Winter exhibition 2008- 2009.

‘Dusto!’ was the traditional cry of the Lyme Regis dustmen, alerting people who had forgotten to put out their dustbins.

The dustcart crew was the “mobile workforce” of the Borough Council, gritting the roads in winter and sweeping leaves in autumn. They were called out for local emergencies such as landslips and flooding, as for many years they had the council’s only motor transport.

Lyme has always had trouble disposing of its rubbish. It’s been thrown in the river, in the sea and over the cliff.  Formal rubbish collection began in 1875 when the Public Health Act charged local authorities with the removal and disposal of waste. Since then, various acts have regulated refuse collection and disposal.  Known as “The Dump”, “The Tip” or “The Ash Heap” the site of the town tip was always to the east of the town - downwind of the prevailing southwest winds.

1912 - a council decision stated, “When bathing is not in season, any rubbish not injurious to public health may be deposited in the sea at Cobb Gate”.

1918 - the Admiralty complained that enemy shipping could use the fire at the tip for navigation and it should be screened. It was allowed to go out!

1929 - the council sold their horses and bought a purpose built refuse lorry for £437.

1929 - National Rat Week was a great success thanks to the use of dogs and ferrets at the town tip.

1930s - a new rubbish tip was formed at the end of Spittle Lane, beyond the allotments. Most working days, controlled burning took place, giving a continuous plume of smoke over the Charmouth cliffs. This smoke features in many postcards of the town over the years.

1935 -  the council bought 6 litter bins, the first in Lyme, following a complaint about litter by Lady Pickering. A survey of what was collected as Trade Refuse in the same year revealed that collections were being made from 14 licensed hotels; 1 spirit vault; 14 boarding houses; 2 clubs; 34 shops; 13 cafes; 2 banks; 5 offices; 2 amusement parks; 8 garages and 2 bakeries.

1939 - the council considered buying a refuse destructor for £435.  This would pulverize the rubbish and would not need to be burned. Neighbouring towns had destructors but Lyme alas did not get one. 

1939 - refuse collection cost £500 a year. To save money twice weekly collections were reduced to one and bins were to be put out on the highway.

1940 - 2000 gallons of water were used to put out an arson fire at the tip.

1940/1941 - Two searchlights were positioned near the tip as part of the wartime defences.

1941 - dustmen earned £2-2-6d and the council paid £5 per annum for destroying rats at the tip

1950s – the practice of houses near the river depositing their waste straight into the water stopped.  The council had continually received complaints and were constantly having to flush the river from the sluices in Mill Green.

1956 - Mr Norman Carling was moving house. He had a number of bowler hats and dress coats to get rid of. Too good to put in the bin, he gave them to the dustmen to dispose of how they wished.  So, the world-famous Lyme Regis bowler-hatted dustmen were born!
Following a story by local journalist David Cozens, their fame spread worldwide from Australia to the USA.

In 1974 the tip was finally closed when West Dorset District Council took over refuse collection. Until recently Lyme’s rubbish was taken to Bothenhampton.  Now it goes to Wareham.

What People Said About the Tip:

“If you went to the tip enough times you could make your own bike.”

“My brother was always up the tip shooting rabbits.”

“We used to scavenge on the beach below the tip for coins, rings and other valuable bits and pieces. When we found enough we’d sell them in Exeter and celebrate with a steak meal.”

“When my Austin Big Seven failed the test we towed it to the tip and they buried it. The dustmen held a funeral service!”

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the following for providing photos and information for the exhibition:
Carol Robson, Wendy Beviss, Geoff Legg, Phil Curtis, David Cozens, Roy Gollop, Colin Waters, Jo Draper, Martin Roundell Greene, Joan Larcombe, John Crabb, Mike Hains.

Thanks also to Paddy Howe, Chris Andrew and Paul Crossley for the loan of exhibits.
Thanks also to Ken Gollop and Graham Davies who researched and mounted the exhibition.