Woolbridge

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Fasham, 1936</div> <div> This house was called 'Wellbridge' in Thomas Hardy's <I>Tess of the D'Urbervilles</I>.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5b0be2c0.jpg" border=0 width="446" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="5aa8f2c0.jpg" border=0 width="399" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Woolbridge Manor, Woolbridge, Wool, Dorset & Wool Bridge<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > - photographed on 13.3.2009</FONT></div> <bR> <div> It is a strange coincidence that one of my maternal ancestors, William James Rickets, was born in 1810 at Wool Bridge (Woolbridge), Dorset. He was christened on 30.9.1810 at Wool, Dorset, the son of William & Mary Rickets. He was probably born in one of the old cottages next to Woolbridge Manor, the porch of which has a stone dated 1635. The Manor was extended with the addition of the southwest wing about 1660, but is otherwise largely unaltered outside; it has 'Grade II Listed Building' status. The narrow 16th century stone bridge over the river Frome is now closed to traffic, but still has pedestrian access; there is a stone inset halfway along stating that those who deface or damage the bridge will be transported for the rest of their lives.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="5a78f2c0.jpg" border=0 width="399" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="5ac8f2c0.jpg" border=0 width="399" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The old cottages at Woolbridge Manor, Woolbridge, Wool, Dorset<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > - photographed on 13.3.2009</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Woolbridge Manor was owned by descendants of Sir Payne de Turberville, who arrived in England during the Norman conquest of 1066; the last of his line died in 1780, having sold the Manor to Henry Drax in 1733, and it is still owned by the Drax family as part of the Moreton Estate.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>