Gillingham Dorset Family History Guide
Gillingham an Ancient Parish in the county of Dorset. Motcombe, East Stour, and West Stour are chapelries of Gillingham.
Other places in the parish include: Newbury, Milton on Stour, and Huntingford.
Gillingham is a large parish, with an area of 7,738 acres. The land undulates gently at altitudes between 200 ft. and 450 ft. above the sea and is drained by the R. Stour and its tributaries, the Lodden and the Shreen Water1.
Parish church: St. Mary
Parish registers begin:
- Parish registers: 1564
- Bishop’s Transcripts: 1718
Nonconformists include: Baptist, Bible Christian Methodist, Presbyterian, Primitive Methodist, and Wesleyan Methodist.
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
- Silton
- Cucklington, Somerset
- Buckhorn Weston
- Zeals, Wiltshire
- Motcombe
- Kington Magna
- West Stour
- East Stour
- Mere, Wiltshire
The parish lies within the area of the mediaeval Royal Forest of Gillingham. Until the 19th century the lands which now form the parishes of Motcombe, East Stour, West Stour and Bourton were regarded as parts of Gillingham, which covered more than 15,000 acres. The town stands at the confluence of the three streams named above. Dispersed around it are a number of hamlets and farms1.
In 1694 the town was devastated by fire. At the end of the 18th century silk weaving was an important local industry1.
Parish History
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
GILLINGHAM, a town, a parish, a sub-district, and a liberty in Dorset. The town stands on the river Stour, and on the Salisbury and Yeovil railway, near the borders of Wilts and Somerset, 4 miles NW of Shaftesbury; and has a post-office under Bath, a railway station with telegraph, a banking office, a market-house, a temperance hall, a church, three dissenting chapels, a free school, and charities, including the school, £323.
The church is modern; superseded a very ancient one; and has a fine chancel, and a lofty tower. The free school was founded in the time of Elizabeth, and had the great Earl of Clarendon for a pupil. A weekly market is held on Friday; a considerable cattle market on alternate Mondays; and fairs, on Trinity Monday and 12 Sept. There are flour and silk mills, a large brewery, and manufactures of rope, sacking, and bricks.
The parish includes a tract of 7, 527 acres in Shaftesbury district, and the chapelry of Bourton, comprising 828 acres, in Mere district. Real property, with Milton and Silton, £20, 661. Rated property of G. alone, £12, 782. Pop., 3, 957. Houses, 885. Pop., exclusive of Bourton chapelry, 3, 036. Houses, 675. The property is much subdivided.
The manor belongs to the Marquis of Westminster. Much of the land is disposed in dairy and grazing pasture. Two forests were anciently here; the one, called Gillingham forest, and connected with Selwood forest in Somerset; the other called White Hart forest, from a favourite white hart belonging to Henry I.; and they were disafforested in the time of Charles I. An ancient palace of the Saxon and Norman kings, who came hither to hunt, stood about ½ a mile from the town. A victory over the Danes was gained here in 1016.
The living is a vicarage, united with East Stower, West Stower, and Motcombe, in the diocese of Salisbury. Value, £1,313. Patron, the Bishop of S. Recent chapels of ease are at Enmore and Milton. The p. curacy of Bourton is a separate benefice.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Milton on Stour
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
MILTON-UPON-STOUR, a hamlet in Gillingham parish, Dorset; on the river Stour, 1½ mile NW by N of Gillingham r. station. It formerly had a chapel.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Parish Church
The following description of the church has been extracted from the book “An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 4, North”
The Parish Church of St. Mary stands near the middle of the town. It has walls generally of ashlar and roof-coverings of slate and of lead; in the chancel the walls are of coursed rubble with ashlar dressings. The Chancel and North Chapel are of early 14th-century origin, with restorations of 1840. The Nave, North and South Aisles, West Tower and North and South Porches were built in 1838. The W. tower, originally within the area of the nave, but rebuilt in 1838 some 20 ft. further west, was heightened and considerably altered in 1908. The South Chapel was added in 1921.
Architectural Description—The Chancel retains a 14th-century moulded plinth, stout ashlar buttresses of three weathered stages and, on the N. and S., coved and moulded string-courses with 14th-century ball-flower ornament and some original gargoyles. The E. window, of 1840, has four cinquefoil-headed lights set two on each side of a large central mullion with curvilinear tracery in a two-centred head.
The N. wall has two windows, each with two trefoil ogee-headed lights with a curvilinear central tracery light in a two-centred head; the stonework is of 1840, but possibly reproducing the original design.
Adjacent, on the W., two 14th-century arches open into the N. chapel. They are uniform and of two chamfered orders; the outer orders continue on the E. and W. responds and end at broach stops; the inner orders spring from polygonal attached shafts with moulded capitals with ball-flower enrichment. Centrally the two arches rest on a Purbeck marble shaft with a moulded octagonal capital and a chamfered stone plinth. The plinth and capital are of the 19th century; the date of the shaft is uncertain.
The S. side of the chancel has five windows uniform with those on the N.; the stonework is evidently of 1840, but windows of similar design are shown on a drawing made by James Buckler in 1829 (B.M. Add. MS. 36361, f. 144). In the three western bays the wall below the windows is pierced by modern openings to the S. chapel and vestry. The chancel arch, of 1840, is four-centred and of one chamfered order resting on moulded brackets with leaf enrichment.
The North Chapel is largely of 1840. The plinth is chamfered and the buttresses are uniform with those of the chancel; there is no string-course. The E. window has a two-centred head and three cinquefoil ogee-headed lights below vertical tracery. The N. wall has a window uniform with those in the side walls of the chancel; the two eastern bays have blocked windows with two-centred heads. The archway to the N. aisle has a chamfered two-centred head and continuous jambs.
The Nave has N. and S. arcades with two-centred arches of one chamfered order, carried on octagonal piers and responds with moulded capitals and plinths. Above, each wall has six single-light clearstorey windows with cinquefoil two-centred heads. The E. gable has a weathered coping and a large foliate finial.
The North and South Aisles have chamfered plinths and buttresses similar to those of the N. chapel. The E. window of the S. aisle was uniform with that of the N. chapel, but it now has a raised sill to make room for the archway to the S. chapel. The N. and S. windows are uniform with those of the chancel; the W. windows are uniform with the E. window of the N. chapel. The N. and S. doorways have chamfered two-centred heads and continuous jambs.
The North and South Porches have chamfered plinths, buttresses of two weathered stages, and gabled N. and S. fronts with shaped kneelers, weathered copings and foliate finials. The date 1838 is carved on the gable of the N. porch. Both porches have external doorways with chamfered two-centred heads and continuous jambs; above each doorway is a single-light window uniform with those of the clearstorey; the E. and W. walls have similar windows. Inside, the porches are two-storeyed, the upper storeys originally forming galleries which opened into the N. and S. aisles through wide archways with shallow four-centred heads; these openings are now walled up.
The West Tower is of three stages. In the lower stages it has three-stage buttresses with weathered offsets. At the base is a chamfered plinth. The lower stages are defined on the W. side by a moulded and hollow-chamfered string-course; in the N. and S. sides there is no division into stages.
The tower arch is two-centred and of one chamfered order with continuous responds. In the E. wall, above the nave roof, the intermediate stage of the tower has a round window of 1908. On the N. side is a vice turret of 1908, with a gabled head of weathered stonework and several square-headed loops; the turret partly masks a blind recess with a two-centred head; above, level with the round window of the E. wall is a shallow circular recess.
The W. doorway, remodelled in 1908, has a two-centred head with wave-mouldings which die into plain jambs. The W. window is of 1838 and has three trefoil ogee-headed lights, with curvilinear tracery in a two-centred head. In the second stage is a small square-headed window of two ogee-headed lights and, above, a round window of 1908. The S. face of the tower has a large blind recess, as on the N., and a clock at the level where round windows appear on the other sides. The top stage, with belfry windows, embattled parapets and corner pinnacles was rebuilt in 1908 (Faculty, Sarum Dioc. Regy.).
The Roof of the nave has tie-beam trusses with cusped scissorbracing, and curved braces resting on head-corbels. In the tower, the floor of the ringing chamber rests on reset 16th-century moulded beams with hollow-chamfers enriched with leaf bosses; the beams are arranged to form six compartments with 19th-century traceried panels.
Fittings—Altar: Loose, against S. wall of tower, broken slab of Purbeck stone, chamfered on under side, with three surviving consecration crosses, mediaeval.
Bells: eight and sanctus; 1st and 2nd modern; 3rd by William Cockey, inscribed ‘Thos. Freke Esq., Mr. Edward Reeves, Ch. Wds. 1726 W.C.’; 4th by John Wallis, inscribed ‘Voce mea ad Dominum, IW, 1607′, recast 1909; 5th by Thomas and James Bilbie, with churchwardens’ names: ‘Ambrose Heale, John Read, 1793, Thomas Mathews, John Jupe, 1794–5’; 6th by William Cockey, 1722, Thomas Freke and Henry Jukes, churchwardens, recast 1894; 7th by Kingston of Bridgwater, 1826, J. Read and T. Matthews, churchwardens; tenor with same inscription as 3rd and ‘Wm. Cockey Bell Founder 1726’; sanctus inscribed ‘† GABREEL’, probably c. 1350.
Monuments and Floor-slabs.
Monuments: In chancel, on N. wall,
Sir Henry Dirdoe, 1724, and others of his family
John Pern, vicar, 1770, and others of his family
Jane (Card) Dawson, 1812
Mrs. Frances Dirdoe, 1733
Edward Read, 1779, and others of his family
[Thomas and] John Jesop, [1615]
Edward Sly, 1795, and others of his family, 1805–37
Christian (Helme) Broome, 1720, and others of Broome and Cox families
Edward Davenant, 1679, vicar
John Tinney, 1728
John Matthews, 1820, and Hester Matthews, 1829
Mary (Goddard) Helyar, 1750
Thomas Godwin and Sarah his daughter, both 1814
Mary Read, 1764
John Harris, 1791, and Rachel his wife, 1812
Ambrose Heal, 1812, and Rachel (Harris) Heal, 1827
Parish Registers
Marriages Out of Parish
| Details | Place of Marriage |
|---|---|
| William Meade & Faith Lighte, of Gillingham 18 Mar. 1656/7 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Hugh Heyter, of Gillingham, & Sarah Harding 15 Apr. 1700 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Robert Lawrence & Mary Top, of Gillingham 8 Nov. 1705 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Joseph Forward, of Gillingham, & Mary Calloway, of M. 6 Apr. 1713 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Thomas Coleman, of M., & Judith Burdum, of Gillingham 4 June 1716 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Thomas Smith, of Gillingham, & Bathsheba Charleton, of M. 27 May 1717 | Mere Wiltshire |
| William Moors & Martha Hicks, both of Gillingham 1 Jan. 1717/8 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Joseph Osboldstone, of Sarum, & Mary Helme, of Gillingham 1 Oct. 1720 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Giles Perman, of Gillingham, & Rachel Hall, of M. 15 July 1723 | Mere Wiltshire |
| William Hoskins, of Gillingham, & Mary Purchase 21 June 1724 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Joseph Gatehouse, of Gillingham, & Michal Heitor, of M. 11 June 1727 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Thomas Alford, of M., & Mary Warfield, of Gillingham 1 July 1728 | Mere Wiltshire |
| William Elms, of Gillingham, & Mary Bacon, of M. 1 Oct. 1728 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Thomas Eaton, of Gillingham, & Mary Bourton, of M. 8 Mar. 1730/1 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Philip Snook, of Gillingham, & Mary Hibbard, of M. 11 May 1732 | Mere Wiltshire |
| William Grey, of M., & Mary Lawford, of Gillingham 31 Jan. 1732/3 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Robert Matthews, of Gillingham, & Elizabeth West, of M. 13 Jan. 1733/4 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Thomas Charleton & Mary Strong, of Gillingham 3 Feb. 1733/4 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Morgan Hayter, of Gillingham, & Ann Curtis, of Zeals, in this p. 6 Jan. 1734/5 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Thomas Harcourt, of M., & Martha Haims, of Gillingham 29 Jan. 1735/6 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Charles Heyter, of Gillingham, & Joanna Longear, of M. 17 Apr. 1743 | Mere Wiltshire |
| John Farthing, of Gillingham, & Mary Mills, of M. 25 Nov. 1744 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Issachar Farthing, of Bourton, p. Gillingham, & Margaret Sheppard, of Seals, p. M. 6 Oct. 1745 | Mere Wiltshire |
| William Orchard, of Bourton, p. Gillingham, & Mary Mansel, of M. 6 Aug. 1746 | Mere Wiltshire |
| Josiah Bridle, of Hazleburrough, co. Dorset, & Hannah Herd, of Gillingham 4 Oct. 1749 | Mere Wiltshire |
| William Hoskins, of Gillingham, & Mary Dorrington, of M. 21 Oct. 1753 | Mere Wiltshire |
Marriage Allegations
The following people have been recorded in the Hampshire Allegations for Marriage Licences granted by the Bishop of Winchester 1689 to 1837.
LELY, Robert, of Gillingham, co. Dorset, & Martha Brown, 2 Aug., 1715.
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Dorset Historical Directories
![Post office [afterw.] Kelly's directory of Hampshire, Dorsetshire, Wiltshire 1880 6](https://i0.wp.com/parishmouse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Post-office-afterw.-Kellys-directory-of-Hampshire-Dorsetshire-Wiltshire-1880_6.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1)
![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.
GILLINGHAM
C.A. Pinhorn, clerk in holy orders
P.W. Matthews, church warden, solicitor
J. Williams Bell, churchwarden
Henry Kaines, solicitor
Henry Kaines, jun.
James Wells, surgeon
Thomas Orchard, clerk
Harry White
George Whieldon, J.P., D.L., Wyke Hall
W.H. Shorland, clergyman, Milton
George B. Matthews, churchwarden, The Kendalls, Milton upon Stour
George Parham, yeoman, guardian
William Clark, blacksmith
John Butler, whitesmith
William Butler, butcher
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.
Maps
Administration
- County: Dorset
- Civil Registration District: Shaftsbury
- Probate Court: Court of the Royal Peculiar of Gillingham
- Diocese: Salisbury
- Rural Deanery: Pre-1847 – None, Post-1846 – Shaftesbury
- Poor Law Union: Shaftesbury
- Hundred: Gillingham Liberty
- Province: Canterbury
1. An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 4, North