| Hinton Martel |
| I wonder if the Normans at the time of
their conquest would ever envisage a Hinton Martel girl of becoming an
icon of beauty in future years? For in 1965 a fountain was unveiled to
in recognition of Ann Sidney a very curvaceous young lady gaining the
title of Miss World. She is said to have been the living proof of the
famous words of the Dorset dialect poet William Barns when he wrote
'An weive zome women not uncomely; Nor asheamed to show their feace.'
and the inscription on the fountain reads'Be like Miss World 1965,
Ann Sidney. Throw your coins into the fountain and make a secret wish.'
The fountain was originally built in 1870 to provide drinking water for
animals and the metal figure which was on there was removed in WWII in
the metal collection campaign, subsequently water was able to penetrate
it and erosion set into the concrete bas during a severe winter in 1963.
Thus it was in 1965 that the new fountain was put in its place. It takes
the form of 5 stone dolphins on a stone supported by 4 columns. This is a quiet village of mediaeval origin and it is recorded in the Domesday book. The church of St John was rebuilt in 1870 and it is said that the writer Thomas Hardy, who was working for the architect at the time, may have had a hand in its design. At the time of the Conquest it was known as Hinetone, the village of the monks and was held held at the time of the Magna Carta by Eudo Martel a Frenchman and his surname mean hammer which was his favourite weapon in battle.
|
