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Show-offy inscriptions

It seems the various owners of the Charborough estate liked to make a point. Firstly, John Drax sought to divert the new road (now the A31) away rom the house and this was challenged unsuccessfully at appeal. On East Almer Lodge (not in this square but at SY919992) put up this:

"This road was closed by order of the Magistrates, which was appealed against by James John Farquharson Esq. at the Epiphany Quarter Sessiosns at Dorchester Jan[ua]ry 4th 1841 and after a trial of three days the order was confirmed by the order of twelve honest jurymen."

And then, on the tower, which had been built in 1790 by Edward Drax, struck by lightning in 1838 and rebuilt 40 feet taller by John Drax who put up the following inscription:

"This tower was built by Edward Drax, Esquire, in the year 1790, during the short time he was possessor of Charborough. It was struck by lightning on the 29th November 1838, which so damaged it that it became necessary to take down the greater part. It was rebuilt in 1839 by John Samuel Walney Swabridge Erle Drax Esquire who carried it forty feet higher than it was originally built, making the present height upward of one hundred feet"