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You may find this relevant information helpful when researching the area prior to your visit

Ferndown

Ferndown today boasts a large shopping area and excellent community and leisure facilities, but local residents can still remember it as a small village. During the Second World War the peace of the village was shattered when four or five bombs fell on a local nursery, located on the western side of Victoria Road. The town’s zoo (sadly closed in the late 50’s) was a major attraction for visitors holidaying in the area. Its star attraction was a lion, stories tell that it was wormed on Friday and fed no food so that it would roar on Saturday for the visitors!

The Gussages

The name ‘Gussage’ is thought to mean ‘gush of water’, a reference to the clear chalk stream that flows through this area. Gussage All Saints lies close to the site of the deserted Medieval villages of Bowerswain and Brockington but its history goes further back than this, for the village is known to be sited on an Iron Age chariot factory, abandoned in 80AD!

Hinton Martell

A quiet and leafy village of medieval origin, which, from its description in the Domesday Book, seems certain to have been of special importance at the time of the Norman Conquest. The main feature of the village is the fountain in the centre, opposite the church, this was originally built in 1870, to provide drinking water for animals. During the Second World War the metal figure was removed and, following the erosion of the concrete base during a particularly severe winter in 1963, the fountain underwent a full restoration in 1965. It now takes the form of a group of 5 stone dolphins on a stone supported by 4 Ionic columns.

The village Church of St John was rebuilt in 1870 and it is said that the writer Thomas Hardy, who was working for the architect at the time, may have had a hand in its design.

Holt

Holt is recorded in the Domesday Book as the ‘foresta de Winburne’ a royal chase and forest. Known to have connections with the Monmouth rebellion, it is documented as the place where Judge Jefferies conducted his first interview with the Duke of Monmouth. Holt is the only ancient forest in Dorset still to appear by name on the modern OS Maps. In 1985 it was designated a National Nature Reserve because of the wide variety of plants, birds and reptiles living there, including several rare species.

Horton

The unique landmark of Horton Tower rises high above the woods and fields at the centre of East Dorset. Built in 1750 by Humphrey Sturt, it was used as an observatory to watch the movement of deer. Horton Estate Vineyard, which opened to the public in 1993, is now the largest vineyard in Dorset. An on-site shop lets you sample a selection of the wines; the winery and shop are set in a delightful courtyard with lovely views.

Knowlton Rings

Knowlton Rings was constructed in the Bronze Age as a religious site, as the large number of barrows in the area and the proximity of yew trees indicate. The church in the centre was built to destroy the religious power of the rings . A plague in 1348 killed the residents of the nearby village, the church fell into disuse and finally into ruin in the 18th Century.