West Moors & the Fryer family

Although I haven't tracked down the hard evidence yet, the 'Fryer' link with this area must come through the marriage of Elizabeth Gulliver with William Fryer; the latter was a prominent banker in Wimborne Minster (an important town in this part of Dorset) & who was associated (partner of?) Charles Castleman, of 'corkscrew' fame. Presumably Elizabeth would have been granted gifts of land in the local area, which in turn became associated with the 'Fryer' name on the marriage. Indeed, Gulliver is known to have interests in inns in the district (which presumably followed from his former smuggling exploits), and Elizabeth and William also invested in local hostelries. A further familial link with the railways comes about later, as Gulliver's grand-daughter, Anne, married Edward Castleman, elder brother of Charles.

http://www.edht.org.uk/Education/People.htm#Gull
Description of Fryer tombstone at Kinson:
" Sacred to the memory of William Fryer Esq. of Wimborne Minster and Lytchett, Dorset, banker. Died March 1834, aged 64 years. Also Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of Isaac Gulliver Esq. of West Moors, Dorset. Died 1839 aged 69 years. [ by this marriage, the families of Gulliver and Fryer are linked ]
Also John Fryer Esq. of Wimborne Minster eldest son of above, died Oct 1854 aged 57 years. Also Mary his wife, daughter of Christopher Harding Esq. died 1886 aged 79 years. Also Lieut. General Sir John Fryer Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of Bath Colonel of the 6th Dragoon Guards, the Carabiniers eldest son of the above John and Mary Fryer. Died 28th January 1917 aged 78 years. Also Catherine Lady Fryer, 52 years wife of Lieut. General Sir John Fryer, K.C.B and daughter of George Reed Esq. East Brent Manor, Somerset died August 1914 aged 74 years. Erected in 1915 by Lieut. General Sir John Fryer K.C.B. to the honoured memory of his forefathers. "
http://www.communigate.co.uk/dorset/kinsondorset/page12.phtml


.. Isaac Gulliver became a wealthy man from smuggling. He owned several houses between Poole and Wimborne and in 1789 acquired Manor Farm in West Moors which had been built a few years earlier .. this became 'Gulliver's Farm'. Only the original barn remains - the original farm house burnt down in 1935. I would have been logical to have owned property in the area, both as an investment for the future, but also to act as staging posts on the route from the coast to the city of Salisbury. .. His eldest daughter married William Fryer, a Wimborne banker. It is possible that much of the land acquired by the Fryer family in West Moors was the result of inheritance through Gulliver's daughter. [ Last entry: 12 JUL 2008 ]

1914: In this year, Sir Frederick FRYER offered the West Parley Parish Council (the local council at the time) a piece of land as a site for a village hall in West Moors. The Great War (1914-1918) prevented the project going ahead straightaway, but in 1920 an ex-Army hut was erected on the spot now used as the Memorial Hall car park. A fund was set up to raise money to build a all as a memorial to those that had been killed in the war. It was completed in 1929.

1973: About 100 years after the opening of the first public house (see 1871 above), the Blandford Brewery, Hall & Woodhouse Ltd., bought a piece of land from Captain F.W.B. FRYER and the FRYER ARMS opened for business in 1973.