Last updated 14th August 2008        

                    Norton sub Hamdon 

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On 8th August 2008 the programme 'Any Questions' on BBC Radio 4 was broadcast live from Norton Village Hall.  The questions were asked by members of the audience to a panel consisting of the following persons:

Paddy Ashdown who is the Lord of Norton Sub Hamdon and who I must say was very frank and forward with his answers, Billy Bragg who is a political activist and hails from Bridport.  He is also a musician of some renown.  His answers were good though he did change the subject a lot in his answers. Jill Kirby who is Director of the Centre for Policy Studies in London also appearing was Stephen Bayley who is a designer and a cultural commentator.

The chair of the panel was Jonathon Dimbleby.  The questions asked covered the political and topical subjects of the day and in the end became quite amusing.  Unfortunately we are not allowed to re-broadcast the programme, however a transcript of the programme can be read if you click here  

Thanks have to be expressed to Peter Callaghan whose idea this was to bring the programme to the village and also for the organisation and photographs he took.

If you wish to see  the photos he took then click below or type it out at the top of the page, there are 24 in all

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Cycledorset/AnyQuestionsNortonSubHamdon080808

Rediscovering Norton’s Legacy of Footpaths & Fields: a Village Project.

 This village project aims to uncover, record and display our heritage of paths and fields and the precise route of the parish boundary.

We hope to involve the Norton community as a whole - from the school to oldest resident together with our thriving village clubs and societies. From the outset we will seek their support and co-operation, as we will from the Parish Council, the SSDC and local land owners.

When we have uncovered the information we hope to disseminate it in various ways including a central information board; unobtrusive sign posts, field names on gates, new boundary stones, a display at the flower show and perhaps a village leaflet

Possible examples

Footpaths

Most residents and visitors to Norton sub Hamdon, who enjoy our beautiful setting and walk our many paths, don’t necessarily fully appreciate the past importance and contribution the paths have made to the prosperity of our village. One aim will be to show how our forbears relied on these paths; how the paths evolved naturally to take people to and from their places of work - farm or quarry - and transport their produce; how they linked the rural communities and how a few developed into our roads.

The paths had traditional names and some had specific functions. These should be recorded and/or displayed.

Field Names

The excellent portrait of Norton at the millennium ‘Domesday 2000’ records the principal field names in the Parish. We would hope to further research these and try to persuade land owners to put the names on field gates.

Boundary Stones

Several of the Parish boundary stones marked on old maps have either disappeared or are hidden by undergrowth. First we would try to locate those that remain. For those missing we would have new ones made, perhaps to the designs of school children.

Spin-off

The project would uncover where footpaths, kissing gates and hedges are in poor repair and we could report to relevant SSDC and others for action.

Your Help

We would welcome any input you have and hope you don’t mind if we try to pick your brains and memories - particularly from our older villagers. Any questions please contact Muriel Parkinson ; Tel 01935 881879

Norton Oral History DVD part 2

We are now starting on the second DVD about Norton.  The period we are covering is from 1945 to 1975.  What we would like is is any cine film or photographs whether in black or white or colour taken during that period which shows any aspect of the village , its way of life or even a wedding or two to show the fashions of the time etc.  If you wish to assist in the compilation and creation of the second DVD then either contact Chris Pratt on the e-mail button on the front page or contact John Bailey on any of the following

NORTON SUB HAMDON - LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Francis Webb - poet, scholar, statesman - 1735 -1825
I am researching the life of this distinguished gentleman who lived in Norton, with his wife Hannah - but no children - in about 1811. He wrote several poems whilst living here. 
If anybody can throw light on where exactly he lived , his activities locally or exact dates in the village, I would be most grateful to have details. 

Ken Dives 
01935 881046      Email kdives@btinternet.com

As you will notice we are short of items on this page where are all the reports and photos I was promised..........Chris