A history society has put together an exhibition looking at an unusual incident in 1918 when a Blackmore Vale town was put up for sale.

The exhibition, put together by the Stalbridge History Society, will be held at Stalbridge Hall in Lower Road, Stalbridge, near Sturminster Newton from September 1 to September 4, from 2pm to 4pm daily.

It was Lord Stalbridge who decided to put almost all of Stalbridge up for sale on September 3 and 4 1918.

The catalogue of the sale, produced by Knight, Frank and Rutley, listed all the buildings and land in some detail, including their tenants or lessees and the amount of rent payable.

The society also knows who bought each lot, and the price paid. Using all that information and the 1911 census, they will be providing a comprehensive snapshot of life in Stalbridge at the end of the war.

Reports from the Western Gazette read: "The most important piece of news in 1918 was the sale of the town in September to a Mr White, and its subsequent rapid re-sale for £80,000 to The Syndicate, three local men: Robert Borley, owner of the Grosvenor Hotel; Dr Harris; and Mr Viney, manager of Stratton, Sons and Mead, a large grocery firm.

"The town council had been unable to raise the £75,000 or more needed to outbid Mr White, so The Syndicate was formed to keep the town in local hands. The sale of the town was the most significant event in Shaftesbury in the early 20th century, in some ways having more long-term impact than the Great War itself."

On May 28 and 29 1919, The Syndicate put Stalbridge up for sale again, in 300 or so lots. There was an agreement amongst tenants that they would only bid for their own property, and for the most part, this worked very well.

In July the Glyn estate was also sold, comprising 5,550 acres, and including the parishes of Cann, Donhead St Mary, Melbury Abbas, Compton Abbas, Margaret Marsh, Marnhull and East Orchard.

*Stalbridge History Society, Stalbridge Hall, Stalbridge, September 1 to 4. Call 01963 364018 for more information.