Batcombe, Dorset Family History Guide

BATCOMBE is a parish and small straggling village 2½ miles east from Evershot station, on the Weymouth branch of the Great Western railway, about 12 north west from Dorchester, 4 north west from Cerne Abbas, in the petty sessional subdivision of Sherborne, hundred of Yetminster, Cerne union, Dorchester county court district, diocese of Salisbury, archdeaconry of Dorset and rural deanery of Shaftesbury third portion.

Other places in the parish include: Newland.

Parish church: St. Mary

Parish registers begin:

  • Parish registers: 1767
  • Bishop’s Transcripts: 1731

Nonconformists include:

Adjacent Parishes

Parish History

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

BATCOMBE, a parish in Dorchester district, Dorset; 2 miles ESE of Evershot r. station, and 3 ¼. NW of Cerne-Abbas. It includes Newland tything; and its Post Town is Cerne under Dorchester. Acres, 1,109. Rated property, £1,035. Pop., 184. Houses, 37. The property is divided among a few.

The living is a rectory, annexed to the rectory of Frome-Vauchurch, in the diocese of Salisbury. The church is old and small.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].

A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848

BATCOMBE (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Cerne, hundred of Yetminster, Cerne division of Dorset, 3 miles (N. W. by W.) from Cerne-Abbas; containing 171 inhabitants.

It comprises by computation 1149 acres, of which 172 are arable, 539 pasture, 28 orchard, 27 woodland, and 383 common: the soil is a deep black mould.

The living is a discharged rectory, united in 1772 to that of Froome-Vauchurch, and valued in the king’s books at £9. 9. 9½.: the tithes have been commuted for £130, and there are 45 acres of glebe. The church is a handsome structure in the early English style, with a finely carved roof of oak, and a square tower; on the north side is a private aisle for sepulture, anciently belonging to the family of Minterne.

Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848

Parish Records

FamilySearch

Census

Census returns for Batcombe, 1841-1891

Church Records

Bishop’s transcripts for Batcombe, 1731-1879 Author: Church of England. Parish Church of Batcombe (Dorsetshire)

Churchwardens’ accounts, 1820-1953 Author: Church of England. Parish Church of Batcombe (Dorsetshire)

Parish registers for Batcombe, 1767-1991 Author: Church of England. Parish Church of Batcombe (Dorsetshire); Dorset Record Office

Directories

Kelly’s Directory of Dorsetshire 1880

BATCOMBE is a parish and small straggling village 2½ miles east from Evershot station, on the Weymouth branch of the Great Western railway, about 12 north west from Dorchester, 4 north west from Cerne Abbas, in the petty sessional subdivision of Sherborne, hundred of Yetminster, Cerne union, Dorchester county court district, diocese of Salisbury, archdeaconry of Dorset and rural deanery of Shaftesbury third portion.

Parish Clerk Joseph Crocker

National School, Mrs Susannah Newman

Bird Esau farmer
Crocker George farmer
Damon Henry farmer

Downton Mary Mrs farmer
Hodges Alfred farmer
Hodges Walter farmer

Saunders John farmer
Thompson William Nerw inn

Source: Kelly’s directory of Hampshire, Dorsetshire, Wiltshire (the Isle of Wight, and the Channel Islands). By Kelly’s directories, ltd · 1880

Administration

  • County: Dorset
  • Civil Registration District: Dorchester
  • Probate Court: Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset
  • Diocese: Salisbury
  • Rural Deanery: Shaftesbury
  • Poor Law Union: Cerne
  • Hundred: Yetminster
  • Province: Canterbury