Nether Compton & Over Compton

Nether Compton and Over Compton are small villages, located just on the Dorset side of the county border with Somerset, a few miles from the towns of Yeovil to the west and Sherborne to the east.

The name Compton probably derives from the Anglo-Saxon ‘cum’, meaning a narrow valley or combe, and ‘ton’, meaning settlement. This place had three royal charters from Saxon Kings, granting land to the Church in Sherborne. In the Domesday Book, Compton was a prosperous agricultural community, although it is not clear as to where this settlement was. As the names suggest, Over Compton is on higher ground than Nether Compton; separate villages were referred to in 1163 as ‘Superior’ and ‘Parva’.

The church of St. Nicholas at Nether Compton dates from the 13th century while St. Michael’s at Over Compton is from the 15th century, possibly replacing earlier buildings

.In 1736, the Goodden family acquired the manor of Over Compton and this family has had a major influence over the affairs of both parishes, as landowners and by their control of appointments to the two churches.

Compton House is sited close to St. Michael’s and, together with two specimen trees and a sweeping drive, makes an attractive setting. The interior of St. Michael’s has a series of memorials to the Goodden family, including a life-like statue of Robert Goodden in the “Goodden family pew” –which is a large side chapel, off the nave. The church also has “hatchments”, painted coats of arms which, on the death of a family member, were displayed during the mourning period.

St. Nicholas’ church in Nether Compton is larger, with the nave, chancel and porch dating from the 13th century and an attractive carved stone screen. The tower holds five bells, the earliest dates from the 15th century, one dated 1585, two dated 1658 and one modern.

The church was restored in 1885, around the time when the Gooden family were creating what is now the village green. The village school was set up in 1847, close to the church. Perhaps the nearby malthouse functioned like the one in Hardy’s “Far From the Madding Crowd”.

The Comptons had a reputation as being strongly Protestant and then as a focus for Non-Conformists and there was an Independent chapel near the Half Way House, on the Yeovil Road. This building is now used as a house.

More recently, the Goodden family had found it difficult to maintain their estate. A Butterfly Farm was established near to Compton House but this proved not to be viable. The House has been sold off and is being converted into a series of houses and apartments.

Sources:- .Annette Sandison: “Over and Nether Compton : Records and Traditions of Two Dorset Parishes”  Sherborne 1977.  Printed by Sigma Reprographics, Yeovil. Booklets available in the two churches.

The Online Parish Clerk for Nether & Over Compton is Allan Gillard