Latest Posts

2nd Period

Victorian Bournemouth (73): kin visits

Role. Contribution. Support Introduction Victorian Bournemouth (73) analyses the social and economic contributions made by visiting-kin present in households of 1861 and 1871. It suggests that roles varied according to personal situations and social background.  Victorian Bournemouth (73): background Determining relationship and role Census forms included a field describing the relationship connecting each member to […]

Victorian Bournemouth (72)
2nd Period

Victorian Bournemouth (72): the Sanatorium’s finances

Financial pressure. Admittance quotas. Affordable patients Introduction Victorian Bournemouth (72) analyses aspects of the Sanatorium’s admittance policies during the town’s second period. In concept, the institution had aimed to provide care to people unable to pay. It operated under such financial strain, however, that managers appear to have admitted patients who could contribute to their […]

Victorian Bournemouth (71)
2nd Period

Victorian Bournemouth (71): cricket (3)

Global game. Imperial society. Introduction Victorian Bournemouth (71) explores the global commercial, social network found within the Reverend J. H. Wanklyn’s school, Exeter House, and its cricket team. He belonged to a family which owned and ran an international trading company. Some of his pupils, born overseas, may have come to his school in part […]

Victorian Bournemouth (71)
2nd Period

Victorian Bournemouth (70): cricket (2)

Growing interest. Social mixing. Introduction Victorian Bournemouth (70) explores cricket as an interesting prism through which to study representational sport in the resort. Examination of the players’ social profiles shows developments in Bournemouth’s society. The Reverend J. H. Wanklyn played a major role not only in promoting local cricket but also in the town’s civic […]

Victorian Bournemouth (69)
2nd Period

Victorian Bournemouth (69): Volunteer Rifle Corps (4)

Success. Disaster. Success.  Introduction Victorian Bournemouth (69) studies the career of Corporal Candy, publican at Victorian Bournemouth and member of its Volunteer Rifles. Although born into a poor rural working family, at his daughter’s wedding he had become a gentleman. Charles Candy’s career illustrates how, during the Victorian period, hard work, resourcefulness and luck could […]

Victorian Bournemouth (69)
2nd Period

Victorian Bournemouth (67): Volunteer Rifle Corps (2)

Infighting. Social cracks. Independence. Introduction Victorian Bournemouth (67) studies infighting amongst the Volunteer Rifle Corps, when middling independence opposed traditional privilege. Lord Malmesbury, commandant of the new Christchurch and Bournemouth volunteers, tried to impose a seigneurial approach. This brought confrontation with Bournemouth’s powerful people. He surrendered. Bournemouth established its own battalion, marking a key stage […]

Victorian Bournemouth (69)
2nd Period

Victorian Bournemouth (66): Volunteer Rifle Corps (1)

Hierarchical structure. Social mixing. Shared camaraderie. Introduction Victorian Bournemouth (66) opens a sequence about the town’s Volunteer Rifle Corps, an exercise in social mixing. This appeared to play an important part in shaping and maintaining the identity of the unit. Although its command structure reflected the country’s social hierarchy, the unit’s activities created a commonality […]

Victorian Bournemouth (182)
Thought-pieces

Victorian Bournemouth (65): Q1 summary

Image. Identity. Challenge Introduction Victorian Bournemouth (65) provides a summary of this year’s first quarter articles. The main themes to emerge include image, identity, and challenge. Victorian Bournemouth (65): image Press coverage During its first half-century, Bournemouth achieved increasing coverage from the press and longer entries in trade directories. The extent of the press articles […]

Victorian Bournemouth (63): drain wars
2nd Period

Victorian Bournemouth (64): drain wars (3)

People or property. Well or wealthy. Introduction Victorian Bournemouth (64) completes the expanded study of the town’s drain wars which occurred in 1865. Public health provided the context within which the sanitary committee conducted its contest with the Improvement Commission. During the arguments, however, it became clear that the confrontation resulted from far more fundamental […]