OUT OF TOWN “Shaftesbury is an individual town with its own special identity,” says Dawn Small whose ladies’ clothing boutique Bijoux & Willow can be found on Bell Street. “It has obvious links to the past and ancient history and is a great place to visit for a day out because of its independent shops and eateries. My own secret part of the town is Shaftesbury’s St James’s area, which you can see below you on Park Walk and is a village within Shaftesbury, with its enchanting little streets and passages like Laundry Lane and Tanyard Lane.” Annie Ring and Ellen Biggs, who are the florists at Bright Blooms, both cite the North Dorset market town’s scenic surrounds as inspiration for their design-led floral work, “Just to sit in The Salt Cellar at the top of Gold Hill and take in the breathtaking views while you eat is amazing.” David and Mary Griffin Shepherd of La Fleur de Lys Hotel & Restaurant, (turn to page 30 for David English breakfast secrets) agree, “Gold Hill, which became very famous for the 1970s Hovis bread advert, has magnificent views over Blackmore Vale. Plus the fascinating Gold Hill local history museum is located there with its award-winning cottage garden.” Another sight simply not to be missed whether local, a tourist or just passing, is the impressive Shaftesbury Abbey that sits in the town centre and is one of the favourite spots for bespoke biscuit creator Juliet Stallwood, “I would immediately direct any visitor to start at Abbey Walk, taking in the Abbey museum and wander down gently to St James’s.” Shaftesbury Abbey Museum’s events administrator Annabel Turner fills us in on the Abbey’s back-in-the-mist-of-time beginnings, “Founded by Alfred the Great in 888,
Top: Viking Day at the Abbey is just one of the community events the historic building plays host to below: the charming Mangle cottage in Laundry Lane
DIRECTORY Bijoux & Willow; www.bijouxandwillow.com Bright Blooms; www.brightblooms.co.uk Compton Smith; www.comptonsmith.co.uk The Dorset Mac Man; www.dorsetmacman.co.uk Enchanted Plants; www.enchantedplants.co.uk Gold Hill Museum; www.goldhillmuseum.org.uk The Grosvenor Arms; www.grosvenorarms.co.uk La Fleur de Lys Hotel & Restaurant; www.lafleurdelys.co.uk Juliet Stallwood Cakes and Biscuits; www.julietstallwood cakesandbiscuits.co.uk Mine Boutique; tel: 01747 850256 Shaftesbury Abbey Museum; www.shaftesburyabbey.org.uk Shaftesbury Tourism; www.shaftesburytourism. co.uk Shirley Allum Fashions; www.shirleyallum fashions.co.uk
it was the first women-only Benedictine nunnery in the country. It flourished for hundreds of years, until it was destroyed on the orders of Henry VIII in 1539. Annabel continues, “The walled garden contains the excavated remains of the Abbey and an extensive medieval herb collection.” The Abbey also hosts open-air Shakespeare performances to Viking activity days, the Shaftesbury Snowdrop Festival, the Food & Drink Festival (see overleaf for more details), and the Fringe Festival in June, firmly establishing itself, not just as a historic monument, but also the beating heart of the community. Giles Making, general manager of The Grosvenor Arms believes it is this combination of the old and the new that makes the town so special. “Shaftesbury is steeped in Saxon history and features extensively in Thomas Hardy’s novels but it’s also a thriving hilltop market town.” Simon Butler, managing director of Compton Smith Classic Interiors, which also provides architectural ironmongery alongside its interiors products and services, agrees, “So many creative businesses, people and trade have taking up home here, giving us a pool of talented local people making wonderful bespoke products. On the Wincombe Business Park alone you can also find independent kitchen and bathroom joinery businesses, picture framers and antique shops.” Among those bring their talents to the Dorset town is Jemma Ricketts of Enchanted Plants, who returned to her hometown to specialise in handmade certified organic skincare, made with the beauty of organic plants and flowers. The ladies from the clothes and accessories store Mine Boutique on the High Street say it is the town’s friendliness that helps Shaftesbury succeed, “It’s loyal customers and the support independent businesses give each other that helps the town feel so welcoming.” www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 43