{{Short description|Village in Dorset, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=August 2023}} {{For|ships named after the Cattistock Hunt|HMS Cattistock}} {{Infobox UK place | static_image_name = Church and The Square, Cattistock - geograph.org.uk - 160877.jpg | static_image_caption = Church and The Square, Cattistock | country = England | coordinates = {{coord|50.7947|-2.5811|display=inline,title}} | map_type = Dorset | official_name = Cattistock | population = 509 | population_ref = <ref name=ONS>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11121725&c=Cattistock&d=16&e=62&g=6418467&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1389909123136&enc=1|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics|title=Area: Cattistock (Parish). Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics|access-date=16 January 2014}}</ref> | unitary_england = [[Dorset (unitary authority)|Dorset]] | lieutenancy_england = [[Dorset]] | post_town = Dorchester | postcode_area = DT | postcode_district = DT2 | region = South West England | constituency_westminster = [[West Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|West Dorset]] | os_grid_reference = SY592996 | dial_code = 01300 }}

'''Cattistock''' is a village and [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in west [[Dorset]], [[England]], sited in the upper reaches of the [[River Frome, Dorset|Frome Valley]], {{convert|8|mi|km}} northwest of the county town [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]]. The Dorset poet [[William Barnes]] called it "elbow-streeted Cattstock",<ref name=Gant>{{cite book|author=Roland Gant|title=Dorset Villages|publisher=Robert Hale Ltd|year=1980|pages=100–1|isbn=0-7091-8135-3}}</ref> a comment on the less-than-linear village street. In the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]] the parish had a population of 509.<ref name=ONS/>

==Parish church== A church was built here in the 12th century by the monks of [[Milton Abbey]], though this structure has not survived.<ref name=Trust>{{cite web|url=http://www.dorsethistoricchurchestrust.co.uk/cattistock.htm|title=Cattistock / St Peter and St Paul|publisher=The Dorset Historic Churches Trust|access-date=16 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923215957/http://www.dorsethistoricchurchestrust.co.uk/cattistock.htm|archive-date=2015-09-23|url-status=dead}}</ref> The current church, dedicated to St Peter and St Paul,<ref name=Trust/> was rebuilt in the 19th century by architects [[Sir George Gilbert Scott]] and his son [[George Gilbert Scott Junior]]. The Perpendicular-styled tower was the work of the latter, and has led to the church being dubbed the 'Cathedral of the Frome Valley'; he was also responsible for the porch, north aisle and vestry.<ref>Betjeman, John, ed. (1968) ''Collins Pocket Guide to English Parish Churches; the South''. London: Collins; p. 172</ref> A [[carillon]] of 35 bells was installed in the new tower a few years after its construction. This was the first carillon to be introduced to England and attracted hundreds of visitors to the valley, though the bells were destroyed by a fire in the tower on 15 September 1940.<ref name=Gant/><ref>{{cite book|author=Ralph Wightman|author-link=Ralph Wightman|title=Portrait of Dorset|publisher=Robert Hale Ltd|page=95|edition=4|isbn=0-7090-0844-9|year=1983}}</ref> The fire also destroyed the very large clock, which previously almost spanned the width of the tower.<ref name=Gant/> In 1972 the [[Pevsner Architectural Guides|Pevsner]] guide to Dorset architecture said that "for the mid- to late-nineteenth century, this is the masterpiece amongst Dorset churches".<ref name=Gant/> The church is a Grade I [[Listed building|Listed Building]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=PARISH CHURCH OF SAINT PETER AND SAINT PAUL, Cattistock - 1118659 {{!}} Historic England|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1118659|access-date=2021-11-17|website=historicengland.org.uk|language=en}}</ref>

==Chantmarle== [[File:Chantmarle Manor (5) - geograph.org.uk - 992561.jpg|thumbnail|Chantmarle]] Nearly {{convert|1.75|mi|km}} north of the village is Chantmarle, a house dating from the 15th century, with additions in the 16th, 17th and 19th centuries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=127206|title=Cattistock, An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 1: West (1952), pp. 71-74|publisher=University of London & History of Parliament Trust|work=British History Online|access-date=16 January 2014|year=2013}}</ref> It received its name &ndash; which means "song of the blackbird" in Norman French &ndash; from the Chauntmerles family, who lived on the site in the early 13th century.<ref name=Price>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/articles/2006/12/19/chantmarle_feature.shtml|author=Claire Price|date=20 December 2006|access-date=16 January 2014|publisher=BBC|title=Chantmarle Manor}}</ref> In 1910 [[Inigo Thomas (garden designer)|Inigo Thomas]] designed new end wings and a terraced garden with ponds.<ref name=Gant/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Newman |first1=John |last2=Pevsner |first2=Nikolaus |author2-link=Nikolaus Pevsner |series=[[Pevsner Architectural Guides#Buildings of England|The Buildings of England]] |title=Dorset |year=1972 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |location=Harmondsworth |isbn=0-14-071044-2 |pages=139 }}</ref> In the late 20th century Chantmarle was used as a centre for police training.<ref name=Gant/> It then became a Christian retreat and wedding reception venue, but is now once more a private home.<ref name=Price/>

==Cattistock Hunt== The Cattistock Hunt is a [[Fox hunting|foxhound pack]] established by a parson at Cattistock Lodge in the mid 18th century. It was given the name 'The True Blue'.<ref name=Gant/>

The Hunt has been affiliated with all UK naval vessels named {{HMS|Cattistock}}, including the latest to bear the name, {{HMS|Cattistock|M31|6}}.

The village also has a close relationship with those named ships too and has hosted the ships' crews on many occasions.

An ensign and emblem shield of HMS ''Cattistock'' – a blue [[cornflower]], the symbol of the Hunt's colours and a wildflower local to the area – is displayed in the village church.

==Food festival== Cattistock hosts a [[Dorset knob]] throwing event and the Frome Valley Food Festival every year on the first Sunday in May.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/8034861.stm|publisher=[[BBC News]]|title=Records set in biscuit throw show|access-date=2010-01-26 | date=2009-05-05}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Cattistock}} *“Official” village website [http://www.cattistockvillage.co.uk www.cattistockvillage.co.uk] *[http://www.cattistock.info "Unofficial" village website] www.cattistock.info

{{Dorset}}

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[[Category:Villages in Dorset]]

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