Blackdown is a village in Broadwindsor parish in the west of Dorset, England, situated on the B3165 road 7 miles (11 km) west of Beaminster. It had a population of 128 at the 2001 Census.[citation needed]

Blackdown
  • Blackdown
Blackdown is located in Dorset
Blackdown
Blackdown
Location within Dorset
Population128 [1]
OS grid referenceST397028
• London144 miles (232 km)
Civil parish
  • Broadwindsor
Unitary authority
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBEAMINSTER
Postcode districtDT8
Dialling code01308
01460/01297
PoliceDorset
FireDorset and Wiltshire
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Dorset
50°49′20″N 2°51′23″W / 50.82217°N 2.85646°W / 50.82217; -2.85646

The village lies at the foot of Blackdown Hill, which at 215 metres (705 ft) is one of Dorset's high points from which there are extensive views of the local area.

History

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The Chapel of Ease dedicated to the Holy Trinity was built in 1840 on the site of a former chapel building which had become derelict. There are a few graves which are earlier than 1840. On the night of 16–17 December 1961 the chapel was destroyed by a fire due to a wood-burning stove which had been lit overnight for a service the next day. The church was rebuilt and rededicated in 1964.[citation needed]

Buried in the graveyard is John Anthony Brown, who was killed by his wife Elizabeth Martha Brown at nearby Birdsmoregate in 1856. Despite a plea for clemency, Elizabeth was publicly hanged at Dorchester Prison, a sight witnessed by many, including a 16-year-old Thomas Hardy, who years later asked Lady Hester Pinney who lived at Racedown House to investigate the story. It is believed that Hardy may have based Tess of the d'Urbervilles on his experience.[citation needed]

Blackdown also has a village hall,[2] built on ground owned by the Pinney family of Racedown House. It was initially called Blackdown Hut and officially opened on 9 December 1920 by Lady Rhodes Moorhouse. It was a destroyed by a fire on the 8 September 1976 but was rebuilt and reopened exactly three years later.[citation needed]

Education

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Blackdown comes under the catchment area of Marshwood Primary School, 3 miles (4.8 km) away, with secondary education being provided at Woodroffe School, 10 miles (16 km) away. Village children are entitled to free transport. The village school, situated next to the church and now a private house, closed because of dwindling numbers, although it reopened during World War Two to accommodate evacuees.[citation needed]

Governance

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Blackdown is part of the Marshwood Vale electoral ward, which elects one member to Dorset Council.

The village and surrounding area make up the Blackdown ward of the Broadwindsor parish council.

References

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  1. ^ Census, 2001
  2. ^ "Churchgoers set to celebrate resurrection anniversary". DorsetECHO. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2024.