Anglotopia Podcast: Episode 27 - What's Life Like in a Small English Town like Shaftesbury, Dorset?

What’s life like in a small English town with one of the most famous streets in the world? Shaftesbury, a town in Dorset, England, is famous for its iconic street called Gold Hill, which gained worldwide recognition through a TV commercial filmed there in 1973. The town has always been a draw for tourists, with its rich history and beautiful scenery. Keri Jones from the local radio station This is Alfred talks to us about the rhythms of life in a small English town. Shaftesbury is set on a promontory and stands above the Blackmore Vale, offering stunning views of the rolling countryside. The town is known for its quiet and safe environment, with narrow streets and a friendly community. This Is Alfred, a volunteer-run radio station and podcast that provides local news and information about Shaftesbury and its surrounding areas. The town has seen improvements in its public spaces, including new benches, trash cans, and play equipment. It also hosts events like the artisan and traders market and a food festival. The Arts Centre in Shaftesbury has opened a cinema, providing affordable movie screenings for the community. Overall, Shaftesbury is a vibrant and engaged community with a strong sense of pride and love for their town. Shaftesbury, a small English town, has a unique charm and a slow-paced, relaxed lifestyle. The town is known for its independent shops and businesses, with most of them owned by local people. The main street, called High Street, comes to life around 10 am and closes around 4 pm. The town is not a late-night destination, and the streets are quiet by 10 pm. Shaftesbury offers beautiful views from Castle Hill, where visitors can see the countryside and church spires. The town is also famous for its fish and chips, particularly from Coppice Street chip shop. The town hall clock and church bells add to the distinctive soundscape of Shaftesbury. Important Note: Apologies for the occasional echo in the audio; we did our best to edit it out.

Please note: The video's captions and the transcript are software generated and are not perfect. We've done our best to ensure accuracy, but errors happen.

Episode Links

• This is Alfred
• Ridley Scott Gold Hill Ad
• Two Ronnies Sketch
• Visit Shaftesbury
• My Love of Shaftesbury Explained

Takeaways

• Shaftesbury is famous for its iconic street, Gold Hill, which gained worldwide recognition through a TV commercial filmed there in 1973.
• The town has always been a draw for tourists, with its rich history and beautiful scenery.
• Shaftesbury offers stunning views of the rolling countryside and stands above the Blackmore Vale.
• The town is known for its quiet and safe environment, with a friendly and welcoming community.
• This Is Alfred, a volunteer-run radio station and podcast, provides local news and information about Shaftesbury and its surrounding areas.
• Shaftesbury has seen improvements in its public spaces, including new benches, trash cans, and play equipment.
• The town hosts events like the artisan and traders market and a food festival.
• The Arts Centre in Shaftesbury has opened a cinema, providing affordable movie screenings for the community.
• Shaftesbury is a vibrant and engaged community with a strong sense of pride and love for their town. Shaftesbury is a small English town with a unique charm and a slow-paced lifestyle.
• Most of the shops and businesses in Shaftesbury are independent and owned by local people.
• The town comes to life around 10 am and closes around 4 pm, with a relaxed approach to opening hours.
• Castle Hill offers stunning views of the countryside and church spires.
• Coppers Street chip shop is famous for its delicious fish and chips.
• The town hall clock and church bells contribute to the distinctive soundscape of Shaftesbury.

Sound Bites

• "Gold Hill is one of the most famous streets in the world."
• "Gold Hill is the most photographed view in England."
• "Shaftesbury reminds me of Port Wenn from Doc Martin, this sort of isolated community."
• "The town hall clock sounds like somebody's banging a sword, but that's actually quite heartening."
• "The church bells in St. James and St. Peter's add to the charm of Shaftesbury."
• "Coppice Street chip shop is famous for its fish and chips, even TV chef Waters rates them highly."

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Shaftesbury and Gold Hill
• 02:48 The Charm and Beauty of Shaftesbury
• 05:47 This Is Alfred: Local News and Information
• 08:44 Improvements and Enhancements in Shaftesbury
• 13:17 The Story of This Is Alfred: From Podcast to Radio
• 32:22 The Slow and Gentle Pace of Life in Shaftesbury
• 37:22 Relaxed Lifestyle and Socializing at Pubs
• 39:46 Enjoying Fish and Chips from Coppice Street
• 42:22 The Unique Sound of Church Bells in Shaftesbury
• 43:23 Beautiful Views from Castle Hill
• 44:06 Alfred's Future Plans for Better Coverage