{{short description|Village in Dorset, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox UK place |static_image = Royal Oak, Drimpton, Dorset.jpg |static_image_width = 240px |static_image_caption = The Royal Oak public house at Drimpton |country = England |official_name = Drimpton |coordinates = {{coord|50.8418|-2.8275|display=inline,title}} |map_type = Dorset |population = |unitary_england = [[Dorset (district)|Dorset]] |lieutenancy_england = [[Dorset]] |region = South West England |constituency_westminster = [[West Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|West Dorset]] |os_grid_reference = ST418050 }}
'''Drimpton''' is a village in the [[English county]] of [[Dorset]], situated approximately {{convert|5|mi|km}} northwest of [[Beaminster]] and {{convert|3.5|mi|km}} southwest of [[Crewkerne]] in [[Somerset]]. It lies within the [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] of [[Broadwindsor]].
Drimpton is sited on a small tributary of the [[River Axe (Lyme Bay)|River Axe]] which was unnamed until 2005 when, after a vote by villagers, it was officially named the "Little Axe". Neighbouring settlements include Clapton, [[Seaborough]], Blackdown, Kittwhistle, Broadwindsor and [[Burstock]]. Greenham and Netherhay are small hamlets virtually contiguous with Drimpton. At Greenham there was once a [[flax mill]], part of which still survives. Three books, chronicling life in the area, have recently been compiled; the project was called 'Village Voices'.
Netherhay Bridge, which carries Crewkerne Road over the Little Axe, was built by J & D Gale of [[Allington, Dorset|Allington]] and is dated 1829. The Chard Road crosses the Little Axe by a single-span bridge, which forms part of the B3162 road, and which was built in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?resourceID=1012&uid=MDO32066 |title=Drimpton Bridge, Chard Road, Drimpton, Broadwindsor |publisher=Heritage Gateway |access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref> The former Drimpton Toll House is located on Bridport Road (B3162).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.turnpikes.org.uk/Tollhouses%20of%20Dorset.htm |title=Tollhouses of Dorset |publisher=turnpikes.org.uk |access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref>
==History== Traditionally many of Drimpton's inhabitants worked in the agricultural industry,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opcdorset.org/BroadwinsorFiles/1891BroadwindsorED7.htm |title=Broadwindsor - 1891 Census - District 7 |publisher=opcdorset.org |access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> with Drimpton, Lower Drimpton, and Bridge Farms in the locality. During the 19th century, Greenham Mill was a major employer in the area.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7vcGAAAAQAAJ |title=The Book of the Axe |author=George Philip R. Pulman |publisher=Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans |year=1854 |page=74 |via=Google Books |access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> The mill was built about half a mile west of Drimpton in 1824. It closed in 1923 and was sold in 1931. By the 1950s, the main mill building was being used by Beaminster firm Cow and Gate for the storage of dried milk powder, and then Lockyer and Sons, who operated the nearby [[Clapton Mill]], used the building for storing grain. The building was demolished in 1980. By 1931, the roadside warehouse was occupied by the haulage firm Rendell and Read. Cosipet transformed the building into a factory making pet products in 1986 and they continue to operate there.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/cf2477b8-e892-3895-8ef9-d0d9bebdccd2?component=0afe319c-41a6-3ba0-9d81-eea2c2512c75 |last=Harris |first=Duncan |title=Greenham Mill, Drimpton, Broadwindsor |publisher=Beaminster Museum |date=January 2020 |via=millsarchive.org |access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://docplayer.net/100866772-Greenham-mill-drimpton.html |last=Harris |first=Duncan |title=Greenham Mill, Drimpton |date=February 2014 |via=docplayer.net |access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref>
==Amenities== The village has two places of worship: the Anglican parish church of [[St Mary's Church, Drimpton|St Mary's]] and the [[Netherhay Methodist Chapel]]. St Mary's was built as a [[chapel of ease]] to the parish church of St John the Baptist in Broadwindsor and opened in 1867.<ref>{{cite news |title=Opening of a new church at Drimpton |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000408/18670725/019/0006 |newspaper=Dorset County Chronicle and Somersetshire Gazette |date=25 July 1867 |access-date=25 August 2019|via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The Methodist chapel was built in 1838.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1290543 |title=METHODIST CHURCH, Broadwindsor - 1290543 |publisher=Historic England |access-date=2019-08-25}}</ref> A school serving up to 100 mixed pupils was opened in 1874 and enlarged in 1886. It closed in 1968 and the pupils were then bussed to the newly built school at Broadwindsor. It is now a private residence, the Old School House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/111991 |title=Contentdm |publisher=Specialcollections.le.ac.uk |date=2008-02-11 |access-date=2019-08-25}}</ref>
Drimpton Village Hall was opened by Mr. A. R. Hayward of [[Misterton, Somerset|Misterton]] on 20 December 1923. It was erected by Messrs. Wakely Bros of Broadwindsor to the specifications of Mr. L. Clarke of [[West Chinnock]]. A concert and dance was held on its opening day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Drimpton - Opening of the hall. |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000407/19231228/002/0002 |newspaper=The Western Gazette |date=28 December 1923 |access-date=27 June 2021 |via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
The village shop and post office (4 Chard Road) closed in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://planning.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=136967 |title=Planning application: 1/W/97/000518 |publisher=planning.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk |date=29 August 1997 |access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref>
===Royal Oak=== The Royal Oak is the village's pub and is owned by Palmers Brewery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://palmersbrewery.com/pubs/royal-oak-drimpton/ |title=Royal Oak Drimpton |publisher=Palmers Brewery |access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref> The original thatched pub was purchased by the brewery in 1890.<ref>{{cite news |title=Broadwindsor. |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001613/18900502/133/0007 |newspaper=The Western Chronicle |date=2 May 1890 |access-date=28 June 2021 |via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> It suffered a major fire later that year on 15 October, which broke out in a chimney and left the building as "a heap of ruins".<ref>{{cite news |title=Drimpton. The "Royal Oak" destroyed by fire. |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001613/18901017/156/0007 |newspaper=The Western Chronicle |date=17 October 1890 |access-date=28 June 2021 |via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Drimpton. Fire. |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001139/18901017/021/0001 |newspaper=The Bridport News |date=17 October 1890 |access-date=28 June 2021 |via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The pub was subsequently rebuilt in 1891–92 and reoccupied in late 1892.<ref>{{cite news |title=To be let. |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001139/18920916/080/0004 |newspaper=The Bridport News |date=16 September 1892 |access-date=28 June 2021 |via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Drimpton once had a second pub, the New Inn, which closed in 1958 and is now a private residence, the Pin House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/75047982#/ |title=Chard Road, Drimpton, Beaminster, Dorset |publisher=[[Rightmove]] |access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref>
==Grade II listed buildings== * Bridge Farmhouse – detached farmhouse of early 19th century date<ref>{{NHLE |num=1220614 |desc=BRIDGE FARMHOUSE, Broadwindsor |date=31 July 1984 |access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref> * Haydon Villa – detached villa of early 19th century date<ref>{{NHLE |num=1220617 |desc=HAYDON VILLA, Broadwindsor |date=11 November 1966 |access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref> * The Yews – detached house of circa mid-18th century date<ref>{{NHLE |num=1220566 |desc=THE YEWS, Broadwindsor |date=11 November 1966 |access-date=11 January 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Drimpton}} {{Dorset}}
==Gallery== <gallery> File:St Mary's Church, Drimpton, Dorset.jpg|St Mary's Church File:Drimpton, West Dorset - geograph.org.uk - 745045.jpg|Haydon Villa and Chard Road File:Drimpton, Chard Road - geograph.org.uk - 66534.jpg|Chard Road File:The former New Inn, Drimpton, Dorset.jpg|The former New Inn, now the Pin House File:Drimpton Toll House, Bridport Road, Dorset.jpg|The former toll house on Bridport Road </gallery>
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[[Category:Villages in Dorset]]