Old pictures of Askerswell which had its own police station

Askerswell rests in a valley surrounded by picturesque chalk downlands. It is 4 miles east from Bridport and today is just to the north of the A35 which connects Dorchester and Bridport. 

Higher Eggerton and Loders Land were transferred to the parish from Litton Cheney in 1884. There was a Post Office, a County Police Station and a National school built in 1871.

The school closed in the 1960s and the area today has approximately 72 homes in the parish.

Some of these old pictures of the area were taken by Bridport photographer Claud Hider, who was working in the area from 1922 onwards, while others come from the Bridport News archive.

The church of St Michael and All Saints has a chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch and a square embattled tower. In 1858 everything was rebuilt except the tower. The font is of Norman origin. The registers date from 1558. The parish does not boast a manor house.

Sherwood Cottage in Askerswell (Image: Claud Hider)

READ MORE: Old photos of west Dorset resort taken in the past

The architectural splendor of St. Michael’s Church reflects the various periods of its existence. The building boasts a harmonious blend of Norman and Gothic styles, showcasing the evolution of architectural tastes over the centuries. Visitors are greeted by the sturdy Norman tower, a commanding structure that has weathered the passage of time with enduring grace. 

A team of sheep shearers who travelled around the farms of Dorset. This picture was taken in 1900 at Court Farm, Askerswell (Image: Supplied)

Nearby Askers Road House was built in 1931 on the A35 near Askerswell and is famous for the Beatles staying there in 1963.

Once a chic stopover for the well heeled motoring grand tourists of the 1930s it became a key destination for ravers.

The hotel offered camping facilities during and after the Second World War and, in the 1950s, played host to ‘Hamfests’ organised for local amateur radio enthusiasts by Alf Barrett.

Askers Road House (Image: Claud Hider)

In 1963 it hit the headlines during the coldest winter for more than 200 years. Askers Roadhouse was completely cut off for nearly a fortnight.

READ MORE: Old pictures of Dorset village burnt down by the French

On Friday January 11, 1963, the Bridport News reported the following:

MOTEL MISERY: The most stupendous task ever undertaken by the Roads and Bridges Department of Dorset County Council has been the clearing of snow from the road between Bridport and Dorchester and the cost will be stupendous too. Askers Roadhouse was completely cut off for nearly a fortnight. They had no newspapers or post but they were not hampered by lack of provisions because preparations had been made for New Year activities, which had, of course, to be cancelled.

A postcard of Askers Road House (Image: Supplied)

Later the same year, Wednesday, November 13, the Beatles were on their way from Portsmouth – where they had been forced to postpone a show the night before when Paul McCartney fell ill with gastric flu – to their concert in Plymouth that night.

News that the band was stopping in west Dorset was kept fairly quiet, but a report in the Bournemouth Echo revealed that the Beatles dined on grilled steak and chips, except Paul who had a lightly poached egg on toast, and afterwards signed autographs for fellow diners and had their photos taken with the owner, a Mr R L Robbins, and his wife.

Askers Road House was consumed by fire soon after an infamous 29-hour rave in the early 1990s.

Its charred remains becoming a local landmark, it was listed on some bus timetables as the ‘Askerswell Ruin’.

With thanks to Neil Mattingly for the digital preservation of the Claud Hider collection and to useful resources website opcdorset.org and askerswellparish.org