THE TRAFALGAR WAY PLAQUE
ANTELOPE WALK, DORCHESTER
DORCHESTER was the 11th stop for changing horses as news of victory in the Battle of Trafalgar was being delivered to London.
Dispatches with news of the victory and the death of Vice Admiral Lord Nelson were carried to England by the captain of schooner Pickle, Lieutenant John Richards Lapenotiere.
Lapenotiere landed in Falmouth on November 4 1805 and set out to deliver the news to London. It took 37 hours to make the 271 mile journey and 21 changes of horse were required.
The 11th change was made in Dorchester, costing two pounds fourteen shilling and sixpence. The news was delivered at 1am on November 6 1805, passed to the Prime Minister and the King and special editions of newspapers were published later the same day to inform the nation.
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