Building record MDO49206 - Memorial cottage, 49 Alexandra Road, Dorchester

This house is believed to have been purchased by the Dorsetshire Regiment in 1902 as a 2nd Anglo Boer War memorial cottage home; a number of these were built in the UK in the aftermath of the 1899-1902 war in South Africa. A carved stone plaque on the middle of the front bay depicts the crest of the Dorsetshire Regiment. Census records suggest that the house was occupied by army pensioner Harry Shirley who served in South Africa and was invalided home.

Dorset Historic Environment Record online report form, HERR724172370 (Unpublished document). SDO16937.

‘… 2nd Anglo Boer War memorial cottage homes that were built in the UK in the aftermath of the 1899-1902 war in South Africa. I believe that I have located one such home in Dorset - 49 Alexandra Road, Dorchester. (I think this building was formerly known as 24 Alexandra Road.)
This building was purchased in 1902, by the Dorset Regiment and with assistance from The Soldiers' and Sailors' Help Society (now SSFA) in memory of H H Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig- Holstein and officers and men of the regiment who fell in the war in South Africa.
An article in the Western Chronicle dated 31st December 1902, reports the opening of the memorial cottage home on a site “... pleasantly situated at the top of Alexandra Road in the Victoria Park, Dorchester, and will be at once recognisable by the visitors, by reason of the striking carving ..."
The 1911 Census reveals the occupants of 24 Alexandra Road as Harry Shirley (army pensioner) and his family. H Shirley is mentioned in the 1902 newspaper report as the first occupant of the memorial cottage home. The 1921 Census still has Harry Shirley occupying the property and the 1939 has Harry Shirley living in 49 Alexandra Road. (I think the properties were renumbered sometime after 1921 as more houses were built in the street. In counting the houses in the street, 24 from the top of the row = No.49 if odd numbers are used.)
Harry Shirley (service no. 1594) served in the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment in South Africa. His service record states that he was "Invalided Home."
Colonel Sir James Gildea's excellent 1911 book, 'In Remembrance and In Honour of Those Who Lost Their Lives in the South African War 1899-1902' provides examples of the various memorial cottage homes that were provided, including, "Dorsetshire Regiment....One Home at Dorchester’.
I am confident 49 Alexandra Road is a former 2nd Anglo Boer War memorial cottage home that was purchased by the Dorsetshire Regiment circa 1902 and sold off probably sometime in the 1990s.
2nd Anglo Boer War memorial cottage homes provide an important record of the sacrifices by men in a now largely forgotten war. Newspaper reports of the time also reveal the public support in funding the purchase of sites/properties and the impact of the war upon local communities.’

Record last edited

Jun 30 2026 1:57PM