82 TUDOR HOUSES IN DORSET. 



Communication being so bad, neighbours did not go far 

 afield, and we find families much intermarried within a 10 mile 

 radius. ("Stay at homes" in S. and D. N. & Q. IV. 208). 

 Many of the county families owned a house in the nearest 

 town, to which they resorted in the winter for the sake of 

 company. Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Dorchester afford 

 examples. 



In 1599 there was a regular post between London and 

 Plymouth, with stations at Shaftesbury and Sherborne, which 

 was maintained until 1611, re-established in 1620 and has 

 been carried on ever since. (S. and D. N. &. Q. X., iii.) 



SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



Before the Reformation the priests taught what little book- 

 learning was considered necessary; but after the destruction of 

 the monasteries a good many grammar schools were founded. 



Certain rules of the Free School at Saffron Walden, Essex, 

 were drawn up about 1545, and they were typical of the period. 

 There were six forms as now; and the daily lessons for each 

 form as set out for the week show that practically nothing but 

 Latin was taught. (Archnologia XXXIV, p. 37). 



The following schools in Dorset include some of the best 

 known ones. 



Sherborne. Founded 4 Edw. VI, 1550, and Abbey adapted. 

 (D.F.C., XII, p. 105; Hntchins, IV. 284). 



Wimborne. Free School 1 Hen. VIII. Grammar School 

 5 Eliz. (Hntchins, III, 191; D.F.C., XXVIII, 20). 



Dorchester. Built 1567, rebuilt 1618. (Hntchins, II, 367; 

 S. and D.N.&Q., VIII, p. 178; Municipal Records, p. 563). 



Gillingham. Founded 1526. (D.F.C., XXXII, p. xlvi). 



Milton Abbas. Free School 12, Hen. 8. (Hntchins, IV. 396). 



Netherbury. Free School, 1548. (Hntchins, II. 108; S. and 

 D. N. & Q., X. 2). 



PUNISHMENTS. 



Apart from prison, the wheel and gallows, the following 

 were used for minor offences : Cage for a short confinement. 

 Tumbril for carting offenders about the town. Ducking stool 



