Milton Abbas is a village in
DorsetDorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town has been Dorchester since at least 1305, situated in the south of the county at . Between its extreme points Dorset measures from east to west and north to south, and has an area of...
in the south-west of
EnglandEngland 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 and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, approximately seven miles south-west of the market town of
Blandford ForumBlandford Forum, commonly Blandford, is a small historic market town on the River Stour in the North Dorset district of Dorset, England noted for its Georgian architecture The town had a population of 8,745 at the 2001 Census. Blandford is the seat of North Dorset's district council, although it is...
and 11 miles north-east of Dorchester. The village has a population of 766 (2001). The village is sometimes considered the first
planned settlementA new town, planned community or planned city is a city, town, or community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion.Navi Mumbai, a planned city near Indian city...
in England.
In 1780, Joseph Damer, Lord Milton, the first
Earl of DorchesterEarl of Dorchester, in the County of Dorset, was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1792 for Joseph Damer, 1st Baron Milton. He was a politician but is best remembered for the reshaping of Milton Abbey and the creation of the village of Milton Abbas in Dorset...
and owner of
Milton AbbeyMilton Abbey School is a British independent school in the Dorset countryside. It has 250 pupils in six boarding Houses, called Athelstan, Bancks, Damer, Hambro, Middleton and Tregonwell. Founded in 1954, it welcomes boys from 13 – 16 years and is coeducational in the sixth form.The school has a...
, decided that the adjacent market town,
MiddletonThe former town of Milton in Dorset was cleared by the local landowner, Joseph Damer, in the 1770s. This was a result of a fashion amongst English landowners to improve the amenity of their homes by converting surrounding farmland into open parkland...
, was disturbing his vision of rural peace. He commissioned
architectAn architect is trained and licensed in planning and designing buildings, and participates in supervising the construction of a building. Etymologically, architect derives from the Latin architectus, itself derived from the Greek arkhitekton , i.e. chief builder...
Sir
William ChambersSir William Chambers was a Scottish architect, born in Gothenburg, Sweden, where his father was a merchant. Between 1740 and 1749 he was employed by the Swedish East India Company making several voyages to China where he studied Chinese architecture and decoration.Returning to Europe, he studied...
and landscape gardener
Capability BrownLancelot Brown , more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English landscape architect. He is remembered as "the last of the great English eighteenth-century artists to be accorded his due", and "England's greatest gardener". He designed over 170 parks, many of which still endure...
(both of whom had already worked on the Abbey building and grounds) to design a new village, Milton Abbas, in a wooded valley (Luccombe Bottom) to the south of the Abbey. Most of the existing villagers were relocated here, and the previous village was demolished and the site landscaped.
The original abbey and House is now a famous boarding school - Milton Abbey School.
Today, Milton Abbas features on many picture postcards of rural Dorset. The 36 quaint white-washed and thatched cottages are each fronted by a lawn; originally, a chestnut tree was planted between each dwelling, but, aged and ravaged by disease, the trees were removed in 1953. The village has expanded to 256 dwellings since it was founded.
Some house-names give clues to some of the original inhabitants of the village:
bakerA baker bakes and sells bread. Cakes and similar and foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades. The place where a baker works is called a bakehouse, bakeshop, or bakery...
,
blacksmithA blacksmith is a person who creates objects from iron or steel by forging the metal; i.e., by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut. Blacksmiths produce things like wrought iron gates, grills, railings, light fixtures, furniture, sculpture, tools, agricultural implements, decorative and religious...
,
breweryA brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made in the home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
, etc. Today, the main street of the original village also features
almshouseAlmshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
s, a
public houseA public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises in countries and regions of British influence. Although the terms often have different connotations, there is little definitive difference between pubs, bars,...
(the Hambro Arms), Post Office/shop, a now redundant
schoolA school , is an institution designed to allow and encourage students to learn, under the supervision of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
building, a church (designed by
James WyattJames Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
) and a Weslyan chapel. Above the eastern end of the valley, the village has been extended with more modern housing and other facilities, including a doctor's surgery.
18th Century Street Fair
Every 2 years the present villagers recreate their historic country fair to celebrate the rebuilding of the present village over 225 years ago. The fair attracts thousands of visitors and has become one of Dorsets key Summer events.
The next Street Fair will be on
25th July 2009 11am-5pm. The main street is closed to traffic and residents and stall holders dress in 18th century costume. The day includes traditional music and dancing, local crafts people, stalls & demonstrations, Dorset farmers market, childrens entertainment, morris dancing, local food and local ale and so much more....
External links