Acton is a hamlet in the parish of Langton Matravers, on the Isle of Purbeck, in the county of Dorset in the south of England.[1][2] The hamlet of Acton was built as living quarters for the quarrymen working at the local quarries.

Acton
Acton and Piles of Purbeck Stone
Acton is located in Dorset
Acton
Acton
Location within Dorset
OS grid referenceSY988784
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSWANAGE
Postcode districtBH19
Dialling code01929
PoliceDorset
FireDorset and Wiltshire
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Dorset
50°36′22″N 2°01′01″W / 50.6061°N 2.0169°W / 50.6061; -2.0169

The name “Acton” is derived from the Old English for “farm for young sheep”, the first element of which is *tacca.[3] The hamlet was documented in the Domesday Book as Tacatone.[citation needed]

Politics

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Acton is covered by the South Dorset constituency.

After 2019 structural changes to local government in England, Acton is part of the South East Purbeck ward which elects 1 member to Dorset Council.[4]

Notable people

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Philosopher Michael Oakeshott retired to Acton in 1968, eventually dying in the hamlet, aged 89, in 1990.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Ordnance Survey: 1:50,000 Scale Gazetteer" (csv (download)). Ordnance Survey. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  2. ^ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 195 Bournemouth & Purbeck (Wimborne Minster & Ringwood) (Map). Ordnance Survey. 2014. ISBN 9780319231418.
  3. ^ Field, John (1980). Place-names of Great Britain and Ireland. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. p. 22. ISBN 0389201545. OCLC 6964610.
  4. ^ "Area profile for South East Purbeck - Dorset Council". gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  5. ^ "About Oakeshott – Michael Oakeshott Association". michael-oakeshott-association.com. 8 October 2008. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
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