Holwell Parish, Dorset

	Holwell is a parish and scattered village sited on Oxford Clay in the Blackmore Vale 6 miles south east of Sherborne. It was formerly a detached part of Somerset, until it was transferred to Dorset in October 1844. Caundle Brook, a small stream, the principle tributary of the River Lydden, flows through the northern part of the parish and here was located the original medieval settlement. It contains the church, a large early 18th century rectory and a few stone cottages, a thatched store, and an inn on the cross roads by Crouch Hill. Known as The Borough it forms a perfect little hamlet. The church of St Lawrence, which was restored in 1885 is stone built and comprises chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and square embattled tower. The registers date from the year 1653. The parish was part of Blackmore Forest, and had, within its limits, the principal lodge of that forest. King John appears to have visited Holwell several times, probably for hunting.
A parochial school was built in 1874 for 80 children and there was a post office and Wesleyan chapel. The parish extends to 2342 acres with the soil mainly clay, the land being used mainly for pasture. Higher and Lower Buckshawe form a hamlet one mile south west, Crouch Hill one mile south and Woodbridge two miles north east. The population in 1891 was 377 persons. Barnes Cross, to the west of The Borough, is the site of the oldest pillar box still in use in Britain. The octagonal box was made by John M Butt & Co. of Gloucester between 1853 and 1856, and is cast with Queen Victoria's cipher (see below). Photographs show the church and cottages (The Borough) © Dorset OPC
The new Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for Holwell is Kim Parker Please place the words 'OPC Holwell' as your subject for e-mails Sadly on 5th July 2015 Caryl Parsons, formerly the OPC for Holwell passed away. Much of the material on this page was donated to the OPC Project by Caryl, and we are deeply indebted to her for her support and contributions.
Census	1841 Census [Kim Parker] 1851 Census [John Ridout] 1861 Census [Caryl Parsons] 1871 Census [Kim Parker] 1881 Census [Terry Smith] 1891 Census
Parish Registers	Baptisms 1653-1780, 1781-1840, 1841-1888 Marriages 1655-1726, 1727-1836, 1837-1910 Burials 1653-1726, 1727-1795, 1796-1850, 1851-1930 Register Notes
Parish Chest	Holwell Poor Rate 1755 Holwell Vestry Book Extracts 1750-1873
Land Records	Holwell Tithes 1776, 1789
Monumental Inscriptions	Monumental Inscriptions index
School Records	School Subscription 1870-1874 School Admissions Register 1886-1922 School Log Book 1875-1902 1902-1922 School Managers Minute Book 1903-1949
Directories	1859, 1885, 1903 & 1923
Military Record	Holwell Militia List 1799
Miscellaneous Records	Holwell Petition 1884 See also; Name extracts from Woodbridge Estate Survey in 1762 in the parishes of Holwell, Lydlinch, Stock Gaylard, Caundle Bishop, Caundle Marsh. etc.
Resources	Holwell Information at Dorset History Centre
Maps	The 1891 Ordnance Survey maps of the parish can be seen at the old-maps site, just enter 'Holwell' under place search.
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Records held at the Dorset History Centre	Registers Christenings 1653-1888. Marriages 1655-1992. Burials 1653-1970.

Photos (left to right): East end of the church, the old Victorian post box at Barnes Cross and the stocks just outside the churchyard
All photographs © Caryl Parsons/Dorset OPC