Affpuddle

including Briantspuddle

St Laurence Church, Affpuddle ©Dorset OPC 2012

Affpuddle is a village and parish in the Piddle Valley, nine miles east of Dorchester close to Moreton, Tolpuddle and Puddletown. The village dates at least from Saxon times and is named in the Domesday book as Affapidela with a manor house belonging to the Abbot of Cerne.

The church of St Laurence dates from the time of Edward IV and is noted for its elaborate pews and finely carved pulpit. The tower dates from the 15th century and contains four bells. A school was built in the village in 1870 for the children of both Affpuddle and Tonerspuddle.

The village later belonged to the Frampton family of Moreton, noted for their involvement with the Tolpuddle Martyrs. John Lock who gave key evidence against them lived in the village.

Briantspuddle (or Bryantspuddle) is a nearby village also situated within the Piddle Valley approximately eight miles east of Dorchester. Historically the village is part of the ancient parish of Affpuddle. The village takes its name from Brian de Turberville, who was lord of the manor during the reign of Edward III. was developed as a model village and is noted for its thatched cottages and village hall.

The earliest known reference to the village is in the Geld in 1083 (an assessment made for land taxes) when it was known as 'Pidele'. By the 13th century it was known as Priestpidele. In 1683 William Frampton united the manors of Throop, Briantspuddle and Affpuddle into a single estate. In 1914 financial hardship forced the Frampton family to sell part of their estate, including the village of Briantspuddle, to Sir Ernest Debenham.

Briantspuddle once consisted of twelve cottages (which still exist within the village today) until Ernest Debenham (Grandson of the founder of the famous British department store) expanded the village under the concept of creating a self-sufficient agricultural enterprise. By 1929 forty new cottages had been built to house the estate workers.

Briantspuddle War Memorial ©Dorset OPC 2012

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