Mappowder, Dorset

Melcombe Bingham

I am from this family - my grandmother was a Melcombe.

Melcombe Bingham Chapel

For Kelly Bingham 28th Generation Bingham

Mother's memories

My mother Patricia Bingham visited Bingham's Melcombe probably in the 1950's and told me, her daughter, that the house was derelict and the hall was being used as a hayshed!  I do hope to vist the place at some time next year, and wonder who owns it now and if possible to  get in touch with the present owner.  Look forward to hearing from someone sometime.  Hilary Bingham White.

Drakes of Hilton

For many generations the DRAKE family lived in the Hilton area. My gg grandfather was George DRAKE a Woodman. His son, Charles left the village and worked as a domestic coachman in the London area. My grandfather Ben, Charles' son, had three maiden cousins living in Hilton during WW2. My Uncle Kenneth had stayed with them in August 1944. During the war Fanny was the local bus driver, Julia the postmistress and Minnie a teacher. During a holiday in Dorset in 1968 my uncle had visited them again to show his sons where he had stayed. Fortunately he took a photo of Minnie and Fanny. Julia had died 1961 and was interned in Hilton Church burial ground. The other sisters died in the 1970s and are buried near their sister.