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, Portesham and Langton Herring. The parish church is 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. 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 fishing 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 as well.

Abbotsbury Market Street circa 1920 courtesy Jean Boney

   
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