IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
High Street, WIMBORNE, BH21 1HR

After a fire in July burnt out a few premises, including Image, access to the postbox outside the office has been impossible. This box has been installed as a temporary replacement. The original box (Image) can be seen in the cordoned building site.

Historic inn and travel agent shops on Wimborne Minster's High Street. The building has been recently rebuilt after a serious fire. www.wimborne.gov.uk

Location: east side of High Street, next to the Tourist Information Centre. Image

A late C16 or early C17 hall house, altered and extended in the C18. Grade II* listed. From the early C19 it was in use as a stationers and an ironmongers shop. In 1962 the owner Miss Hilda Coles granted the house and gardens to the town as a museum. Its name of Priests' House appears to date from the middle of the C19 when it was believed then to have housed the priests provided for in the 1563 charter of Queen Elizabeth I. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=107073&mode=adv Image

This is now the main post office for Wimborne – the former main office in East Street closed about 30 years ago, although this one did exist then too. It has been on these premises for a very long time, not actually in The Square – that's just behind us – but the second or third shop in High Street.

A huge fire in July 2009 caused severe damage to these buildings, including an historic pub and a newsagent's incorporating the town's post office (Image). It is expected that the renovations will take up to two years to complete. See also Image The Post Office branded sign gives details of the nearest alternative branches. However, a portable building has been installed in the minster car park in the last week, and it is hoped that the temporary post office will open there by the end of October.

Looking diagonally across the High Street. The postbox stands outside Image, which importance affords late final collection times – 6:30pm on weekdays and 12:15pm on Saturdays.

Location: High Street. Image

Formerly part of the New Inn in the C17, it is the oldest surviving licensed premises in the town. The present building is C18 and grade II listed. During those times the upper rooms were used as a Magistrates Court, and by members of the Poole Turnpike Trust. It was a busy coaching inn, and in the C19 King George III's coach would call here en-route to Weymouth, and the coach carrying transportees bound for Australia after sentencing would also call here for the overnight stop from Dorchester. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=107072&mode=adv Image

Grade II Listed 18th century inn. A plaque on the wall reads 'THE ALBION INN Town's oldest surviving licensed house. Formerly THE NEW INN, a 17th century coaching halt. In 1834 the Tolpuddle Martyrs stopped here en route to transportation to Australia as convicts.' It has housed the magistrates’ court, a school house and reputedly was once a place of refreshment for King George III as he travelled to Weymouth. The 1777 refers to the establishment of Hall and Woodhouse Brewery. Searching my directories produces a confused picture. In 1842-1844 we have Edward White Bowles (& posting house), New Inn, High Street. In the 1850s two New Inns are listed, interestingly under 'Taverns & Public Houses' not 'Inns'. One is at 'Hill butts' that I'm ignoring but otherwise; 1851 Winter Lamiman, New Inn, Stocks; 1852 not listed with just the 'Bell' and 'Greyhound' in High Street; 1855 C Bagg, New Inn, Holt. By 1859 it is listed again in High Street and by 1889 as the Albion; 1859 Henry Braine, New Inn; 1889 Tom Coombs, Albion; 1895 Albion no victualler given; 1911-1915 Mrs A M Meek, Albion. Was the New Inn, apparently in a location named 'Holt' or 'Stocks', another pub and this one closed? I can't locate a Holt or Stocks on the Wimborne maps I have access to.