HISTORIANS in Blandford want to move the headstone of a top-of-the-bill English music hall artist for a new exhibition into his life.

Sam Cowell, who died in the town in 1864, was once the toast of English-speaking people the world over and is believed to have performed before US president, Abraham Lincoln.

Following his death, aged only 45, Cowell was buried at Salisbury Street cemetery.

Today town councillors were discussing a request from the town's civic society to transfer the headstone to Blandford Museum.

Society chairman, John Barnes, said: "Although he only died in Blandford, we know a lot about Cowell and it makes very interesting reading.

"I think the headstone will interest local people.

"As well as his name and the dates of his birth and death, there is some very faint inscription which I'm sure we will be able to read once it's been scrubbed down."

In the mid 1980s there was a scare when Cowell's grave and headstone were supposedly "lost".

Mr Barnes said: "The headstone had been pushed down making it difficult to see but it was found shortly afterwards and put in an upright position."

Cowell came from a long line of theatrical names including Mrs Siddons, Bateman and Comptons.

He went to America at the time of the civil war and it was around that time he is said to have entertained President Lincoln.

He was a great friend of a Robert Eyres, a musician, who became licensee of The Crown at Blandford and at that time it is believed to have been a meeting place for theatricals.

Cowell fell ill from a chest complaint and he drank to compensate.

His wife was brought from London to be with him but he died shortly afterwards.