Local Books

Parish History Book

The intriguing and rich history of the Parish of Affpuddle and Turnerspuddle makes for fascinating reading.  Beginning in Neolithic times, the book charts the events of the pocket of Dorset through to the present day.

Agriculture played a significant role in the development of the area, from the medieval systems of land organization through to the innovative Bladen Estate, created under the influential hand of Sir Ernest Debenham. Noted for his pioneering techniques, his development of the Estate brought an improved social and artistic dimension to the community, and this has contributed to its collection of buildings and artefacts which are of architectural and historic interest.

If you are interested in the remarkable and curious history of Dorset, then this charming book is a must for your bookshelves.

Copies can be purchased from Briantspuddle Village Shop, or ordered online from https://www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk and search for A Short History of the Parish of Affpuddle and Trunerspuddle

Parish Cookbook

This is not just a cookbook, it’s more than that.

In an era when we’re overwhelmed with media on food, what to eat and how to eat it, this is not another lifestyle guide or nutritional magic bullet to add to your shelves. This is a collection of recipes donated by residents of Affpuddle, Briantspuddle and Turnerspuddle, a tiny parish in Dorset, to create a book as an alternative method of fundraising to help maintain and preserve their Grade II listed village hall.

The recipes are accompanied by photographs taken through the seasons giving a snapshot of rural life today, what we’re eating, what we’re growing, the animals we’re keeping and the landscape we’re surrounded by. Hopefully this book will sit on your bookshelf or coffee table to be enjoyed and referred to for many years to come.

All of the recipes, food, props, photography, design and associated time in producing this book have been entirely donated.

Whilst thumbing through its pages you can allow yourself a warm glow of pride knowing your purchase has helped keep a community and a small part of the nation’s heritage together.

On the 15th October 2016 Briantspuddle Village Hall was the venue for the launch of the new local publication. The event was supported by Briantspuddle Village Shop, a volunteer run enterprise. The Shop is also selling calendars, featuring landscape images from the book, as a fundraiser to help support their running costs.

Available to purchase online https://www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk – search for Salt of the Earth. Also avaialble in Waterstones, Dorchester ISBN: 978 1 5272 0054 8.

Beating the Bounds

The ancient custom of perambulating the parish boundary has been beautifully captured in a new publication ‘Beating the Bounds’.From an idea by Sue Jones, brought to life and written by Andrew Knox, photographed and produced by Leonora Sheppard and Roger Stayte it has become a delightful, pocket-sized guidebook. It is illustrated with photographs of the parish and clear mapping to guide you on the walk and help you discover the rich and diverse landscape that surrounds us, either by foot or from the comfort of an armchair.

The book is on sale in Briantspuddle Village Shop for £10.  Profits will be donated to the Shop.

It’s also available to purchase at all good bookshops ISBN: 978-1-5272-1718-8 and online at https://www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk – search for Beating the Bounds

Here’s the story behind the book, by Sue Jones:

“Ten years ago I set out on a journey as a fledgling Parish Councillor.  At the time I didn’t know the twists and turns of the way ahead, the strangeness of the terrain, or what obstacles and challenges might lie in my path.  As with all adventures I encountered many interesting characters along the way, and I have learnt much and made new friends.

To mark my tenth anniversary, and to look back over the decade, I decided to undertake a different sort of adventure.  I settled on the idea of retracing the steps of an old annual ritual, marking the Parish boundary called ‘Beating the Bounds’.  I considered this journey to represent a more personal connection between myself and our Parish, as well as presenting its own challenges, like finding the closest route to the Parish boundary itself whilst keeping to public rights of way.

Thinking about how I might share my experience with my fellow Councillors, I decided to prepare a short pamphlet.  This idea was taken up by my husband Andrew who produced a handwritten account of the walk as a birthday present.  Our friends Leonora and Roger then encouraged us to develop the idea a stage further, and with their considerable help this short book has been produced.  My wish is to share the walk and the wonderfully varied landscape of our parish with anyone who cares to accept the invitation to retrace this traditional ‘circumambulation’, either by foot or from the comfort of an armchair.”