Bere Regis Village History
There is a wealth of historical resources concerning Bere Regis available. We are continually adding to this online collection - if you are tracing relatives or are just interested in the history of this Village then this is the place for you...
If you would like to donate money to help purchase more items for the Village Collection, then please click here
So what are you interested in?
Historical Photograph Galleries
We have 375 Photographs - from the earliest known photograph of the village in 1863 to the late 1980's.
They are arranged into 10 different Galleries, covering many different parts of this Village & its life
Click the Photograph below to enter our Galleries Page
Feel free to email your own historical photos to us here to include in our Galleries
Gallery of Then & Now Photographs
We have 60 pairs of 'then & now' photographs showing how the village has changed, or in some cases, not changed over the last 150 years...
Click the Photographs below to enter
Summary of the Village History
Click on the photograph to read a summary of the history of our village
Directory of Bere Regis Listed Buildings
Find out about all the listed buildings of our Village, photographs of them included too. Click the Icon below to enter...
Historic Maps of Bere Regis
Ever wondered how the layout of Bere Regis changed between 1777 & 1955?
Historic Ordnance Survey Maps of Bere Regis in 1887 & 1902
Have a look at the Village in these historical Ordnance Survey Maps...
Historic Maps of Dorset & The Bere Regis Area
Ever wondered what Dorset & the Bere Regis Area looked like from 1610 till 1886? Click the Map below to find out...
The Derivation of the name 'Bere Regis'
Beer & a Royal patronage?
Click the photo to find out where the name 'Bere Regis' came from...
The Ancient History of the Village
Ever wondered what was going on in Roman Times or even the Paleaolithic Age around our village? Find out all about the ancient history of the village from Pre 2500 BC to 1066 AD.
Archeological Sites around Bere Regis
Find out about all the Archeological finds around Bere Regis by using the Archeology Data Service. Its an online database of all archeological features around the UK - just click on Bere Regis in the map provided and it will provide you with details for 5km around our village.
Bere Regis Archeological Notes
We have created an Archeological Notes section that gives details on occasional Archeological finds from Villagers here in Bere Regis. Click the Image above to see the Notes. We hope to gradually add to this section, so come back & visit!
Bere Regis Manor
Find out about the Manor, from Queen Elfrida & Simon de Montfort, to Thomas Turberville & Henry Drax...
The Domesday Survey
AD 1086
See what one of the most historic documents of our nations history had to say about Bere Regis...
Arms of Bere Regis Families
The Arms below are of the great Forbes family - click the image to see the Arms of Bere Regis families...
The Reign of King John
1190 to 1216
Come & explore one of the most illustrious periods of our villages' history...
The Turbeville Family 1202 - 1780
Find out about the history of one of the best known Bere Regis families...
Photographs of Shitterton Medieval Lane
Click the Photograph of Dark Lane to enter
The 1542 Muster Rolls
Have a look at the able men of our village that Henry VIII could have called upon in the event of War...
The 1662 Hearth Tax Returns
Each householder was taxed for the number of fireplaces in their dwelling...
Bere Regis Births 1595 - 1898
Click the Photograph to find out more
Bere Regis Baptisms 1600 - 1978
Click the Photograph to find out more
Bere Regis Marriages 1627 - 1939
Click the Photograph to find out more
Bere Regis Burials 1606 - 1943
Click the Photograph to find out more
Villagers Obituaries 2009 onwards
Click the Photograph to find out more
Villagers Wills 1559 - 1853
In the largest project in this Websites history we have put all the available scanned copies of the 493 Villagers Wills from 1559 - 1853 into Galleries within our History Section. Click the Image below to see the Archive...
The Gould Family Notebook 1723 - 1850
A notebook of village life...
Bere Regis 1807 Poll Book
Click the Photograph to enter
Bere Regis Village Trade Directories 1830 - 1939
Every few years Trade Directories were complied of the Villagers - click the image below to read them
Samuel Lewis Description of Bere Regis from 1831
Click the Painting below to find out how Samuel Lewis described Bere Regis in the 1831 Topographical Dictionary of England
Bere Regis Census every Decade from 1841 - 1901
Every decade, there is a National Census in the UK. Click the photograph to view the findings for the Village from 1841 - 1901...
Bere Regis 1844 Tithe Map & Apportionments
Click the Map to see them both
The 1871 Bere Regis Land Owners Survey
Click the Photograph to enter
Village Links to Thomas Hardy
Click the Painting above to see Thomas Hardys Links to our Village ('Kingsbere')
The Parish Magazine 1887-1935
Click the magazine to find out about 50 years of village life...
Bere Regis Railway Station
Well, no not quite, due to geographical reasons, which was probably a good thing! However, a proposal in 1899 was put forward to run a branch line from Blandford to Dorchester, via Zelston, Anderson, Bere Regis, Tolpuddle & Puddletown. The scheme even got as far as appointing a London firm of Surveyors to survey and plan the route in detail.
Village Music from 1905
Click the Image above to see some music noted by Alan & Henry Hammond company and performed by Mr J Baker, on a visit to the village on Sunday 13th January 1905
Village World War I & II Memorial Names
Click the Image above to see the names of the brave Villagers that gave their lifes in order to defend freedom in World War I & II
Historical Paintings of the Village
Click the Image above to see a Gallery of historical paintings of the Village
Village Murders
Murders in our peacful village? Click the image to find out more...
The old Village Inns & Innkeepers
Bere Regis had 7 pubs in the 18th Century!
Click the photo to find out about all our pubs from 1614 onwards...
Village Fires
Bere Regis used to be almost entirely thatched...
Click the photo to find out why lots of it went...
The History of Woodbury Hill Fair
Click the photo above to find out about our former local Fair - the largest Fair in the South of England...
Village Charities from 1646 onwards
Click the photo above to find out about the Village Charities...
History of the Village Schools from 1846 onwards
Click the photo above to find out about the history of the schools in the village...
History of the Village Industries from 1335 onwards
Click the photo above to find out about the history of Bere Regis Industries...
History of the Village Housing from 1945 onwards
Click the photo above to find out about the history of the Post-WW2 Village Housing...
The Development of the Village Bridges
Click the photo above to find out how the Bridges in our village developed...
The Development of Roads in & around the Village
Click the photo above to find out how our roads have developed from the initial medieval network, through the turnpike roads, to todays modern framework...
History of the Bere Regis Bus Co. 1929 - 1995
Click the photo above to find out all about the History of the the largest independent Bus operator in the county of Dorset in the postwar years...
The Village in the 2001 Census
Click the logo above to find out all about the village from the latest National Census...
Books on Bere Regis Village & Family History
Click the Photograph above to find information on Books that cover the history of Bere Regis and its Families...
Research your family tree
Use our search tool by clicking the Image above to look up your family name and help you find out more about your family's history
© Bere Regis Village Website 2009 - Site by Chola Design
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