Melbury Abbas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Melbury Abbas | |
|---|---|
 View looking down on Melbury Abbas from the southwest | |
  Melbury Abbas Location within Dorset | |
| Population | 305 |
| OS grid reference | ST882200 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SHAFTESBURY |
| Postcode district | SP7 |
| Dialling code | 01747 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
Melbury Abbas is a village and civil parish in north Dorset, England. It is situated at the edge of the Blackmore Vale under the scarp of Cranborne Chase, 2 miles (3.2 km) south-southwest of the town of Shaftesbury. The parish includes West Melbury and part of Cann Common.
In the 2011 census the parish had 147 dwellings,[1] 134 households and a population of 305.[2]
In 1086 Melbury Abbas was recorded in the Domesday Book as Meleberie.[3]
It was in Sixpenny Hundred and had 47 households, 12 ploughlands and 4 mills.
The lord and tenant-in-chief was Shaftesbury Abbey.[4]
Church of St Thomas
This is on the south side of the village and as well as a square tower at the south west end, has a large spire mounted on the SW corner of the top of the tower.
The original stone church of Norman times had a tower with three bells, at least one transept, and a west door. It survived until 1852 when it was in poor condition and was demolished. [5]
The present church is said to cost Sir Richard Glyn £2500.00. At this time Sir Richard owned most of the village. On 21 December 1852 the Bishop of Salisbury dedicated the new church to St Thomas, whose feast day it was.
