# Winterbourne Abbas

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Winterbourne_Abbas
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Winterbourne_Abbas.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterbourne_Abbas
> Source revision: 1279515812
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Village and civil parish in Dorset, England

Not to be confused with [Winterbourne, Gloucestershire](/source/Winterbourne%2C_Gloucestershire).

Human settlement in England

Winterbourne Abbas The A35 at Winterbourne Abbas Winterbourne Abbas Location within Dorset Population 355 [1] OS grid reference SY618904 Unitary authority Dorset Ceremonial county Dorset Region South West Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town DORCHESTER Postcode district DT2 Police Dorset Fire Dorset and Wiltshire Ambulance South Western UK Parliament West Dorset List of places UK England Dorset 50°42′47″N 2°32′28″W / 50.713°N 2.541°W / 50.713; -2.541

**Winterbourne Abbas** is a village and [civil parish](/source/Civil_parishes_in_England) in south west [Dorset](/source/Dorset), [England](/source/England), situated in a [valley](/source/Valley) on the [A35 road](/source/A35_road) 5 miles (8.0 km) west of [Dorchester](/source/Dorchester%2C_Dorset). In the [2011 census](/source/United_Kingdom_Census_2011) the parish had a population of 355.[1]

## History

In the early hours of 6 May 2023, a large fire broke out at an industrial estate outside the village.[2] The [A35 road](/source/A35_road) was closed for several hours.[3]

## The village

Winterbourne Abbas is a pleasant rural village, only spoilt by the heavy traffic which passes through on the A35. The Coach and Horses Inn dates from 1814 or earlier and was a coaching inn on the turnpike road from Dorchester to [Bridport](/source/Bridport). The Baptist Chapel dates from 1872 and has been converted to residential use. Other notable buildings include the Old Post Office in the middle of a terrace of cottages and the Grange.[4]

The [Nine Stones stone circle](/source/Nine_Stones%2C_Winterbourne_Abbas) lies just to the west of the village just to the south of the A35 road and surrounded by trees. It is probably the best example of a stone circle in Dorset. Also near the village are the remains of various ancient barrows and burial chambers, including [Poor Lot Barrow Cemetery](/source/Poor_Lot_Barrow_Cemetery).[4]

The village has a school 'Winterbourne Valley First School', taking approximately 70 pupils of 3 to 9 years of age.[5] The school was assessed as 'Outstanding' by [OFSTED](/source/Ofsted) in 2011.[6]

## The church

The parish church is dedicated to [St Mary](/source/St_Mary) and is a Grade I [listed building](/source/Listed_building), being inscribed in the register on 26 January 1956. The church is built from coursed rubble stone and flint, dressed with local stone from [Ham Hill, Somerset](/source/Ham_Hill%2C_Somerset) and the Ridgeway. The roof is slate and the tower, at the west end, has three stages and is supported by buttresses. The oldest parts of the church are the thirteenth century nave and the chancel, the chancel having been rebuilt in the fourteenth century. In the fifteenth century, the nave was widened to the north and the tower and rood stair installed. In the sixteenth century the entrance to the former south chapel was blocked, and in the seventeenth century, the porch was added. The eighteenth century saw an alteration to the chancel and the addition of buttresses to the nave.[7] There is the Royal coat of arms of Charles II dated 1661 on the chancel arch, and the Jacobean gallery is carved with the date 1701. South of the Sanctuary there is a [piscina](/source/Piscina) from about 1320 with a pyramidal hood and canopy supported by two figures.[4]

## Politics

After [2019 structural changes to local government in England](/source/2019_structural_changes_to_local_government_in_England), Winterbourne Abbas is part of the [Winterborne and Broadmayne ward](/source/Winterborne_and_Broadmayne_(ward)) which elects 1 member to [Dorset Council](/source/Dorset_Council_(UK)).[8]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ons_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ons_1-1) ["Neighbourhood Statistics. Area: Winterbourne Abbas (Parish). Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics"](http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11130772&c=Winterbourne+Abbas&d=16&e=62&g=6418589&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1384417536111&enc=1). Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 14 November 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Huge fire in Dorset village"](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23505482.huge-fire-village-winterbourne-abbas-along-a35/). *Bournemouth Echo*. Retrieved 7 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Large fire breaks out at Dorset industrial site"](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-65508569). *BBC News*. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WD_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WD_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WD_4-2) ["Winterbourne Abbas"](http://www.weymouth-dorset.co.uk/winterbourneabbas.html). Weymouth-Dorset.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Home | Winterbourne Valley CE VA First School"](https://www.winterbournevalley.dorset.sch.uk/). *www.winterbournevalley.dorset.sch.uk*. Retrieved 27 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Ofsted Communications Team (6 October 2020). ["Find an inspection report and registered childcare"](http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report). *reports.ofsted.gov.uk*. Retrieved 27 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BLB_7-0)** ["Church of St Mary, Winterbourne Abbas"](http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-403853-church-of-st-mary-winterbourne-abbas-dor#.V8CLga3GD6g). British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 26 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Area profile for Winterborne & Broadmayne - Dorset Council"](https://gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/insights/AreaProfiles/Ward/winterborne-and-broadmayne). *gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk*. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

## External links

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

- [Winterbourne Abbas OPC (Online Parish Clerk)](https://sites.google.com/view/winterbourne-abbas)

- [Winterbourne Abbas Local History](http://www.weymouth-dorset.co.uk/winterbourneabbas.html)

v t e Ceremonial county of Dorset Unitary authorities Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (areas and suburbs) Dorset Major settlements (cities in italics) Beaminster Blandford Forum Bournemouth Bridport Broadstone Chickerell Christchurch Corfe Mullen Dorchester Ferndown Gillingham Highcliffe Lyme Regis Merley Poole Shaftesbury Sherborne Stalbridge Sturminster Newton Swanage Upton Verwood Wareham Weymouth Wimborne Minster See also: List of civil parishes in Dorset Rivers Allen Asker Avon Axe Bourne Bride Brit Cerne Char Corfe Crane Frome Hooke Moors Piddle Simene Stour Sydling Water Tarrant Wey Topics Flag Settlements Beaches Churches County Council Economy Population of major settlements Geology Geography SSSIs Healthcare History (English Civil War) Schools Tourism Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Museums People Transport Grade I listed buildings Grade II listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings Scheduled monuments South West Coast Path Portal:Dorset

v t e Towns, villages and hamlets in the former West Dorset district of Dorset, England Abbotsbury Allington Alton Pancras Askerswell Athelhampton Batcombe Beaminster Beer Hackett Bettiscombe Bincombe Bishop's Caundle Bothenhampton Bradford Abbas Bradford Peverell Bradpole Bridport Broadmayne Broadwindsor Buckland Newton Burstock Burton Bradstock Castleton Catherston Leweston Cattistock Caundle Marsh Cerne Abbas Charlton Down Charminster Charmouth Chedington Cheselbourne Chetnole Chickerell Chideock Chilcombe Chilfrome Clifton Maybank Compton Valence Corscombe Crossways Dewlish Dorchester Drimpton East Chelborough Evershot Eype Fleet Folke Frampton Frome St Quintin Frome Vauchurch Goathill Godmanstone Halstock Hermitage Hilfield Holnest Holwell Hooke Langton Herring Leigh Lillington Littlebredy Litton Cheney Loders Long Bredy Longburton Lyme Regis Maiden Newton Mapperton Marshwood Melbury Bubb Melbury Osmond Melcombe Horsey Minterne Magna Morcombelake Mosterton Netherbury Nether Cerne Nether Compton North Poorton North Wootton Oborne Osmington Osmington Mills Over Compton Owermoigne Piddlehinton Piddletrenthide Pilsdon Plush Portesham Poundbury Powerstock Poxwell Poyntington Puddletown Puncknowle Purse Caundle Rampisham Ryall Ryme Intrinseca Sandford Orcas Seaborough Seatown Sherborne Shipton Gorge South Perrott Stanton St Gabriel Stinsford Stoke Abbott Stratton Swyre Sydling St Nicholas Symondsbury Thorncombe Thornford Tincleton Toller Fratrum Toller Porcorum Toller Whelme Tolpuddle Trent Uploders Walditch Warmwell West Bay West Bexington West Compton West Knighton West Milton West Stafford Whitchurch Canonicorum Whitcombe Winterborne Came Winterborne Monkton Winterborne St Martin Winterbourne Abbas Winterbourne Steepleton Woodsford Wootton Fitzpaine Wraxall Wynford Eagle Yetminster

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Winterbourne Abbas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterbourne_Abbas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterbourne_Abbas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.