Batcombe, Dorset
Encyclopedia
Batcombe is a small straggling village
in the West Dorset
district of Dorset
, England
; situated 12 miles (19.3 km) north-west of Dorchester under the northern slope of the Dorset Downs
. The local travel links are located 3 miles (4.8 km) from the village to Chetnole railway station
and 31 miles (49.9 km) to Bournemouth International Airport. The main road running through the village is Stile Way. The village has a population of 104 according to the 2001 Census
.
stone and an interesting font consisting of a Norman
column of Ham Hill stone topped with a cuboid limestone basin (probably Portesham
stone) which is probably earlier in date.
by repairing the damage, so for a hundred years they left it alone. When it was repaired, they repaired it at a crooked angle. It is said that Minterne vowed that he would be buried neither in nor out of the church, so he was buried half in and half out of the Minterne Chapel. Much of the church was rebuilt by John Hicks
in 1864, which resulted in the loss of the Minterne chapel. The memorial tablets were repositioned on the north side of the tower.
A "conjurer" used to be an important character in a Dorset
village, and was generally of good reputation. He was supposed to be gifted with supernatural power, which he exercised for good. By his incantations and ceremonies he cured many sicknesses. A Wessex
dealer in magic and spells is mentioned in Thomas Hardy
’s story “The Withered Arm”.
, at the top of which is a stone pillar known as The Cross-in-Hand. The pillar was used to dramatic effect in Thomas Hardy
’s novel, Tess of the D'Urbervilles
. It is said that some who see the Cross can view a ghostly hand grasping a bowl at the top of the pillar.
between the 16th and 18th centuries.
The front roadside wall of the farmhouse (right) is, with its ashlar
hamstone
archway dating from 1622.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the West Dorset
West Dorset
West Dorset is a local government district and parliamentary constituency in Dorset, England. Its council is based in Dorchester. The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, and was a merger of the boroughs of Bridport, Dorchester and Lyme Regis, along with...
district of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; situated 12 miles (19.3 km) north-west of Dorchester under the northern slope of the Dorset Downs
Dorset Downs
The Dorset Downs are an area of Chalk downland in the centre of the county Dorset in south west England. The downs are the most western part of a larger Chalk Formation which also includes Cranborne Chase, Salisbury Plain, Hampshire Downs, Chiltern Hills, North Downs and South Downs.The Dorset...
. The local travel links are located 3 miles (4.8 km) from the village to Chetnole railway station
Chetnole railway station
Chetnole railway station is a small rural station serving the village of Chetnole, Dorset, England. The station is on the Heart of Wessex Line 34 km north of Weymouth towards Westbury.-Services:...
and 31 miles (49.9 km) to Bournemouth International Airport. The main road running through the village is Stile Way. The village has a population of 104 according to the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
.
The Church
The church of St Mary Magdelene is on an ancient site. There has probably been a church there from the 11th century. The church consists of a nave and chancel with a 15th century tower. The interior contains an elaborate stone screen of Ham HillHam Hill
Ham Hill could refer to:* Ham Hill, Somerset SSSI, Country Park and** Ham Hill Hillfort* Ham Hill SSSI, WiltshireThere is also a lesser known area to the south of Snodland, Kent that is called Ham Hill. It has always played 'second fiddle' to the larger town of Snodland, which has absorbed Ham Hill...
stone and an interesting font consisting of a Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
column of Ham Hill stone topped with a cuboid limestone basin (probably Portesham
Portesham
Portesham is a village in the English county of Dorset, situated close to the south coast, between the towns of Weymouth and Dorchester. The village has a population of 708...
stone) which is probably earlier in date.
Conjuring Minterne
The church is the subject of one of Dorset's more curious tales. It is said that at one time, the local squire, who was known as 'Conjuring Minterne', rode his horse off Batcombe Hill and knocked off one of the pinnacles on the tower. He dabbled in magic and was regarded with a great deal of fear and superstition locally. After setting off to ride over steep Batcombe Hill one day, he suddenly remembered he had left his magic book open on the table, where his servants might find it. To save going back by the road, he turned his horse round and spurred it to attempt a massive leap over the church, knocking off the pinnacle as he soared clear over the tower. The fearful villagers were afraid that they might offend the devilDevil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
by repairing the damage, so for a hundred years they left it alone. When it was repaired, they repaired it at a crooked angle. It is said that Minterne vowed that he would be buried neither in nor out of the church, so he was buried half in and half out of the Minterne Chapel. Much of the church was rebuilt by John Hicks
John Hicks
Sir John Richard Hicks was a British economist and one of the most important and influential economists of the twentieth century. The most familiar of his many contributions in the field of economics were his statement of consumer demand theory in microeconomics, and the IS/LM model , which...
in 1864, which resulted in the loss of the Minterne chapel. The memorial tablets were repositioned on the north side of the tower.
A "conjurer" used to be an important character in a Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
village, and was generally of good reputation. He was supposed to be gifted with supernatural power, which he exercised for good. By his incantations and ceremonies he cured many sicknesses. A Wessex
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
dealer in magic and spells is mentioned in Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
’s story “The Withered Arm”.
The Cross-in-Hand
Above the village rises Batcombe DownBatcombe Down
Batcombe Down is a 18.6 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Dorset, England: notified in 1952.-Source:* -External links:*...
, at the top of which is a stone pillar known as The Cross-in-Hand. The pillar was used to dramatic effect in Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
’s novel, Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented, also known as Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman, Tess of the d'Urbervilles or just Tess, is a novel by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1891. It initially appeared in a censored and serialised version, published by the British...
. It is said that some who see the Cross can view a ghostly hand grasping a bowl at the top of the pillar.
The Manor
The Minterne family was for a long time the Lords of the Manor and Newlands Farm was the Manor HouseManor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
between the 16th and 18th centuries.
The front roadside wall of the farmhouse (right) is, with its ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
hamstone
Hamstone
Hamstone is the colloquial name given to stone from Ham Hill, Somerset, England. Hamstone is a Jurassic limestone from the Toarcian, or Upper Lias, stage. It is a well cemented medium to coarse grained limestone characterised by its honey-gold colour and marked bedding planes. The stone contains...
archway dating from 1622.