Powerstock

Powerstock is a village in south west Dorset, England, situated in a steep valley on the edge of the Dorset Downs five miles north east of Bridport. The village has a population of 415 (2001).

Powerstock is around 5 miles north east of the market town of Bridport. It has a small river running through, many cottages and 2 inns, "The Three Horseshoes" near the church and "The Marquis of Lorne Inn" on the other side of the valley in a small hamlet called Nettlecombe. The village was originally known as 'Poorstock' but this was changed to 'Powerstock' when the railway line was built in 1857, possibly to avoid connotations of 'poor (rolling) stock' [ Diana P Read "Powerstock Station All Change". ISBN 0-9527522-0-4]

Poorstock Forest was one of the 80 Royal forests created by the Normans in the 11th, 12th and early 13th centuries. A 'forest' originally meant land where certain rights (usually hunting) were reserved for a monarch or the aristocracy (see medieval hunting).

You can walk up the hill fort of Eggardon Hill from here, as well as take short strolls in the valley or in Powerstock Common, a nature reserve.

It was used as the filming location for Agatha Christie's "A Murder is Announced"BBC.

References

External links

* [http://www1.dorsetcc.gov.uk/LIVING/FACTS/Census2001.nsf/6cadf4da179fc19500256663004afece/ebce26614671701b80256ec8005358a9?OpenDocument Census data]