Puddletown

infobox UK place

country = England
latitude= 50.7476

longitude= -2.3423

official_name= Puddletown
map_type = Dorset
population = 1,177
shire_district= West Dorset
shire_county = Dorset
region= South West England

constituency_westminster= West Dorset
post_town= Puddletown
postcode_district = DT2
postcode_area= DT
dial_code= 01305
os_grid_reference= SY758943

Puddletown (formerly Piddletown) is a village in Dorset, England, 5 miles east of Dorchester in the River Piddle valley. The village has a population of 1,177 (2001), of which 30.3% are retired. The village School, St. Mary's Middle School, Puddletown, Is named after the village church, St. Mary's church. It also has a pub, "The Blue Vinny". Reggie Yates has quoted it on his Radio 1 show, being a fan, and said it's has "such a wicked name"

Puddletown was originally called Piddletown. It is alleged that the change came when Queen Victoria passed through the area on a visit, piddle was changed to puddle due to her dislike for the word (piddle can also mean to urinate).Puddletown is in the Piddle Valley and near Piddlehinton and Piddletrenthide, these places retained the piddle as they were not on the route Queen Victoria took.

References

It was featured in the novel "Far From the Madding Crowd" by Thomas Hardy, where it was renamed as the village of Weatherbury.

ee also

* Puddletown Hundred

External links

* [http://www1.dorsetcc.gov.uk/LIVING/FACTS/Census2001.nsf/6cadf4da179fc19500256663004afece/bca1cf4ad72cd59080256ec800539fe0?OpenDocument Census data]
* [http://www.weymouth-pictures.co.uk/dor/cen/pud/pic_puddletown.htm Pictures of Puddletown]