CHIDEOCK’S FIRST BLUE PLAQUE

Hollow Cottage, North Road.

Blue plaques are a nationwide symbol designed to commemorate outstanding achievements by an individual and we are delighted that Chideock now has its first blue plaque, installed to acknowledge the remarkable life of our Chideock Egg Lady, Chrissie Squire.

Chrissie Squire lived in Chideock all her life (1894 – 1976) and was a well-known and popular figure in the village. In the midst of the horrors of WW1 she found a way – by contributing fresh eggs to the National Egg Collection for wounded soldiers in France and by decorating those eggs with little paintings and messages as well as her name and address – not only to provide vital nourishment for those soldiers, but also to connect with them in a very real way and offer friendship, kindness and support. Many of the soldiers who received her decorated eggs wrote back to her, and the collection of letters shows just how much she touched their lives. More

Information about Chrissie’s remarkable story can be found on this website, or by contacting Chideock resident Frances Colville.

This story has been researched and written about by Frances, and has resonated with all the villagers who have heard it. In recognition of this, the Chideock Society decided to organise the installation of the blue plaque on Hollow Cottage in North Road where Chrissie spent much of her life. Many villagers contributed generously to the funding of this project and Howard and Deirdre Coates kindly gave permission for the plaque to be installed on the wall of Hollow Cottage.

On Monday 15 July, representatives of various Chideock groups, as well as the Chideock Museum and the Bridport Museum, one of Chrissie Squire’s descendants and Frances met in the beautiful garden at Hollow Cottage for the unveiling of the plaque. There were speeches, tea and cake, and the chance to hear readings from some of the letters sent to the Egg Lady from soldiers who received her decorated eggs.

The Chideock Egg Lady plaque on the side of Hollow Cottage can be viewed from North Road and is well worth going to see.

 

Frances Colville     17/7/19