The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-07-11 00:00:00

Correspenbnirc.

POUNDBURY AS A RECREATION
GROUND.
To Mc Editor.

Sir,—A native of Dorchester, I am very jealous of
our ancient rights and privileges, and felt rather
indignant last evening, when, on going for a ramble, I
found that the nearest entrance to Poundhury was
fast being blocked up with_poles, some eight or nine
feet high. On enquiring, I WAS informed that the
occupier. Mr. Legg, of Fordington, intended stopping
the path-way at this end. Now, air, this is perfectly
monstrous I Is it not a fact that some time since we
were told that the right to Poundbury as a recreation
ground should be pre,erved ? Was not a question
with regard to this asked at the late Official
Inquiry here, and was not the answer in the affirms.
tive ? Then, if this be the ease, what right has Mr.
Lew or anyone else to lick up the entrance? The
argument that the field may Is, entered higher up the
road does not meet the case. Poundbury river
has been a favourite resort for bathers for many
years, and it is most absurd to think that we
should have to go to the top of the hill, and
back again, in order to get at the most conve-
nient spot for this necessary boon. At Black-
water efforts are being made to stop bathing, and if
this entrance is blocked we shall have no place within
a reasonable distance where we may have a "lip"
I cannot think this state of things will be tolerated,
and I trust that someone of more influence than
myself will take the matter up as it deserves, Our
young men require a place for recreation, and it should
be an near the town as possible, as many of them do
not leave their business till seven and eight o'clock,
and the time alter that hour for sport is very short;
and even were it not, there is no reason why they
should have to go to the top of Poundbury in order to
get at the bottom of it. I consider it the thin edi,,,e of
the wedge, and unless we stir in time, we shall be
deprived of one of the most eligible places of recrea-
tion in the borough. It is a serious matter for us, but
in order that I may not appear too grave, I will leave
the matter an open question, by asking any of your
readers if they can give satisfactory reasons

Will- A Lg-GG MHOLLO KATY bo MANY
FEET OUT Or Poutcouctrr?
Dorchester, July 5, 1876.

T., the Editor.

Sir,—l was gratified to see a correspondent in your
last week's Tclajram taking up the question as to the
rights of the inhabitants to Poundtatry as a recreation
grouruL It is not only a general resort of the young
men of this town as a bathing place, hut also for other
purposes. The noble and manly game of cricket has
been played on Poundbury for many years past, and
is the only ground at present on which cricket can be
played, since the rental .4 the ground known as the
Dorchester Cricket Fieldhas risen to such an enormous
price. In most towns of the county I have seen a
good piece of plain ground marked off near the town
especially for cricket, but no such thing can be seen in
our county town. Now, I can state as • fact that on
more than one or two occasions when a party of
respectable young men have been playing cricket on
Poundbury (which has been their custom for many
years) they have been ordered out of the ground and
threatened with summonses by Mr. Legg and his
bailiff, without any reason whatever. Surely, sir, this is
not in accordance with the notification sent by the
Duchy to the Council, and which appeared in your
papers some little time ago -" that the rights and
privileges to Poundbury were preserved as hitherto to
the inhabitants as a recreation ground.- There is no
kind of recreation more healthy and invigorating to
those who have to stami behind the counter or sit in
an unhealthy office all day than the noble game of
cricket; and I trust the matter will not be allowed to
drop.
A ',oven OF TIM GALL
Dorchester, July 10th, 1876.,