Farming

Until the middle of the 19th century, or later, farming was the predominant occupation in Broadmayne. Over the next 100 years, however, this ceased to be the case. The agricultural depression of the late 19th century, as imports of cheap corn and frozen meat bit into farmers’ profits, the use of artificial fertilizers and decreased reliance on natural manures, the change from numerous small farms to fewer and larger ones, the engineering advances from which mechanisation became the rule on the farm, and the diminishing availability of cheap labour – all these changes combined to make it necessary for the workers to look for employment outside farming, whilst engineering and mechanical advances in particular provided new openings.

The population of the village remained fairly constant for many years during the latter part of the 19th century and the official census figures show a resident population of 490 people in 1841 and 479 people in 1891 – half a century later! During this time records show a variety of trades gradually ‘taking over’ from the agricultural labourer. These included brickmaker, bricklayer, carpenter, mason, blacksmith, shoe-maker, tailor, thatcher, grocer and baker. There was also one Inland Revenue Officer! During the early part of the 20th century newer trades and professions became evident in the village - these included a cycle repairer, agricultural and general engineer, midwife, plumber and carrier. There was even a straw-bonnet maker! Records also refer to a pig dealer, a poultry farmer and firewood dealer, and a machine owner.

Farming was labour intensive

The farmland in Broadmayne parish is no longer worked from premises within the village itself and the old surviving farmhouses in Main Street are now simply dwelling houses. Of the three circa-16th century and 17th century farmhouses which formed part of the Manor of Broadmayne when the manorial estate was broken up in 1911, two still remain – Old Church Farmhouse and the Manor Farmhouse (the third, Charlmont Farmhouse, was destroyed by fire in the 1960s). Old Church Farmhouse is in the centre of the village opposite the church. The Old Manor Farmhouse, possibly 16th Century lies to the west, a little further towards Dorchester. Many of the farm buildings around Manor Farmhouse are of considerable age. They include a malt house, stables, and a nineteenth-century brick-built granary raised on staddle stones (to keep out rats) and under-pinned by massive timbers possibly salvaged from ships which had foundered in heavy seas nearby. ‘Lindean’ on the other side of the road has a date 1591 inscribed on a stone at the back; in 1911 its rear buildings housed a pig slaughter house.

Brickmaking
Thatching
The Old Bakery and other businesses