I was recently presented with an old Salisbury Journal newspaper cutting which contained a review of a book entitled, A Tisbury History by Jill and Peter Drury.

This is a book which I intend to purchase as I believe it will be an excellent addition to my ever expanding collection of local books!

This publication not only describes the early and medieval history of Tisbury in great detail, but also highlights Victorian Tisbury with wonderful enthusiasm and humour.

Indeed, there is an old saying that a fox in the village means a fire and in 1929 a fox ran in from the fields and sprinted up the High Street.

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That night a fire broke out opposite the Boot Inn and before long the Boot itself was in trouble.

Then there was the old character, Alfie Rixon, who made himself a zither and became a popular guest at Tisbury parties where he provided his own brand of music.

The old Tisbury Brewery (which I believe was converted into flats), once had a different name on the door – Styrings.

Tisbury had a reputation, for a while, of brewing monkey beer probably because the Styrings had a pet monkey that played around the huge vats all day.

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Front cover of A Tisbury History by Jill and Peter Drury (Image: Contributed) The monkey, the story goes, also joined the men in sampling the beer to see it tasted all right.

One fateful day, perhaps because the beer was extra good, or the men and the monkey had an extra thirst, these activities resulted in a very tiddly monkey.

The creature lost its hold in full swing, and in plain view of his horrified and tearful workmates slipped and drowned in the largest and tastiest vat.

A sad tale but true.

A Tisbury History by Jill and Peter Drury is a marvellous portrait of an old and interesting village.