CHARMOUTH

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DESCRIPTION

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Medieval planned town. Charmouth was founded in AD 1320 when the Abbot of Forde created a free borough. The general lay out of the town can be traced in some of the burgage plots, especially on the north side of the town. A boundary bank also survives.

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(Centred SY 365935) The 'New Town' of Charmouth
dates from AD 1320, when the Abbot of Forde created a free
borough, granting certain rights to improve his manor of
Charminster. The burgages were to be 66 feet by 330 feet,
and the burgesses were obliged to use the Abbot's mill
and attend his court at the Guildhall. The town boundaries include references to a monks' mill, the church, a pillory
and a cross on the road to Lyme Regis.

The general lay-out of the medieval town can still be
traced to some extent. On the north the bugage plots
survive and the limits of the town are clearly marked by
property boudaries, including stone and rubble walls of
uncertain date. There is no trace of a ditch, but an
original bank may be preserved in soil build-up.

To the south the burgage plots have been eroded, but the
town limit is represented by 'Gardenside' (a cul-de-sac
at SY 36269349), and possibly by a short stretch of undated
bank (from SY 36649358 to SY 36769359).

The market place was undoubtedly the wide main street,
and Catherston Manor Farm probably represents the farm
mentioned as one of the new town's boundaries in 1320.
The site of the Abbot's mill was probably on or next to
the existing Mill Cottages, under which the leat ran. A
mill existed here until recently, and the mill leat can
still be traced. (1-2)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) by K J Penn 1980 Historic towns in Dorset

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society monograph seriesNo.1 (1982) - NO.1 - 1980 Page(s)34-37

( 2) by M W Beresford, H P R Finberg 1973 English medieval boroughs: a handlist

1973 Page(s)103

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