West Chelborough

Church of St Andrew - West Chelborough
  © Copyright Chris Downer and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

West Chelborough is a small parish 4½ miles North East of Beaminster. In 2001 the village had 42 inhabitants. In the Domesday Book of 1086 the village is mentioned as 'Celberge'. The Parish of West Chelborough is encircled by the parishes of Corscombe to the West and East Chelborough to the East.

The Parish Church of St. Andrew stands near the middle of the parish. The East part of the South wall of the Nave may date from the 12th century. The Chancel and the rest of the nave were rebuilt in the 15th century when the latter was extended to the West. The South Tower was added in 1638. The chancel is said to have been rebuilt in 1751. The church was restored early in the 19th century and again in 1894 when the North Vestry was added. The two treble bells in the church were cast on site in 1275 and are considered to be the oldest in Dorset.

Over 100 years ago, Sir Frederick Treves cycled around the county researching for his book 'Highways and Byways in Dorset'; he wrote 'West Chelborough is a village so far from the haunts of men that the visit of a stranger causes some unrest. It is a delectable little place, beautifully bestowed. The ancient church is very quaint; its walls are of yellow masonry, its roof of slabs of stone, while its font, shaped like a tub, belongs to Norman times'. For Dorset at least, this really is remoteness; one road in and a no-through road at that, a few houses. The nearest pub; the Fox at Corscombe is a mile or so of cross-country walking away or a convoluted six mile drive. [Dorset Life, 2016].

West Chelborough: cottage and lane
  © Copyright Chris Downer and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

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