Abbotsbury

Abbotsbury Rodden Row circa 1940

Abbotsbury is a large village and a large coastal parish. From the west it is adjacent to the parishes of Puncknowle, Litton Cheney, Portisham and Langton Herring. The parish church is the dedicated to St Nicholas and has many architectural and historical features. The registers originally dated from 1574. Within the parish there were also chapels for the Congregational and Primitive Methodists. The history of the parish goes back a long way, a monastery was founded here in 1044 with monks from Cerne Abbey. It stood on rising ground to the south of the village and 

the gateway still exists but other ruins are those of a ruined mansion house built on the site of the monastery. The monastery tithe barn still exists and the ruined chapel of St Catherine built in the late 15th century can still be seen. The main occupation of the population in the 19th century was mackerel fishery and agriculture. The population in 1881 was 979 and in 1891 903. Hamlets within the parish are Rodden, East & West Elworth and Look. The school was in the main village and there used to be a railway station there as well.

Abbotsbury Market Street circa 1920 courtesy Jean Boney

   
The position of Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for Abbotsbury is vacant.
  
 If you would like to volunteer or can contribute material please
contact the co-ordinator via the home page. 

Census

1841 Census transcribed by Nicola Merrifield
1861 census transcribed by Royston Clarke.

Parish Registers

Baptism
Baptisms 1731-1775, 1813-1840 & 1841-1879

Marriage entries date from 1651, on line are:- 
1771-1836

Burials date from 1651, on line are:-
1731-1812 & 1813-1880

Postal Directories

Photographs

Photographs of the village circa 1900

Maps

The 1891 ordinance survey maps of the parish can be seen at the old-maps site, just enter 'Abbotsbury' under place search.

For a more recent map of Abbotsbury click on the thumbnail opposite to enlarge.