August 13, 2026
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The West Dorset Magazine Articles by: Emily Quance
A black and white archive photograph of Portland Fair showing two women laughing on the dodgems. The woman driving has dark curled hair and dangling earrings, her mouth open mid-laugh as she grips the white steering wheel, while her blonde companion smiles beside her. Behind them, a fairground worker in a dark shirt steps between the bumper cars, and children can be seen riding in other cars across the rink. A man walks past the painted boards at the edge of the ride, with strings of lights and fairground signage visible above. The photograph captures the joy and atmosphere of the much-missed fair, held in Chiswell every November 5 for more than 200 years until it ended in 2001.
Culture

Portland Fair brought back to life as b-side festival reveals 2026 line-up

The ghosts of Portland Fair are to be evoked as the island’s b-side festival returns this September. The annual celebration of creativity is

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Three volunteers work on the steep grassy hillside of the Cerne Abbas Giant on a sunny day, re-chalking sections of the figure's outline. The chalk lines curve and wind across the slope in pale channels cut into the grass. On the left, a volunteer in a red top and wide-brimmed sun hat digs with a long-handled tool, while in the centre a man in a blue cap and grey top crouches beside a white sack of chalk. On the right, a woman in a dark top bends over the outline with a hand tool. Behind them, the Dorset countryside stretches out in a patchwork of green crop fields and mature trees under bright sunshine.
News

Re-chalking of Cerne Abbas Giant underway with 17 tonnes of Dorset chalk

For hundreds of years, he’s been standing proud, waving his enormous club whilst keeping watch over the sleepy village at his feet. Now,

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Aerial drone photograph of St Juthware Church in Halstock, showing the damaged roof from above. The church is built of weathered grey and honey-coloured stone, with a sturdy 15th-century tower on the left topped with battlements and a flagpole. A large section of the main roof's stone tiles has been covered with a bright blue tarpaulin, held down by a criss-cross frame of wooden battens, marking where rainwater has been getting in. Metal scaffolding with wooden walkways has been erected along the right side of the building, with stacks of tiles resting on the platforms. A small porch with a pale blue door sits at the front of the church, and one window below the roofline has been boarded over. The church is surrounded by green grass, with rows of headstones visible in the churchyard at the top right, and trees and hedgerows enclosing the scene. The image captures both the beauty of the historic building and the scale of the repair work needed.
News

Race to save historic St Juthware Church in Halstock as huge hole opens in roof

By MARY CLEGG, Churchwarden: Tucked away in the timeless landscape of the Halstock Vale stands St Juthware Church, a small rural church with

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Chloe Marsh, smiling while stroking one of the black and white dairy cows that produce Dorset ice cream in a green field. She's wearing a burgundy long-sleeved top and dark farm apron, and other cattle graze behind her
News

Family farm delighted with award for Dorset ice cream vending machine

A Dorchester farm is in the running for the ‘Rural Oscars’ for its innovative vending machines selling Dorset ice cream, milkshakes and fresh

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Alt text for Bettiscombe: "Looking through twin brick gateposts with decorative stone tops, framing a wooden gate, the view opens onto the sweeping gardens of Bettiscombe Manor. Rolling green lawns stretch into the distance, lined with mature trees and flowering borders, with the Dorset countryside and Vale beyond. The early morning or late afternoon light casts long shadows across the grass, and a soft mist hangs gently over the distant landscape beneath a pale blue sky. This is the entrance to designer Jasper Conran's Bettiscombe Manor near Bridport, which opens for the National Garden Scheme on Thursday 11 June. The gardens showcase Conran's creative, constantly evolving planting with orchards, mellow brick enclosures, and broad beds flanking an unforgettable view down to the sea
News

13 stunning Dorset gardens open for National Garden Scheme in June – including Jasper Conran’s Bettiscombe Manor

Another set of glorious gardens will open for charity this month, as part of the National Garden Scheme, including the grounds of designer

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Mayor presents Weymouth volunteers at Weymouth Museum Trust with a Community Award certificate at the 2026 Mayor's Community Awards ceremony
News

Weymouth volunteers celebrated as unsung heroes at Mayor’s Awards 2026

Individuals and groups who go the extra mile for others were recognised in the 2026 Mayor’s Community Awards. Outgoing Mayor Caroline Nickinson presented

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Reverend Martin Lee (centre) with colleagues inside Sherborne Abbey, which has launched a £1m fundraising appeal for accessibility improvements
Church

Sherborne Abbey unveils £1 million appeal for new toilets and revamp

Sherborne Abbey has launched a £1m fundraising appeal to support a vital upgrade. Work on the new facilities started last month. The vestry

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Black and white photograph of a stone sculpture showing a veiled face in profile, carved religious monument detail from Jim Johnson's Dorset churches photography project"
News

Photographer reveals hidden beauty of all 438 Dorset churches

Jim Johnson is a man on a mission – to photograph the interior of every single church in Dorset. It will probably take

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Members of Bridport Gig Rowing Club row in a traditional wooden Cornish pilot gig on Lyme Bay, pulling in practiced unison with wooden oars. The rowers wear blue club shirts and life jackets, with one shirt displaying "Bridport Gig Rowing Club" and another showing championship details. A cox in a red cap sits in the centre directing the crew. The golden cliffs of West Bay rise dramatically in the background beneath a clear blue sky. The image captures the dynamic movement and teamwork of competitive gig rowing.
Sport

Bridport Gig Rowing Club: a recipe for joy and community

Six rowers are in a traditional Cornish pilot gig, pulling hard in practiced unison, and Dagger skims across Lyme Bay like she’s grown

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Two older men stand together at a Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) event in front of a blue RAFA flag displaying the RAF emblem. The man on the left wears a light grey jacket with a burgundy and navy striped tie and RAF insignia pin. The man on the right wears a dark blue blazer with RAF medals and insignia on his chest and holds a polished silver trophy with decorative handles.
News

Bridport Royal Air Force charity honoured for veteran support

A little Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) punching well above its weight was recognised for its outstanding service. The Bridport & Lyme Regis

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