Latest news with #Portesham
BBC News
09-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
The real Thomas Hardy of Dorset's Hardy Monument
At one of the highest points in Dorset, above the village of Portesham, stands a monument to Thomas stone tower, built in 1844, was not built to remember the world famous English novelist and poet of the same name, but another Dorset son who went to sea at the age of 12 and eventually ascended to the top of the British Navy. Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy's most famous linguistic contribution to history is neither books nor poems but three simple words: "Kiss me, Hardy."BBC Solent's Steve Harris visited the tower to find out more about the man and how the monument came about. As Flag Captain of HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, it was in this Hardy's arms that his longstanding friend Admiral Lord Nelson died, reportedly uttering the iconic monument cost £450 to build 180 years ago and has been owned and maintained by the National Trust since Hocking has been showing people the views from the base and the top of the monument for nine no large national memorial to Hardy, his three daughters wanted one and asked local people to put money in, he says."At that time it would have been called subscription, we'd probably call that crowdfunding these days, and that made enough money to pay for an architect and for the build," he explains Ascending to the top of the 72ft (22m) tall tower via 122 steps and six complete 360 degree rotations, visitors emerge at one of Dorset's highest points above sea brief to the architect said the structure should be able to be used as a navigation aid, says Mr Hocking. "If you look at it from a distance, you can see that it's built like a naval telescope, a spyglass as you might call it, the fine eyepiece at the top, the wide objective lens at the bottom," he continues."It's octagonal, so the sides of the monument are the cardinal and the ordinal points of the compass." Being in Dorset, the shadow of the author Thomas Hardy is never far and raised in the county, the author finally settled in Dorchester and much of his work drew inspiration from the coastal county in the south of England."[People] arrive saying, 'I didn't know there was a monument like this to Hardy'," Mr Hocking he asks which Hardy they are thinking of, they often say it is the there is a link, he says, explaining that the author's novel The Trumpet-Major, published in 1880, is "actually based on this ridgeway, Portesham, and what Hardy called Overcombe".In the book, "one of the sailors walks the ridgeway to meet Captain Hardy at his home in Portesham", he while Dorset may lay claim to two famous Thomas Hardys, Hardy Monument stands firmly in remembrance of the naval hero. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
EllaFest in tribute to Dorset teenage showjumper's birthday
A festival celebrating a teenage showjumper's birthday is being held in her has been organised by the friends and family of Ella Pallister, who died in 2017 at 17 years old, after suffering an injury in a showjumping competition in festival was first held in 2016 to mark Ella's 21st birthday and her loved ones have raised more than £44,000 for charity in the years since her best friend and co-organiser Jess House says they're getting ready to "party for Ella" on what would have been her 30th birthday. The event, held in Bramdon House in Portesham from 16:30 BST will be raising money for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Ella died in an accident during a British Show Jumping Association contest at Kingston Maurward College and was flown by air ambulance to Southampton best friend, Ms House, said they were all feeling "nervous but excited" ahead of the festival, which she said has been described as a "mini Glastonbury".The line up includes bands like Fluke, Vanilla Radio, Electric Mayhem and the for the event has been in the works since February, with the aim of raising as much for the air ambulance as possible. "They don't get any other funding apart from people doing events like this," Ms House explained."Unfortunately they couldn't help save Ella, but they did everything they possibly could to help her."Remembering her friend, Ms House said Ella was "the most bright, bubbly girl, very blonde - we have so many stories about her."She had a heart of gold, loved her family, her friends. She thrived off show jumping and would make any excuse for a party so we are going to be partying for her." 'Very emotional' Ms House said there will be a special surprise during the event and they're expecting hundreds of people to come added: "It's very emotional and will be a very special part of the day for friends and family who knew Ella, we just want people to enjoy." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
