We all enjoyed hearing about broadcaster Ralph Wightman, who would regularly have a pint and pie in The Old Ship Inn in Dorchester, thought to be the town's oldest pub.

Since that article, we've heard from Sally Parkes, who has enjoyed reading about the High Street memories in Dorchester and would like to add a small memory of her own.

She writes: "We lived in Glyde Path Road until I was 12 when we moved to Bradford Peverell. My mum used to send me to the Spinning Wheel bakers for bread. Crossing High West Street from Glyde Path Road was not the challenge it is today. My instructions were for a either a split or sandwich loaf, and if we were lucky, some doughnuts, only jam of course. I didn’t register the significance of the difference types of loaf then but can you still get an uncut ‘sandwich loaf’?"

Resuming our walk of High West Street, at number 20, we arrive at the very popular Royal Oak, now a Wetherspoon's pub. The building dates back to the late 18th/early 19th century. This probably is one of the former coach inns of Dorchester, the entrance on the left side being the former access to the stables at the back. The properties to the right have now all been incorporated into the main premises but there has been periods when these have been separate businesses.

Numbers 21 and 22 High West Street were a private residence at times but also partly occupied as a business. The Kelly’s directory shows No 22 as being occupied by William Rogers as a grocer. In 1955, it was D.E. Jameson, confectioner/tobacconist. A sweet and confectioners shop, known as Bon Bon, traded here from 1972 to1980. When the Royal Oak extended its premises in the 1980s, it was Dorchester Antiques. This closed in 1987 when the premises again returned to The Royal Oak, then Wetherspoons.

Numbers 23 and 23A have quite the history. Kelly’s Directory 1895, lists Kate Dron, Stationer at 23 and Wilfred Fare Grocer at 23A. In 1955 it was Feltham Stationer and Newsagent. This property also seems to have at times been one premises that later split into two. Hill and Rowney were here as Mountcutters and Print Sellers in the early 1900s. T.C Brindley until 1963 and then Beards until 1971 were both newsagents. From 1968 to 1973, it was A.R.Bryant. 1974-84, Slater Estate Agents and De Parys, dry cleaners from 1972-1998. It was Safari Bookshop from 1984 to 2000. Then Sprotson and Bowden opticians from 1999 to date. It was Fleet Personal Employment Agency from November 2000 June 2003. Then Dorchester Property Lettings from October 2013 to date.

Here's an unusual one - at 24 High West Street, which dates to the early 19th century, the occupier in 1895 was John Tudor, Surgeon. Exactly what sort of surgeon we don't know!

Brittania Building Society was there in 1959 until Jan 2002 when Everycare Wessex Nursing Services took over and who continue to operate there today.

At number 25 is the Tutankhamun Exhibition, formerly the Roman Catholic Church which moved across the road to Holy Trinity Church. It has now been converted into houses and the museum. The building was originally constructed at Wareham in 1889 where it was called St Michael’s. It was taken down and rebuilt in Dorchester in 1906/7. Before the present building was constructed, Kelly’s in 1895 showed a Thomas Rogers, Cabinet Maker was trading from here.

When the church became redundant in 1977, H.V.Day, Books and Antique Books, traded until 1986 when H V Day died. Tutankhamun Exhibition moved in until present day.

*Thanks as always to Dorchester historian Derek Pride for his meticulous research. We'll pick up our high street travels again next week.