Borough Gardens, Dorchester

First day of my Child Protection/Safeguarding training which is vital to my new role in school as a DSP (Designated Senior Person for Child Protection) It is so important to ensure our little people are safe. Beautiful sunny day meant a picnic lunch in Borough Gardens which were laid out to a plan by William Goldring of Kew, and opened to the public on 30th July 1896. Although never closed the Gardens were ‘opened' again on 7th May, 2007 by oscar-winning local resident Julian Fellowes to mark the completion of a £1.4m plus restoration and refurbishment project funded in part by a grant of almost £1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Close to the bandstand is this elaborate cast-iron clocktower painted in red, green and gold. There is an inscription recording the gift of the clock to the town by Charles Hansford in 1905.