# Chideock

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Village and civil parish in Dorset, England

Human settlement in England

Chideock The main road in Chideock Chideock Location within Dorset Population 618 (2021 census) OS grid reference SY423928 Unitary authority Dorset Ceremonial county Dorset Region South West Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town Bridport Postcode district DT6 Police Dorset Fire Dorset and Wiltshire Ambulance South Western UK Parliament West Dorset Website Village website List of places UK England Dorset 50°43′57″N 2°49′15″W / 50.7324°N 2.8208°W / 50.7324; -2.8208

Entrance to Chideock Manor

**Chideock** ([/ˈtʃɪdək/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [*CHID-ək*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key)) is a village and [civil parish](/source/Civil_parishes_in_England) in south west [Dorset](/source/Dorset), England, situated close to the [English Channel](/source/English_Channel) between [Bridport](/source/Bridport) and [Lyme Regis](/source/Lyme_Regis). In 2021, the population was 618.

Chideock's economy mostly comprises agriculture ([arable](/source/Agronomy) and [pastoral](/source/Pastoral)) and tourism. The parish is in the [Dorset National Landscape](/source/Dorset_National_Landscape) area and includes part of the [Jurassic Coast](/source/Jurassic_Coast), a [World Heritage Site](/source/World_Heritage_Site).

During much of its history Chideock has had a strong tradition of [Catholicism](/source/Catholic_Church); in the late 16th century four Chideock men were executed for their faith and became known as the Chideock Martyrs. There is a memorial to the men in the village.

The [A35 trunk road](/source/A35_road) passes through the village, which means the main street can have high volumes of traffic.

## Etymology

The name of Chideock is first attested in the [Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book) of 1086, as *Cidihoc*.[1][2] This name is unusual in England for being derived from [Common Brittonic](/source/Common_Brittonic), in this case the word that survives in modern Welsh as *coediog* ("wooded").[2][3]: 294

## History

In 1379–80 John de Chideock, a manorial lord, built Chideock Castle just north of the village.[1][4][5] During the [Middle Ages](/source/Middle_Ages) ownership passed to the [Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) Arundell family, who used it to provide refuge for priests and loyal followers during subsequent religious persecution.[5] During the [Protestant](/source/Protestant) reign of [Elizabeth I](/source/Elizabeth_I) the Arundell estate became Dorset's main centre of Catholicism,[6] and the locality witnessed considerable religious strife.[1] Four local Catholic men—[John Cornelius](/source/John_Cornelius_(priest)), Thomas Bosgrave, [John Carey](/source/John_Carey_(martyr)) and Patrick Salmon[5]—were [martyred](/source/Martyr) in the late 16th century; their trial took place in the main hall of what is now Chideock House Hotel and they were executed in [Dorchester](/source/Dorchester%2C_Dorset). The men became known as the Chideock Martyrs.[1][5] A fifth man, [Hugh Green](/source/Hugh_Green_(martyr)), who became Chideock's chaplain in 1612, was tried and executed in 1642. All five were [beatified](/source/Beatification) on 15 December 1929.[5]

During the [English Civil War](/source/English_Civil_War) Chideock was a [royalist](/source/Royalist) stronghold,[5] and the castle changed hands more than once before it was ultimately left ruinous in 1645 by [parliamentarian](/source/Roundhead) forces under the Governor of Lyme Regis, Colonel Ceeley.[1][4][5] Chideock House Hotel may have been the headquarters of [General Fairfax](/source/General_Fairfax) as he planned the castle's overthrowing.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Parts of the castle remained standing until at least 1733[4] but only some of the moat can be seen today; it is in a field, accessed by Ruins Lane, and marked by a crucifix as a memorial to the martyrs.[1][4]

The Roman Catholic church of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, and St Ignatius

In 1802 the Arundells were succeeded by the Weld family of [Lulworth Castle](/source/Lulworth_Castle) who in 1810 built Chideock Manor.[1] The Welds were also Catholic and in 1870-2 Charles Weld designed and built the village's Roman Catholic church in an unusual [Romanesque](/source/Romanesque_Revival_architecture) style. It is dedicated to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, and St Ignatius and remains in trust to the Weld family.[1][7]

Among other surviving relics claimed by this location is St. [Thomas More](/source/Thomas_More)'s [hair shirt](/source/Cilice), sent to Margaret Roper the day before his martyrdom and later presented for safe keeping by Margaret Clement.[8] This was long in the custody of the community of Augustinian canonesses who, until 1983, lived at the convent at [Abbotskerswell Priory](/source/Abbotskerswell_Priory), Devon.[9][10] More recent sources, however, state that the shirt is now preserved at the Roman Catholic [Buckfast Abbey](/source/Buckfast_Abbey), part of a Benedictine monastery, in [Devon](/source/Devon).[11][12][13]

## Governance

At the lowest level of local government, Chideock is a [civil parish](/source/Civil_parish) with a [parish council](/source/Parish_council_(England)) of 7 members.[14]

At the upper level of local government, Chideock is in [Dorset unitary district](/source/Dorset_(district)). For elections to [Dorset Council](/source/Dorset_Council_(UK)), it is in [Marshwood Vale electoral ward](/source/Marshwood_Vale_(ward)). Historically, Chideock was in [Bridport Rural District](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bridport_Rural_District&action=edit&redlink=1) from 1894 to 1974,[15] and then [West Dorset](/source/West_Dorset) district until Dorset became unitary in 2019.

For elections to the national parliament, Chideock is in the [West Dorset parliamentary constituency](/source/West_Dorset_(UK_Parliament_constituency)), which is currently represented by the [Liberal Democrat](/source/Liberal_Democrat) [Edward Morello](/source/Edward_Morello).

## Geography

Chideock from Quarry Hill

Chideock is situated in the [Dorset Council](/source/Dorset_(unitary_authority)) administrative area about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of Bridport, 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Lyme Regis and 0.75 miles (1.21 km) inland from the English Channel. The parish includes the coastal hamlet of [Seatown](/source/Seatown), which is less than 1 mile (1.6 km) to the south on the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site. Seatown has a long shelving pebble beach, with views up towards the hill which forms [Golden Cap](/source/Golden_Cap), which at 191 metres (627 ft) is the highest cliff on the south coast of England. Fossilised [ammonites](/source/Ammonites) and [belemnites](/source/Belemnitida) can often be found on the beach due to continued [coastal erosion](/source/Coastal_erosion) of the soft blue lias [clays](/source/Clay) which make up the cliffs. Iron-rich rocks such as [lodestone](/source/Lodestone) and [magnetite](/source/Magnetite) can also be found on the beaches near the village – these are thought to have been transported down the coast from Chesil Beach, having been deposited there by a shipwreck in the 1800s.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Similar collections of these rocks can be found on beaches along the Jurassic Coast and in the neighbouring counties of [Hampshire](/source/Hampshire) and the [Isle of Wight](/source/Isle_of_Wight).

## Demography

Census population of Chideock parish Census Population Female Male Households Source 1921 548 [16] 1931 542 [16] 1951 610 [16] 1961 559 [16] 1971 560 [16] 1981 650 [16] 1991 690 [16] 2001 686 351 335 322 [17] 2011 686 355 331 325 [18] 2021 618 317 301 307 [19]

Data for the 2001 and 2011 censuses include the sparsely-populated neighbouring parish of [Stanton St Gabriel](/source/Stanton_St_Gabriel).

## Transport

The A35 trunk road between [Honiton](/source/Honiton) and [Southampton](/source/Southampton) passes through Chideock, which in 1997 was the first village in Britain to have two [speed cameras](/source/Speed_cameras) installed in response to perceived excessive speed.[20] All speeding fines paid until 2007 had to be refunded when it emerged that the [Traffic Regulation Order](/source/Traffic_Regulation_Order) imposing the speed limit had referred to the junction with Seatown Road whereas that road (which does lead to Seatown) is actually Duck Street.[21][22] The [National Trust](/source/National_Trust_for_Places_of_Historic_Interest_or_Natural_Beauty) refused permission for a prospective bypass over land it owns to the north of [Golden Cap](/source/Golden_Cap), citing its importance in the Dorset National Landscape.[20] On 4 May 2010 a protest against the lack of a bypass was initiated by some residents and involved constant operation of a [pedestrian crossing](/source/Pedestrian_crossing) at the centre of the village for one hour's duration every week.[23] This campaign continued for a year and may result in restrictions on [heavy goods vehicles](/source/Heavy_goods_vehicle) in the village.[24]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gant_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gant_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Gant_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Gant_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Gant_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Gant_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Gant_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Gant_1-7) Roland Gant (1980). *Dorset Villages*. Robert Hale Ltd. pp. 122–3. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7091-8135-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7091-8135-3).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_2-1) Watts, Victor, ed. (2004). *The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, Based on the Collections of the English Place-Name Society*. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780521168557](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780521168557)., s.v. *Chideock*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_3-0)** Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the [help page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Cite_errors/Cite_error_references_no_text)).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hammond_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hammond_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hammond_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Hammond_4-3) Reginald J W Hammond (1979). *Dorset Coast* (4 ed.). Ward Lock Ltd. pp. 36–7. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7063-5494-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7063-5494-X).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Booton_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Booton_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Booton_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Booton_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Booton_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Booton_5-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Booton_5-6) Peter Booton (May 2012). ["Booton Foot Trails: Chideock, Golden Cap and Seatown"](http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2012/05/booton-foot-trails-chideock-golden-cap-and-seatown/). Dorset Life Magazine. Retrieved 22 January 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** J.H. Bettey (1974). *Dorset*. David & Charles. p. 99. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7153-6371-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7153-6371-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["History - Chideock Martyrs Church"](http://www.chideockmartyrschurch.org.uk/history/). Retrieved 21 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-r6_8-0)** ["St. Thomas More"](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14689c.htm). *Catholic Encyclopaedia*..

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Hilliam, David (26 December 2010). [*Little Book of Dorset*](https://books.google.com/books?id=OpATDQAAQBAJ&dq=thomas+more+relics+hair+shirt+Chideock+castle&pg=PT56). The History Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7524-6265-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7524-6265-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Vail, Anne (2004). [*Shrines of Our Lady in England*](https://books.google.com/books?id=hjyc9bPITKgC&dq=thomas+more+relics+hair+shirt+Chideock+castle&pg=PA42). Gracewing Publishing. p. 42. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-85244-603-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-85244-603-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["With public rosaries, priest prays for peace, healing after shooting"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161122162939/http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2016/st-thomas-mores-hair-shirt-now-enshrined-for-public-veneration.cfm). 15 April 2021. Archived from [the original](http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2016/st-thomas-mores-hair-shirt-now-enshrined-for-public-veneration.cfm) on 22 November 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["St Thomas More's Hair Shirt Enshrined for Public Veneration – Royal Central"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161127140551/http://royalcentral.co.uk/historic/st-thomas-mores-hair-shirt-enshrined-for-public-veneration-72241). *royalcentral.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](http://royalcentral.co.uk/historic/st-thomas-mores-hair-shirt-enshrined-for-public-veneration-72241) on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Hair-shirt worn by St Thomas More is enshrined for public veneration for possibly the first time - the Diocese of Shrewsbury - the Diocese of Shrewsbury"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170925230945/http://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/news/hair-shirt-worn-st-thomas-enshrined-public-veneration-possibly-first-time). Archived from [the original](http://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/news/hair-shirt-worn-st-thomas-enshrined-public-veneration-possibly-first-time) on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["About"](https://www.chideockparishcouncil.com/role-of-the-council). *Chideock PC*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Bridport RD through time | Census tables with data for the Local Government District"](https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10108100#tab02). *www.visionofbritain.org.uk*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wikidata-9af5a3d0ef073a6f402cca72297dfe77a03ae63c-v18_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wikidata-9af5a3d0ef073a6f402cca72297dfe77a03ae63c-v18_16-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-wikidata-9af5a3d0ef073a6f402cca72297dfe77a03ae63c-v18_16-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-wikidata-9af5a3d0ef073a6f402cca72297dfe77a03ae63c-v18_16-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-wikidata-9af5a3d0ef073a6f402cca72297dfe77a03ae63c-v18_16-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-wikidata-9af5a3d0ef073a6f402cca72297dfe77a03ae63c-v18_16-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-wikidata-9af5a3d0ef073a6f402cca72297dfe77a03ae63c-v18_16-6) ["Past population - Parishes (A-L), 1921-2001- Census Years"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120906154647/http://www.dorsetforyou.com/345038). Dorset County Council. Archived from [the original](http://www.dorsetforyou.com/345038) on 6 September 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wikidata-a08218995ada6ed07e35f13524a292a4b6851935-v18_17-0)** ["Key Statistics"](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2001_ks). Office for National Statistics. Tables KS001 (Usual resident population) and KS016 (Household spaces and accommodation type). Retrieved 23 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wikidata-23d93403bbd510e3eaf857bb0207b766770d8bc9-v18_18-0)** ["Key Statistics"](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2011_ks). Office for National Statistics. Table KS101EW (Usual resident population) and Table KS105EW (Household composition). Retrieved 23 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wikidata-1777794f031f3bb865bc1ba87bbd53bc9876131c-v18_19-0)** ["Parish Profiles"](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021_pp). *2021 United Kingdom census*. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 August 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aslet_20-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aslet_20-1) Clive Aslet (2011). [*Villages of Britain: The Five Hundred Villages that Made the Countryside*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wZvjPhec6M8C&q=1997+chideock+speed+cameras&pg=PT48). Bloomsbury Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781608196722](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781608196722).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["GATSO Blunder"](https://bridportradio.co.uk/news-a-views/gatso-blunder/). *Bridport Radio*. 31 October 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Herron, Neil (22 June 2009). ["Chideock Speed Camera Refunds"](https://neilherron.blogspot.com/2009/06/chideock-speed-camera-refunds.html). *Neil Herron Blog*. Retrieved 25 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Protest pensioner halts traffic"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/8661477.stm). 5 May 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2016 – via bbc.co.uk.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Light at the end of tunnel for Dorset road campaign?"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130121174035/http://www.thisisdorset.co.uk/Light-end-tunnel-Dorset-road-campaign/story-12700984-detail/story.html). 3 June 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.thisisdorset.co.uk/Light-end-tunnel-Dorset-road-campaign/story-12700984-detail/story.html) on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2016.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Chideock](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Chideock).

- [Church of Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, and St. Ignatius, Chideock](http://www.chideockmartyrschurch.org.uk/)

- [St Giles Parish Church](http://www.goldencapteamofchurches.org.uk/chideock.html)

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