The Parish of Holwell, Dorset

	Holwell is parish and a village 6 miles south east of Sherborne. A small stream flows through the northern part of the parish, which was formerly a detached part of Somersetshire, but in October 1844 it became part of Dorsetshire. The church of St Lawrence, which was restored in 1885 is stone built and comprises chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and square embattled tower. The registers date from the year 1653.
A parochial school was built in 1874 for 80 children and there was a post office. The parish extends to 2342 acres with the soil mainly clay, the land being used mainly for pasture. Higher and Lower Buckshawe from a hamlet one mile south west, Crouch Hill one mile south and Woodbridge two miles north east. The population in 1891 was 377 persons. Information from Kelly's Directory 1895 Photographs show the church and some cottages
The Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for Holwell is Caryl Parsons Resources are available for look-up by contacting me. There are also some transcriptions on this site and more will be added. The list below represents the main transcriptions I have, there may well be other smaller items not listed, so it is always worth contacting me. I am familiar with the village and surrounding area. Please place the words 'OPC Holwell' as your subject for e-mails. I will be building resources over the coming months so don't forget to come back regularly for the latest additions.
Census	1841 Census 1851 Census 1861 Census 1871 Census 1881 Census 1891 Census
Parish Registers	The parish registers date from 1653, the following have been transcribed so far:- Holwell Baptisms 1781-1840, 1841-1888 Holwell Marriages 1727-1836, 1837-1910 Holwell Burials 1796-1850, 1851-1930 Holwell Register Notes
Parish Chest	Holwell Poor Rate 1755 Holwell Vestry Book Extracts 1750-1873
Land Records	Holwell Tithes 1776, 1789
School Records	Holwell School Subscription 1870-1874
Directories	1859, 1885, 1903 & 1923
Military Record	Holwell Militia List 1799
Miscellaneous Records	Holwell Petition 1884 See also; Name extracts from Woodbridge Estate Survey in 1762 in the parishes of Holwell, Lydlinch, Stock Gaylard, Caudle Bishop, Caundle Marsh. etc.
Resources	Holwell Information at DRO
Maps	The 1891 ordnance survey maps of the parish can be seen at the old-maps site, just enter 'Holwell' under place search.

	All photographs © Caryl Parsons Photos of the east end of the church. The stocks just outside the churchyard and the old Victorian post box at Barnes Cross