Symondsbury

Symondsbury is a village in south west Dorset, England, one mile west of Bridport, 16 miles west of Dorchester. The village is located just off the A35 road. The village has a pub (the Ilchester Arms), a pottery and a primary school. The village is the head of Symondsbury Parish which extends from Eype and West Cliff (West Bay) in the south, to the Marshwood Vale in the north.

Population

The parish has a population of 1,020 (2001), 12.3% of dwellings are second homes.

History

In historical times the main economy of the village was the production of flax and hemp for Bridport's rope and net manufacturing trade. More recently the main business has been milk, beef, sheep, pigs and arable production and since the decline of agriculture in the late 20th Century the village has hosted two colleges, many small workshops and several large self-catering holiday lets. The village still has several orchards, two cider presses, one apple juice business, artists, potters and a primary school. Many of the inhabitants still work in the village on the two business parks and other converted agricultural buildings.

The River Simene passes through the village. A stream also wanders through the village coming from a spring that is believed still to have healing properties. In the medieval age, people from miles around came to bathe their eyes, that were then healed. There is an old road from the sea through the village, that used to take pilgrims to the shrine of St Whit at Whitchurch Canonicorum. The landmark of Symondsbury is Colmer's Hill, its significance extending back to around the 11th Century. The hill takes its name from the "Colmer Tenement". The family were tenants of the Dukes of Somerset and Earls of Ilchester in the 17th and 18th Centuries and the Rev. John Colmer was the rector from 1805-06. During WW1 Caledonian Pine trees were planted on the summit by Major W P Colfox MC and now form an iconic subject for artists and photographers. The village is set in an area of outstanding national beauty AONB.

Church

Symondsbury has one church - St John the Baptist. The church of St John the Baptist is in Early English style and cruciform shape, it has a nave, transepts, south porch and square tower with 6 small bells and a clock. The registers date from 1558. Records show that the first rector arrived in 1325. In the north and south transept there are spyholes, known as squints, through which the congregation could see the priest at the altar. The stained glass in a memorial window in the church was designed around 1884 by William Lethaby, who later became Professor of Ornament & Design at the Royal College of Art.

Principal Houses

The principal houses in the village are Symondsbury Manor, Shutes Farmhouse and the Old Rectory (now known as Oakhayes.)

Like many so-called Manor houses, this one has not formed the administrative centre of the manorial landholding. It was not until the 20th Century that the then owners, the Colfox family had collected together much of the previously manorial land that the house acquired this title. In 1975 the house was separated from the land and sold to Peter Hitchin. Originally a medieval farmhouse, it was heavily remodelled by Crickmay in the late 19th Century for the Symonds Udall family to whom Thomas Hardy and William Barnes were regular visitors.

Shutes Farmhouse, originally a medieval hall house, was built from trees felled in 1449. Symondsbury was held by the Abbey of Cerne until dissolution, whence it passed to the Dukes of Somerset and this was the administrative centre of their manorial landholding. In 1672 the Duchess of Somerset, in order to clear the debts of the late Duke, sold much of Symondsbury in nearly two dozen lots to various tenants, but retained Shutes Farmhouse (the Colmer tenement) as the centre of the residual manorial holding which along with the Lordship were sold shortly afterwards to the Earl of Ilchester whose heir still holds the title, but no land.

Oakhayes, reputed to be the largest (and one of the most beautiful) rectories in England, was built in two phases at the beginning and end of the 18th Century. It was such a rich living that the rector at the time even boasted his own pack of hounds and the kennels can still be seen. An engraving of the house dated 1799 was published in Hutchins History of Dorset.

Transport

The village is about half a mile from the A35 Folkestone-Honiton trunk road. It has no bus service but the No. 31 Weymouth to Axminster bus and the X53 Poole to Exeter bus stop on West Road for Symondsbury at Sprakes Corner half a mile away. The village is about a mile and a half from the town of Bridport with only gentle hills so walking and cycling for shopping are easy, so one can live in the village without a car despite there being no shop.

Parking can be difficult. Usually there is room, but if there is an event or during the school run, it may be hard to find a space.

Symondsbury has several footpaths into the surrounding area. The lane to Broadoak is peaceful and provides a good cycle route to the Marshwood Vale, although it is hilly.

External links

* [http://www.symondsbury.org.uk/ Symondsbury Parish]
* [http://www.symondsbury.co.uk/ Symondsbury Estate]
* [http://www1.dorsetcc.gov.uk/LIVING/FACTS/Census2001.nsf/6cadf4da179fc19500256663004afece/6bee838bdbe763a580256ec80057f618?OpenDocument Census Data]
* [http://www.symondsbury.dorset.sch.uk/ The School]
* [http://www.dorsetphotos.co.uk/dorset/places,26,Symondsbury.html/ Photos of Symondsbury]