Samuel Hansford has provided us today with an astonishing record of a long lost Edwardian era of both Charmouth and the surrounding area. This was the time before the First World War when the countryside was more rural and he was able to photograph his family and friends at both work and play. It has taken a number of years to track down the images he took as many are unique and we especially thank Keith Wiscombe, Elizabeth Fortescue and the Hansford family for their assistance. We are sure there are many more to find as it is rare to find duplicates. The postcards he produced are especially scarce and command a high price when they come on the market.
What makes the story of Samuel Hansford the more poignant is that his job was that of Estate Foreman for the Pass family and photography was only a hobby. He produced and sold the postcards to supplement his income to pay for his daughter, Mabel's treatment in a London Hospital for heart disease. Samuel and his wife would put their daughter in her bath chair, tuck the camera under the blanket, and Samuel would use the tripod as a walking stick.
Tragically she was to die in 1915, aged 16 and he was heartbroken, and never fully recovered.The photographs he produced fall into four groups. They are those of his family, Charmouth Village, the wealthy Pass Family for whom he worked and Wootton Fitzpaine and the surrounding area. 
Many older people remember Barney Hansford, who was the son of Samuel and ran a wonderful Fossil and Country life Exhibition which opened in 1968, in the centre of Charmouth. Sadly, due to illness this closed in 1986 and all the items were auctioned. The area where it was established is now called Barney's Close after him. His family have been very helpful in compiling the collection of over 200 images and talk. 

His eldest son, Samuel was initially a Blacksmith in Chideock where his four children were born, but by the time of the 1841 Census had moved to Wootton Fitzpaine, near Charmouth. He was to die young, aged just 58 and his wife and eldest son, Charles are shown in 1861 Census as continuing as Blacksmiths. It was this son who was to marry Martha Conway in 1868 and have a son, Samuel Barnard Hansford three years later. But he was destined to die young at just 37 years of age, when his son, Samuel, was only 14 months old. Charles Hansford was severely kicked in the stomach by one of the horses he loved and was dead on arrival at Lyme Regis hospital. They buried him at Morcombelake, and his wife, Martha, sold the business.
The photograph is of the Blacksmiths at Wootton Cross,where the Hansfords lived and worked form for many years. It has since been demolished.

Samuel  started his working life as a bound apprentice to W. Hobbs of Wootton Fitzpaine. Like his father he had skill in his fingers, and could carve and make anything. He was employed as an improver carpenter to Jesse Rapsey, his employer in 1896, the year that the estate was bought by Caper Pass of Bristol. He was offered a job as foreman to manage the estate, which was in a very neglected condition. The ensuing rebuilding and repair work suddenly made employment for a huge crowd of men.
He is seen in this picture on the left with some of his workers making a Garden Bench.

Members of the Hansford Family are seen here. Along the front are Isabel, David and Barnie. On the left of the next row is Samuel`s mother. Mr and Mrs Govier are sitting next to her. Mabel Hansford can be identified on the left in the next row and her mother in the centre.

Miss Fowler, Mrs Mary Bussell of Higher Abbots Wootton Farm and Samuel`s daughter Mabel Hansford enjoying afternoon tea.

It is very rare to see early photographs of interiors, especially of schools. This is one Samuel took of the classroom at Woottons Fitzpaine. His own children can be seen on the right.

On the right is Samuels wife, Mabel, who always looks very anxious in photographs taken by her husband. On the left is Nurse Rose.

Haymaking was enjoyed by all the village children going from farm to farm after school hours and holidays sharing the tea and cider of the hay makers. Samuel has include his own four children in this idyllic photograph.

Haymaking at Wootton. Albert Butler is the chap with the bowler hat.

Horse raking taken in front of Nutcombe House where Samuel lived with his family.

Mr. Warren from Lyme Regis is seen here driving the Bus that ran from Lyme Regis through Charmouth to Bridport.

The family moved to Charmouth in 1916 when they bought Mintaka and he started a building business at the rear of Firlands House opposite. But sadly in 1920, beset with financial worries and the loss of his daughter he took his own life, aged just 50.
Isabel, his wife, moved back to her parents house at Ryall with her children, where she lived until 1944. Her youngest son, David married Mabel Brown in 1928, and had a child also called Mabel. He died aged just 26 of Appendicitis in 1930. His sister, Isabel was to marry the builder, Joseph Caddy of Morcombelake in 1924 and died in 1998, aged 96. Her eldest son, Barney was to live an active life in Charmouth as a builder and creator of a large Exhibition. He married Agnes Pitfield in 1935 and they were to have two sons, David and Patrick.
The photograph is of "Mintaka", at the bottom of The Street in Charmouth, where Samuel Hansford was to briefly live with his family.

Barney at 15 years old, eating an apple turnover which his mother cooked for him as a treat, because he had fallen off the scaffolding of a house in Wootton. Samuel, his father took him straight back so as he would not lose his nerve.

Out for a spin on the three seater,Rudge “Multi” bike. David Hansford driving, Cecil Bugler in the middle and Barney Hansford on the back. They are passing the railings of The Mill at the bottom of The Street.