| Belchalwell |
| This tiny and small old village lies in the parish of
Okeford Fitzpaine which is in the Blackmore Vale and 1½ ,miles southwest
of Okeford Fitzpaine village and eight miles northeast of Blandford
Forum. It is believed that there was a settlement here in the late Saxon
period. Its name is probably from the bell shaped hill of the same name that rises above it. Some interpretations say that 'Bel' or 'Bell' is an Old English word for 'Hill' and other versions think it mean 'sacred hill' or 'hill of sacrifice'. The name the village is referred to as in the Domesday book is Beastewelle 'a spring where animals come to drink'. The church which is dedicated to St Aldhelm is along a narrow land and it is said that the place was known as Belle and Chaldwell in 1286 which are two separate names and this one village may have originally be two.
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