| Compton Abbas |
| Here is a small parish lying across the
chalk escarpment about 2½ miles to the south of Shaftesbury with its
centre a deep valley bounded on the north, south and east by 300ft high
escarpments while in the west the land drops gently to the Twyford
brook. East and West Compton represent original settlements and have quite a few thatched cottages which are built of greenstone. Twyford and Crockers Farm though are thought to be secondary settlements. The ancient parish church today is a ruin with only the tower left. The parish church of St Mary in West Compton was built in 1866 and parts of the old church at East Compton have been added to it, there was also a Wesleyan chapel. Compton Abbas was built during a war between the forces of King Alfred the Great and the invading Danes and in between nine battles Alfred founded the Abbey at Shaftesbury at the bottom of Melbury Hill this is known today as Compton Abbas. The Saxon name for it was cumb - tun which meant a village in a narrow valley, this was later changed in the 13th century to Cumton Abbatisse At West Compton Abbas there is Eggardon Hill which was an ancient hill fort. The Old Forge dates back to approximately 1700. It is a building full of local history and was formally used as the local estate wheelwright and carriage builder There is an airfield at Compton Abbas which is nationally know as one of the most Picturesque airfields in the UK, situated over 800 feet above sea level it command some spectacular panoramic views over the beautiful Dorset countryside.
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