Tess and Angel

...my apologies for the late post - when we got back from our Sunday walk, I had lots of work to do and, when I eventually finished, downloading and sorting through my images lost out to the lure of relaxing while watching The Bourne Ultimatum!

Yesterday, I was only able to photograph the gates to Charborough Park when telling the story of the Erle-Drax family so, today, we went over to Wool for a walk that took us past the site of Bindon Abbey and over the river Frome via the ancient Wool Bridge. The beautiful narrow bridge was bypassed some years ago and is now only for foot traffic. On its north side, stands the delightful Jacobean manor house of Woolbridge Manor. The original family owners died out in 1780, having previously sold the house to Henry Drax in 1733. The Manor, farm building, farm and adjoining cottages are still owned by the Drax family of Charborough Park.

However, it is not this historical association that interests us today...

"They drove by the level road along the valley to a distance of a few miles, and, reaching Wellbridge, turned away from the village to the left, and over the great Elizabethan bridge which gives the place half its name. Immediately behind it stood the house wherein they had engaged lodgings, whose exterior features are so well known to all travellers through the Froom Valley; once portion of a fine manorial residence, and the property and seat of a D'Urberville, but since its partial demolition a farm-house."

So, what of its real early history? Hardy changed some of the names, but not very much. Woodbridge Manor was once owned by descendants of Sir Payne de Turberville, who came to England during the Norman Conquest. The Turbervilles had their main seat at Bere Regis but nothing remains of it today. During Queen Elizabeth I's reign, one Thomas Turberville owned Woolbridge Manor which, before the Dissolution was part of Bindon Abbey.

Tomorrow, we have a full day in Weymouth...