Charmouth Dorset Family History Guide
Charmouth is an Ancient Parish in the county of Dorset.
Parish church: St. Matthew
Parish registers begin:
- Parish registers: 1653
- Bishop’s Transcripts: 1731
Nonconformists include: Independent/Congregational and Wesleyan Methodist.
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
Parish History
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
CHARMOUTH, a village and a parish in the district of Axminster and county of Dorset. The village stands on the coast, at the mouth of the river Char, under Charmouth hill, adjacent to the line of a Roman road, 2 miles NE by E of Lyme-Regis, and 6½ W of Bridport r. station. It occupies the site of the Cauca Arixa of the Romans; is itself an ancient place; and consists now of one long street, or edificed road, with a sprinkling of villas, on a declivity. It was the scene of two battles, in 830 and 840, between the Saxons and the Danes; and the scene of a narrow escape of Charles II. from capture, on the eve of his embarkation for France after the battle of Worcester.
It has a post-office under Bridport, and two chief inns; is a watering-place and a coastguard station; was once a market town; and contains an old cottage, originally part of an inn, in which Charles II. spent the night of his peril. The parish comprises 433 acres of land and 85 of water. Real property, £3,344. Pop., 678. Houses, 151. Charmouth Hill is about 1,000 feet high; and was called by Hutchins the Plinlimmon of Dorset. The ground rises from the sea in cliffs and dark slopes; and presents features of great interest to geologists A part of the cliffs, rich in pyrites, ignited in 1531; and another part underwent a great landslip, with a shock like an earthquake, in 1839.
The living is a rectory in the diocese of Salisbury. Value, £150. Patron, J. Hunt, Esq. The church was rebuilt about 1503; and contains a screen and some curious old oaken carvings. There are chapels for Independents and Wesleyans, and charities £48.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848
CHARMOUTH (St. Matthew), a parish, and formerly a market-town, in the union of Axminster, hundred of Whitchurch-Canonicorum, Bridport division of Dorset, 2 miles (N. E. by E.) from Lyme Regis; containing 620 inhabitants. This place derives its name from its situation at the mouth of the river Char, which here falls into the English Channel. It was the scene of a sanguinary battle in 833, between the Saxons, under Egbert, and the Danes, who, though many of them were killed in the action, yet maintained their post, and made good their retreat to their ships. Another battle was fought in 840, when the Danes defeated the Saxons under Ethelwolf, but, without improving their victory, precipitately embarked, leaving their booty behind.
In the 7th of Edward I. the abbot of the monastery of Ford, in the vicinity, obtained for the inhabitants the grant of a weekly market and an annual fair. After the battle of Worcester, Charles II. and his suite fled to the place, intending to escape into France; but, being frustrated in that expectation, quitted it without delay. On this occasion, a blacksmith having discovered, from the manner of shoeing the horse of Lord Wilmot, who had remained behind, that the party came from the north, a pursuit was instantly commenced, but without success.
The village is pleasantly situated at the base of a steep hill, round which the road was carried in 1758; and, from its situation on the coast, is a place of resort for sea-bathing. The scenery is enlivened by the river Char, over which is a bridge leading to the village; and the neighbouring cliffs abound with martial pyrites, bitumen, and other inflammable matter, which after heavy rains emit a vivid flame, and were particularly observable in the year 1751. The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the king’s books at £8. 16. 8., and in the gift of certain Trustees: the tithes have been commuted for £120, and the glebe comprises 6 acres. The church was lately rebuilt. There is a place of worship for Independents.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848
Parish Registers
Marriage Allegations
The following people have been recorded in the Hampshire Allegations for Marriage Licences granted by the Bishop of Winchester 1689 to 1837.
BURNARD, William, of Charmouth, co. Dorset, b., & Rebecca Good, of Havant, 21, sp., at H., 15 Apl., 1799.
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Dorset Historical Directories
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![Post office [afterw.] Kelly's directory of Hampshire, Dorsetshire, Wiltshire 1880 2](https://i0.wp.com/parishmouse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Post-office-afterw.-Kellys-directory-of-Hampshire-Dorsetshire-Wiltshire-1880_2.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 "Post office [afterw.] Kelly’s directory of Hampshire, Dorsetshire, Wiltshire 1880 2")
Directory Transcriptions
An Address from the County of Dorset on the Elementary Education Bill, May 9 1870
To the Right Honourable The EARL de GREY and RIPON President of Her Majesty’s Privy Council and To the Right Honourable W. E. FORSTER MP Vice President
We the undersigned Clergy and Laity of the Archdeaconry and County of Dorset, accepting the principle of the Elementary Education Bill now before Parliament, by which in existing Schools perfect liberty of Religious Teaching is guaranteed to the Managers, together with perfect liberty of withdrawal from such Teaching to the Parents of the Children, do earnestly deprecate any Alteration in the Bill which may affect such principle.
At the same time we are prepared to concede, if necessary, the substitution for the so-called Conscience Clause, of an Enactment which shall confine the Teaching of the Formularies of any Denomination to the first part of the School Hours.
CHARMOUTH
Edward R. Breton, rector
Source: An Address from the County of Dorset on the Elementary Education Bill, May 9 1870 by Dorset. Published by H. Spicer, Dorset County Chronicle Office, 1870.
Administration
- County: Dorset
- Civil Registration District: Axminster
- Probate Court: Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset
- Diocese: Salisbury
- Rural Deanery: Bridport
- Poor Law Union: Axminster
- Hundred: Whitchurch Canonicorum
- Province: Canterbury