Holwell

Holwell is a parish and 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
 Baptisms 1653-1780, 1781-1840, 1841-1888
Marriages 1655-1827, 1727-1836, 1837-1910
Burials 1653-1726, 1727-1795, 1796-1850, 1851-1930
Register Notes
Parish Chest Holwell Poor Rate 1755
Holwell Vestry Book Extracts 1750-1873
Land Records Holwell Tithes 1776, 1789  
Monumental Inscriptions Monumental Inscriptsions index
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

 

 

                                                              

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