1869 consent list showing the names of those landowners who’s consent is needed and what work is required
1869 consent form signed by William Marriott
1869 consent form signed by Lord Portman [Edward Portman, 1st Viscount Portman, 1799-1888]
Bridport
1869 consent form signed by Hannah Prince of East Street
1869 consent form signed by John Knight of Rax Lane
1869 consent form signed by Gerard Samson of Rax Lane
Cerne Abbas
1869 consent form signed by John Adams of Long Street
1869 consent form signed by James Northover of Long Street
Christchurch
1870 consent list form naming the seven consent forms which needed to be obtained
1870 1pp letter from a Mr Parmiter noting queries on forms which had been obtained
1870 consent form signed by H. Mooring Aldridge of Westover Villas (Bournemouth)
1870 consent form signed by George Dowling
1870 consent form signed by W. Walden of “Puntis’s Plot”
1870 consent form signed by Frederick Moser of Carbery (nr. Ringwood)
1870 consent form signed by W.W. Farr of Millhams (Iford)
1870 consent form signed by James FitzMaurice of Millhams (Iford)
1870 consent form signed by George Reeks of Bridge Street (Christchurch)
Milton Abbas (new line from Blandford)
A trio of items comprising 1870 (April 11th) 1pp letter on House of Commons stationery from Charles Hambro (then M.P. for Weymouth) giving consent on behalf of his brother, Baron Hambro, for the telegraph posts to pass through the Milton Abbas Estates. A 1pp covering letter from Henry Spinks (probably Hambro’s Estate Manager) forwarding Charles Hambro’s letter dated April 13th, and an internal Post Office covering note to the Secretary of the P.O. enclosing the two letters
Portland (Portland Road Station to Easton)
An 1869 Consent List showing the six individuals who’s consent had to be sought
An interesting 1869 2pp letter from Edward Belfield at the Royal Engineers Office in Weymouth to Frank Scudamore (Second Secretary of the Post Office) agreeing to the consent request for telegraph poles to pass through Royal Artillery Post land on the proviso that any damage is repaired (agreed in red ink by Scudamore) and that no expense is incurred by the R.A.
1869 1pp letter from W.W. Preen(?) enclosing the consent form on behalf of the Portland Local Board
1869 consent form signed by Henry Jenour at the Vicarage in St. John’s
1869 consent form signed at the foot “Steward of Portland” under which a later note “W. Holland” has been added in pencil
1869 consent form signed by Charles Holland
1869 consent form signed by R.N. Howard, Cler to the Portland Local Board
1869 consent form signed by Richard Pearce
Portland (Fortuneswell to Easton)
1870 3pp internal Post Office letter written at Southampton enclosing the consent forms (below). It would appear that these forms were required in addition to the consent forms listed above, hence the later date.
1870 consent form signed by Robert Pearce
1870 consent form signed by William Flower Pearce
1870 consent form signed by Joseph Hadden
1870 consent form signed by Richard Lano
1870 consent form signed by Charles White
1870 consent form signed by John Scriven
Swanage (line from Wareham to Swanage)
1869 consent form signed by N. Bond of The Grange in Wareham
1869 consent form signed “Eldon” [John Scott, 3rd earl of Eldon 1845-1926] at Encombe
1869 consent form signed by J.H. Calcraft at Rempstone
1869 consent form obtained by the Salisbury Postmaster for a Mr Robson, apparently Court permission had to be obtained.
1869 consent form obtained by the Sherborne Postmaster noting that consent had been unable to obtain from Mr Drax [John Erle-Drax M.P., 1800-1887] as he had left Holnest House to stay at Charboro’ Park
1869 consent form signed by William Grove White
1869 consent form signed by Samuel Sansom
Wimborne
1869 consent list of six individuals who’s consent had to be sought
1869 consent form signed on behalf of the Deans Court Estate
1869 consent form signed by Charles Rowe
1869 consent form signed by the Registrar of the County Court Office
1869 3pp letter from Mr. G. Quick of “Bank Wimborne” writing on behalf of Miss Knott (apparently the Postmistress at Wimborne Post Office) asking what compensation would be forthcoming for the attachment of the line and what annual rent would be paid.
1869 irritated 2pp letter from the Post Office on official stationery informing Quick that he cannot see what grounds compensation could be sought, and that the regular 1/- p.a. rent would be paid
1869 consent form signed by Mary Knott of West Borough (see above!)
Weymouth
1870 consent list noting the two individuals who’s consent was required
1870 consent form signed by R.W. Howard, Mayor of Weymouth
1869 consent form signed by William Eliot
All of the forms, letters and documents have been bound-into a 20th Century binder by being glued along one edge to paper slips, the binding titled “Telegraph Wayleaves 1870” to the outside. All off the items have varying degree of damage with numerous old tape repairs, many of which have yellowed over the years, with tears and staining also highly present. Despite the obvious condition issues, an incredible lot which shows the early days of mass-communication in Dorset, and just a wonderful piece of Dorset history.