Puddletown
A large village
north west of Dorchester where the Hooke river meets the
Frome.
| High Street | 11 | ||
| Mill Street | 5 | ||
| The Square | 17 | ||
| 23 | |||
St Mary's Church
The Church of St Mary is
closely associated with Thomas Hardy and contains a 12th century font, box pews
and a musicians' gallery dating from the 17th century, interesting heraldic
stained glass and monuments to Sir William Martyn, the builder of Athelhampton.
P is the Weatherbury of TH's novels. It is an extensive parish
covering over 7000 acres including a large area of woodland to the south-west
(Hardy's Egdon Heath). The road going south passes under the tall beech trees
of The Coombe on the way to Rhododendron Mile and the forest walks. The Square
was once the principal village street, before the road to D and the Poole road
were linked.
Much of the village was rebuilt in the 1860s in the gothic
style but a number of the earlier thatched cottages remain.
The former
Stephens' shop has an unusual Venetian window overlooking the Square, the scene
of the P fair held on 29/10 from the reign of Edward I until WW1.
The
Old Manor, once known as Ilsington House, was built in the late 17th century.
At one time it was owned by Robert Walpole, son of the Prime Minister and 2nd
Earl of Orford. From 1790s to 1829 it was leased to General Thomas Garth,
equerry to George III, and was visited by member of the Royal Family The estate
was sold in 1861 to John Brymer and remained the family home for over 100
years.
the present First School building and former Reading Room were
built by JB for the benefit of villagers before the 1870 Education Act made
education compulsory.
The River Piddle, a pure chalk stream, flows
through the village and irrigates the water meadows. In 1212 the village was
called Piddleton -farmstead o the River Piddle.
Click on the thumbnails for bigger pictures and descriptions.
