Abbotsbury
Abbotsbury is a small village in
Dorset,
England, west of
Weymouth and
Dorchester, east of
Bridport. The village has a population of 480, which has been relatively stable for 50 years. The village is made up entirely of old stone, often thatched cottages. The village is famous for its Swannery, Sub-Tropical Gardens, Tithe Barn,
Abbey and
Chapel and the nearby
Chesil Beach.
In 1664, during the English Civil War, Roundheads and Cavaliers clashed at Abbotsbury. Cavaliers sieged the Roundheads in the church tower of St. Nicholas' church, which still bears the scars of Musket fire.
In the Second World War the Fleet was used as a Machine Gun training range, and Bouncing Bombs were tested there.
Abbotsbury Swannery
The bird sanctuary at Abbotsbury is over 600 years old, and is located on The Fleet, a natural haven for birds.
Chesil Beach protects the Fleet and land behind it from storms, erosion and coastal flooding. There is a large colony of
Mute Swans at the sanctuary, which is managed but open to the public. The site is an important nesting and breeding ground for the swans, and from May through the summer you can see cygnets at the sanctuary.
Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens
The sub-tropical gardens at Abbotsbury were founded in 1765 by the Countess of Ilchester as a kitchen garden for the nearby castle. Since then the gardens have developed into a 20 acre site filled with exotic plants, many of which were newly discovered species when they were first introduced. There are formal and informal gardens with woodland walks and
walled gardens. In 1990 violent storms damaged many of the rare specimens, which have since been replaced by younger plants.
Abbotsbury Abbey and Tithe Barn
In the 11th century King Canute rewarded the services of
Orca, his steward, with land in Abbotsbury,
Portesham and
Hilton. It's believed there was already a religious community in Abbotsbury, and Orca and his wealthy wife
Tola built an Abbey here. The Abbey dominated life in Abbotsbury for 500 years, but was destroyed in the Dissolution. The barn survived and is the largest thatched building in the world.
St Catherine's Chapel
On the hills above Abbotsbury stands a small chapel, built entirely of stone. The chapel overlooks the English Channel, and may have served as a beacon for sailors, warning of the nearby Isle of Portland.
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