Hilfield [or Hillfield] is a parish 12 miles north-west from Dorchester. In the 19th century it was described as a widely scattered village, today the term 'village' is hardly appropriate. Hilfield Church was until 1848, a Chapel served from Sydling and is first mentioned in 1310. In 1848 at the request of the parishioners Hilfield was separated from Sydling and the little church was restored. The children used to attend the school at  Hermitage. The registers date from 1565. The 1584 acres are mainly laid to pasture. The population in 1891 was 133.