Toller Whelme

{{Short description|Hamlet in Dorset, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox UK place |static_image_name = The Manor House - Toller Whelme (2) - geograph.org.uk - 698153.jpg |static_image_caption = Manor House, Toller Whelme |country = England |official_name= Toller Whelme |map_type = Dorset |coordinates = {{coord|50.8108|-2.6865|display=inline,title}} |civil_parish= | population = | population_ref = <100 |unitary_england = [[Dorset (district)|Dorset]] |lieutenancy_england = [[Dorset]] |region= South West England

|constituency_westminster= [[West Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|West Dorset]] |post_town= [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]] |postcode_district = DT8 |postcode_area= DT |dial_code= 01308 |os_grid_reference= ST516015 }}{{refimprove|date=March 2026}} '''Toller Whelme''' is a small hamlet in [[Dorset]], England, situated in the [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] of [[Corscombe]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Toller Whelme, Dorset |url=https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Toller_Whelme,_Dorset_45128 |website=gazetteer.org.uk |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref> approximately {{convert|2.3|mi|km}} east of [[Beaminster]], {{convert|6|mi|km}} north of [[Bridport]] and {{convert|13|mi|km}} north-west of [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]].{{cn|date=March 2026}} There are seven homes in the hamlet: West Farm, Norcombe Hayes, Manor House, 1 & 2 West Farm Cottages, East Farm and Lake Farm.

Toller Whelme takes its name from the River Toller (the former name of the present [[River Hooke]]), at the source of which it stands: the second element ''Whelme'' means ''river source'' or ''spring'' in [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]]. It has occasionally in the past also been known as ''Pinny's Toller'' or ''Penny Toller'', from the name of the landowning Pinney family formerly established here at the [[Manorialism|manor house]].

The Manor House was once the principal residence of a single estate farmstead which has been subsequently divided into separate properties and holdings. The Manor was once a grange farm of [[Forde Abbey]] near [[Chard, Somerset|Chard]]. Older buildings in the hamlet include the Manor House, a nearby converted barn and two nearby adjoining cottages (1 & 2 West Farm Cottages). The perimeter wall exterior of the Manor House exhibits 'sockets' that in the past held the roof joists of a series of small lean-to style cottages that no longer exist. In the hamlet there is also a farm, with a relatively new farmhouse that replaced the old dairy. A lake was created in front of the farmhouse in the 1970s to provide water for the farm cattle during drought conditions. A little further down the valley is Michael's Peace, a nature reserve managed by the [[Dorset Wildlife Trust]]. The reserve was created by [[Beaminster]] GP and environmental activist Dr Mike Hudson. Toller Whelme is a modern ecclesiastical parish, formed in 1871 from the ancient parish of [[Corscombe]]; the [[Anglican]] church of St John was built the previous year. The church belongs to the Manor and has an unusual set of steel bells.

==See also== * [[Toller Fratrum]] * [[Toller Porcorum]]

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links==

[[Category:Hamlets in Dorset]]