‘Of what is a house made, really made?’ asks the voice of the House.
‘Enquire Within’ explores this question, bringing to life hints and whispers of lives once lived there. The play’s title and theme of learning and discovery were inspired by two very different but linked events:
1. At the end of the nineteenth century, a series of domestic encyclopaedias: ‘Enquire Within Upon Everything’, were published as a ‘Comprehensive Guide to the Necessities of Domestic Life in Victorian Britain’.
2. In the 1980s, former Wimborne resident and patron of East Dorset Heritage Trust (now based in Allendale House), Tim Berners-Lee began designing ‘Enquire’, a ‘hypermedia initiative for global information sharing’’ which could be used on the Internet. Although it was never published ‘Enquire’ formed the basis of the later development of the World Wide Web.
In its current role, the building draws together the themes of learning, technology and heritage, as an invaluable resource for local people.
Enquire Within (1) was first performed to celebrate WCT’s 10th anniversary in 2001.
It was performed again in June, 2002, to commemorate the opening of Allendale House as a Community Learning Centre.
The audience were led on a journey through the rooms of the house as they went back through time, and met William Castleman and his sons, and other characters who lived in or visited Allendale House, and contributed to the changing nature of Wimborne Minster over the past two centuries.
From 1899 to 1932, Allendale House was a girls’ school. Seventy years later, it returned to educational use, as it became a learning centre and went ‘on-line’.
The play was researched and devised by the theatre group members.
Information about Allendale House
In terms of local social context, William John Bankes, having fled the country for discretions of a sexual nature, was no longer able to return legally but did hit land to deliver artefacts that he had collected, which were subsequently placed at Kingston Lacy by William Castleman.
© copyright of Wimborne Community Theatre
Wimborne Community Theatre – Allendale House
from the Stour and Avon Magazine 14.12.2007
The audience at Wimborne Community Theatre’s production Enquire Within were treated to a whistle-stop tour through the history of Allendale House.
We moved from room to room as the performers re-created scenes from the lives of previous incumbents. We saw the Castleman family dealing with rioting workers protesting at the introduction of farm machinery, and Charles Castleman’s part in bringing the railway to Wimborne.
And wandering into scenes was the sad figure of Susie Funnell, headmistress of the the girls’ school, which had to close due to incidences of diptheria.
At the end of the 19th century a series of domestic encyclopaedias, Enquire Within Upon Everything was published. Fast forward to the 1980s when Tim Berners Lee, former Wimborne resident and patron of East Dorset Heritage Trust, which is now housed at Allendale House, began to design Enquire which formed the basis of the later development of the World Wide Web. Hence the Enquire link.
Although not strictly a community play, there were similarities to the excellent Dorchester community play which received rave reviews some two weeks previously – and there was even a link with the infamous smuggler Isaac Gulliver, who went on to become a respected member of Wimborne society.
Promenade theatre is such fun as you feel part of the production, gaining eye contact with the actors, as you follow or precede them into a room.
You might – like me – be lucky enough to be mentioned by name. (I was chided by Tracie Billington Beardsley in Joyce Grenfell mode).
The whole production was hugely atmospheric and great credit must go to the large cast of actors of all ages who brought the story of the house – which at one time was home to the council’s rate offices – to life.
WCT say they are planning a larger production next year in Wimborne town centre. Don’t miss it. M.B.
