Are these verses familiar? (Dorset) Swatridge

Subject: Are these verses familiar? (Dorset)
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 28 Mar 23 - 10:08 AM

I collected this as a poem from Mr, Norman House, the Great Grandson of Henry Hammond's informant George House. I know he did not compose them. The verses are a who's who of local folk in the town of Beaminster. It is pleasing to see so many names in the poem who contributed to Hammond's collection.
My question is does anybody know the author and were the verses ever set to music? I realise this is a long shot, and I do not expect Mudcatters to read the whole poem if not that interested, but your help would be appreciated if it rings a distant bell in your memory.

THE FIRE AT BEAMINSTER.
November 1872.

A fire once occurred in our quiet little town,
Which was likely to do us some harm,
The flames shot upright on the clear Winter night,
And the people soon gave the alarm.

In High street, in Fleet Street, in Newtown & Green,
In Clampits and Church Street, the reflection was seen,
While up in Short Moor, people stood at each door
We never had such a commotion before.

But down in the town as might be expected,
Avery large crowd was quickly collected,
Of Brewers and Blacksmiths, & Butchers & Bakers,
Of Shoemakers, Shopkeepers, Tailors and Drapers.

In every quarter the folks were astir,
Enquiring what could be the matter,
While to hear twenty people all talking at once
It made a most wonderful clatter.

"Look Look there's a fire" exclaimed Mr Squire,
As the sparks were borne up on the breeze,
"Indeed Sir, where? replied Mr Clare,
"Do tell me where 'tis if you please".

The flickering light could be seen by them both
As they stood near the White Hart Hotel,
And at once Mr Dunn set off at a run
For you know he can run very well.

Mr Winter came out when he heard the folks shout,
At his door he did not long linger;
Next came Mr Knight who had noticed. the light
For there wasn't a moment to hinder.

Our friend Mr Gardner sat on his lawn
With his telescope raised in the air,
To look at the stars as they floated along
For the evening was lovely and fair.

All at once he beheld an unusual light
And expected a meteor to see,
but the flames rose still higher, and the people cried "fire".
"Oh dear, what's the matter said he".

"There's a fire downtown," said old Hiram Brown,
In the sky, he could see the reflection,
"Oh yes that there is" replied Sammy Gibbs
As he turned his eyes in that direction.

Then Hiram and Sammy set off at a run
To arrive at the scene of disaster,
But Hiram was aged, and Sammy was young
So he travelled a great deal faster.

"Let's all of us go," said poor Harry Rowe
Who wears his right arm in a sling,
"All right so we will " then answered George Hill
Who thought ‘twas a very fine thing.

It was such a concern, there was Mr John Hearn
Gazing up at the light overhead,
While the people at every window were seen
Who had just before gone to bed.

The fire soon increased, up came the Police
To help to extinguish the flames,
And our brave rifle corps five and twenty or more,
Though I cannot, now tell you their names.

Robert Hawker and Collins, and Mr James Rawlins
Came up the excitement to share,
Then appeared Mr Wise with a look of surprise
And our Vicar and Curate were there.

And all in a line stood Mr John Hine,
And a Traveller with coffee and tea,
Next came Mr Clift, Richard Dunsbury the Smith,
Mr Cox, Mr Webb, Mr Leigh.

'There was old Harry Trump down by the town pump
And Sam Poole by the Market House Inn,
There was old Richard Paul standing near the Town Hall
And Joe Tuck who lives up in the Green.

There was John Trump the, sweep, at the top of the street
The Fore Place was just like a fair,
And Gabriel Kite, Tom Gibbs, Robert Dyke,
And Jim Conway the Butcher was there.

There was old Joseph Boon, and young Mr Froome,
George Barter, John Marsh and Jim Guy,
And Frank Chubb soon arrived who had been for a drive
To the Station that night in a fly.

Tom Aplin and Hooper, Harry Lowman the cooper,
Simon Bowditch thought 'twas a joke,
And Jonathon Keech, Bennie House, Harry Meech
Were seen in the gathering smoke.

Up came Robert Hoare and opened the door .
Of the place where the Engine was kept;
He was roused from his slumber by boys without number
Who passed by the house where he slept.

Then all set to work, no one wanted to shirk,
For they all worked away with a will;
The fire did not extend but soon came to an end
Thanks to their exertions and skill.

Subject: RE: Are these verses familiar? (Dorset)
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 28 Mar 23 - 11:07 AM

The History of Beaminster; Mr. Gardner was a classical scholar, and also an astronomer of some repute. In 1872 he published a small volume of Poems, several being of local interest.

But he is mentioned in the verses;

Our friend Mr Gardner sat on his lawn
With his telescope raised in the air,
To look at the stars as they floated along
For the evening was lovely and fair.

All at once he beheld an unusual light
And expected a meteor to see,
But the flames rose still higher, and the people cried, "Fire!"
"Oh dear, what's the matter?" said he.

Subject: RE: Are these verses familiar? (Dorset)
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 28 Mar 23 - 11:14 AM

Thanks, Henry. I'll follow that up. Do you know the town?

Subject: RE: Are these verses familiar? (Dorset)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Mar 23 - 02:06 PM

Fascinating!

Subject: RE: Are these verses familiar? (Dorset)
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 28 Mar 23 - 03:25 PM

Since Henry gave that lead I'll put down what I know of the families I have met in Beaminster, who appear in the verses above, in case I can jog any memories. I'll just put 'Singer' for the families from whom I have recorded songs.

Gibbs- The family kept pigs and grew market vegetables, mainly tomatoes and cucumbers.

Rawlins were agricultural labourers. One (Dave Rawlins) married Gypsy Caroline Hughes's niece (both Singers)

Both Poole and Tuck families sang to the Hammond Brother's 1906.

I recorded Henry Barter.

The Chubb family sang to the Hammonds Fred Chub played his melodeon for me.

The Bowditch family were singers and sang to the Hammonds.

Lou Meech sang 'The man you don't meet every day, to Bill House who taught it to me.

I've not heard of Bennie house, I'll ask when I get to Dorchester. (See separate thread about the concert)

Does this ring any bells? I am wondering if Henry may have supplied the author, the verses about our friend Mr Gardiner do seem a bit out of place.

Subject: RE: Are these verses familiar? (Dorset)
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 29 Mar 23 - 03:15 AM

Mystery solved! A thirty-five-year-old letter has provided me with an author. Mr W, B, Swatridge wrote this and many other poems. He was a retired man in 1908 and remembered as being a bit like a Parson. He paid for his book of poems to be published. He called it 'Rhymes about Beaminster.' Thanks to Henry P. I have also tracked down 'The History of Beaminster' online. Thanks for your help and interest
Nick