A MINI reunion in west Dorset has celebrated a long family line and family history of the Huxters by visiting the graves of great, great grandparents.

Sylvia Creed-Castle got in touch with Looking Back to share the new family memories made at the reunion in Bridport and more about the Huxters history.

Huxters in west Dorset can trace their roots back to a Samual Huxter, born in 1750 in Stanton St Gabriel, near Whitchurch Canonicorum.

Sylvia said: "We had a big reunion in 1997 at Salway Ash Hall where Huxter descendants arrived from Canada and all over England. Just recently, more cousins from Canada arrived in Bridport who wanted to meet Huxter relatives."

The common ancestors of the family members were Thomas and Elizabeth Huxter, who had 18 children between 1849 and 1872.

Sylvia said: "Thomas Huxter started his working life as an agricultural labourer in the 1840s and gradually over the years he farmed at many places in west Dorset increasing the size of his tenancies as he moved.

"Thomas retired to Atrim Gore Farm in Broadoak and died in 1900. Amazingly, his wife Elizabeth lived to the age of 67 (after having all those children) and died in 1897."

Sylvia said: "It proved to be a fantastic family history weekend. I could have filled up an itinerary for another two days to show them other Huxter places, but unfortunately they were leaving the following morning!"

The family visited Symondsbury churchyard to see the headstone of their great great grandparents and descendants from four of the 18 children met up for a 'delicious meal' at the George, Chideock and had a photo shoot in the garden for each branch of descendants.