Age Concern Dorchester - Dorset's Living Memories

Happy times at Monkton Wyld Court

Brenda Woollard writes...

When I was 17 I worked at Monkton Wyld Court, which is situated in the small hamlet of Monkton Wyld near Charmouth. It was a lovely large house/hotel which had 14 bedrooms, a paddock and various animals and land surrounding it. 

 I would look after my employers children as well as any children of guests.  The children had their own nursery and dining room. During the summer months when the hotel was full of guests the staff were accommodated in an old railway carriage in the grounds.  I had already arranged to attend the Baby Hospital in Fulham to do some training but I couldn’t attend until I was 17 years and 3 months, so I worked at Monkton Wyld Court for about a month before leaving to go to the Baby Hospital in Fulham. 

I didn’t finish the course and returned to work at Monkton Wyld Court when I was 18, where I worked for a further 3-4 years until war was declared and the building turned into a school. I had many happy times there.  Everyone helped each other with the various jobs around the hotel and I was always willing to learn new skills and offer my help where needed.  I remember putting the children to bed and then going down to wait at tables.  I also remember having to catch the pony to ride up the hill to milk the goats. 

The Bank of England was evacuated during the war to Hurstbourne Priors near Andover. My employer recommended me to work in the stables they had on site.  I worked there for approximately 6 months before I joined the Wrens at Portsmouth. I remember when I arrived being asked if I could cook and I said ‘yes ’as I had often helped with the cooking at Monkton Wyld Court and so I was given the job as Officers Cook.  I was stationed at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight where I met my husband who was in the Marines and also stationed at Yarmouth.