During 2006 it is intended to put on the web site, as much historical detail as possible relating to our Churches and Parish. As Jennifer Monds says in her article (Local History at the Library there is much to interest and occupy the local historian. Indeed there is, and our thanks go to Jennifer for her warm welcome and invaluable assistance during our busy afternoon in the library.

Salisbury and Sarum are (were) in Wiltshire and whilst there is a slightly greater emphasis in this direction in the books available, our visit was nevertheless, very worthwhile. To read the style of prose from all those years ago is an eye opener in itself. It is certainly not intended for "speed reading", or is it that all the long words slow us down? The prose conveys a sense of a time not so rushed and maybe more concerned for its community. Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis Times change, and we change with them. Incidentally, in Hutchinson there are many paragraphs in Latin with no corresponding translation, again a mute comment on the differences between then and now, and which reminds us we must get down to business.

The main source of information examined so far is Hutchinson's monumental work "History of Dorset" comprising of 4 volumes. The work commenced in 1861 and was completed around 1869/70. It is not the work of one man, although it seems at the start, he did do most of it by himself. At that time West Parley was only just in Dorset. Whilst this is still true today, the impression gained is that the border was only yards away whereas today we believe it is the river Avon. The agent or inquisitor did not get to Parley until 1869. Perhaps it was not thought important enough. Definitely not when you judge our meagre paragraphs against the pages and pages devoted to Sherborne, Dorchester and even Wymborne (as it was then spelt). Even our neighbour church at Hampreston merits a line sketch and two pages of comment.

To make best use of time and preserve accuracy a digital camera was used to take photographs of the pages. These are reproduced "as is" so that readers can, if they wish, see the text for themselves. To make on screen reading easier the text has been transcribed and reproduced alongside. This has not made for an ideal format, but as this is an ongoing project with further material to be added, changes will be made as this further material is added. Our next visit is to the County Record Office where all the Parish records are stored. Here the immediate area of interest will be the acquisition of the site currently occupied by St Marks and then the enlargement of what is now the church hall into the present Church with church hall. In this respect we would be pleased to hear from anyone who can make a contribution from their own recollections or records, especially photographic ones.

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West Parley (Perle, Perleigh) a little vill, situated six miles south-east from Wimborne, on the borders of Hampshire, into which the parish extends. It is thus surveyed in Domesday Book, under the head of lands held by Hugh de Luri and other foreigners. "Ralph de Crenedburne holds Perlai. Brisnod held it in King Edward's time, and it was taxed for two hides. There is land to two ploughs which are there and five villeins, and four bordars, and two servi, and 15a. of meadow; pasture one league long and seven quarentens broad. It was and is worth 30s" The family of the Clares were lords paramount here, for, 8 Edw. II we find G. de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Hertforde, held in Perleigh one fee and one carucate, which Gilberet de Essefield, of Elyffeld, held of him, as did his descendants the Earls of March, 22 Ric. II. And 3 Hen. VI 20 Edw. III. Gilbert Elyffeld held here one-fourth of a knight's fee, which John de Elyfeld formerly held. 14 Ric. II Philip Fitzpain, John Plecy, and John Streeche, held this manor of the heir of the Earl of March; also the manor of Milborne St Andrew. 3 Hen. IV. John Plecy (of Shapwick) held it of the Earl of March, as did John Plecy 4 Hen V. Hence it came to the Cammels of Shapwick. 20 Hen. VII William Cammel held this manor and advowson of the King, as of his dutchy of York, and the manor Kentlesworth, and lands in Marnhull; Catharine late wife of Thomas Alwyn, his sister and heir. Robert Cammell died 31 Jan. 3 Hen VII having settled the manor and advowson of West Parley and lands in Kenlesworth in Marnhull on Alice, his wife, as her jointure. He had also settled the manor of Mores, with lands in Kyndeston, Runggeford, Upwymborn, Plecy and Wymborn Minster, on William Cammel his son, and Johanna his wife, and the heirs of their bodies, remainder to himself in fee. He also held lands in Woolston Gyan and Crewkerne, co Somerset. William Cammell was his son and heir, age 50 and upwards. William Cammell died March 29, 20 Hen. VII. 1505, having been seised in fee of the manor and advowson of West Parley, held for the King of his dutchy of York, the manor of Kentlesworth and

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Fittleford and lands and messuages in Fittleford Bell, Sturminster newton Castle, Bagbere, West Bagbere, and Colbere. By a recovery suffered Trin. 19 Hen. VII he had settled the manor of West Parley on Elizabeth his wife for her jointure, with remainder to Richard Weton and his heirs, and he had likewise settled Fytleford and other property in like manner, with remainder to John Hesee and his heirs. Katharine his sister, aged 50, late wife of Thomas Alwyn, and Thomas Kayleway, aged 30 years, son of another sister, were his coheirs. 34 Hen VIII Richard Weton held this manor and advowson as before, and the manor Kentlesworth; Henry his son and heir. In 1763, the farm here consisting of 130a. With common of several hundred a. and a fishery on the Stour, and the advowson of the rectory, value 100£ per annum, was sold to Charles Brune, of Plumber, esq. From whom it has descended to Charles Prideaux Brune, esq. Of Padstow, Cornwall, the present owner (1869). St. Leonard's chapel is reduced to a piece of a wall, near which is an old yew tree. 30 Eliz. It was granted to William Tipper and Robert Daw. HAMLETS, &c IN THIS PARISH. Dudsbury may have been the Dodesberie of Domesday Book. "Azelin holds Dodesberie of Waleran. Godwin held it in King Edward's time, and it was taxed for one hide. There is land to one plough which is there, with four bordars, and seven a. of meadow, and six a. of wood, pasture half a league long and five quarentens broad. It was and is worth 20s" It is a farm consisting of 231a. Value, in Hutchins time, 25£ per annum. Here is a British earthwork, which Hutchins calls a "Roman fortification". Two parts in three of the tithes of Dudsbury are paid to the rector of Lidlinch, in respect of which a payment of 40£ per annum is now made. See more under LIDLINCH. Mr. Ethelbert Elliott holds the greatest portion of the Land here. Layfield a farm value 50£ per annum in 1774, formerly belonging to the Husseys of Edmundsham, whence it came to John Fry Hussey, esq. In 1869 it belongs to W.R. Fryer, esq. Of Lytchet. West Moors lands comprising about 850a. 3 and 4 Philip and Mary, Sir John Delalinde died seised of lands here, &c called La More; yearly value 36s. Hence it came to the Mortons of Milborne St Andrew; 33 Eliz. Thomas Morton; 37 Eliz. George Morton; and, 1610, Sir George Morton died siesed of one messuage and 750a. Of land called Parley and Moores, in west Moores and West Parley; yearly value 7£ 8s 4d. In 1869 the lands here belong to Sir E. Greathed KCB of Uddens, Frederick William Fryer esq. of Clarence House, East Cowes Park, Isle of Wight, to the Marquis of Salisbury, and Sir William Hanham, &c. There is a school room, built in 1843, of which the site, building, and garden were conveyed to the National Society. Also a school-chapel with turret and one bell, licensed for Divine service and for the celebration of the Holy Sacrament and Baptism. The site and building with yard attached is vested in trustees, but the chapel is unconsecrated. The first curate was the Rev.W.Dowding; the next and present curate the Rev.G.Everett. Here is a station on the Salisbury and Dorset Railway.

Monumental Inscriptions In memory of Rev. RICHARD NESS, D.D, Rector of this parish. He died April 7th, 1839, aged 73 years. Also of ELIZABETH-MARY his beloved wife. She died May 25th, 1835 aged 72 years. 2. J.E.Elliott, died May 13, 1862, aged 9 years On the floor in the chancel : Here lies the body of Catherine, wife of John Sherren, buried the third of March, 1668 BENJAMIN BOWER the reverend, died July 23rd, 1769, aged 48 years, 5 months, and 10 days. In the churchyard : In memory of James Bramble, gent. Who departed this life 24 June, 1777, aged 67 years.

There then follows, for no apparent reason, this curious detail regarding the value of the benefice £ s. p. Present value 6 17 6 Tenths 0 13 9 Bishops procurations 0 1 1 Archdeacon's procurations 0 4 3 For those who did not benefit from the advantages of old money the amount above totals to £7.16.7d which is £7.84 in decimal coinage

The patrons were always the lords of the manor; in 1869 Charles Prideaux Brune, esq. It is in the Pimperne deanry, but not mentioned in the Valor 1291. The return to the commission 1650, was, that John Coker and Anthony Corbin wre patrons. The parsonage worth 50£. per annum. The glebe 20 marks inclusive. John Sheering incumbent, who supplies the cure. The owners and occupiers of land in this parish, except such part thereof as lies within the tithing of Leigh, heretofore called Dudsbury farm, pay to the rector, at Easter yearly, a modus of 1d. for every milch cow by them depastured in lieu of tithes of milk; 1d for every ancient garden in lieu of tithes of fruits, &c.; 1d. Commonly called hearth, smoke, of chimney money, in satisfaction of all wood, heath, &c. Burnt in the house of each occupier; one half-penny for every calf weaned, in lieu of the tithe of such calf; the left shoulder of every calf fallen in the parish, and killed by such occupier for the use of himself and family; and 1d. in lieu of the tithe of eggs.

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Charitable Benefactions Thomas Corbyn, by dee-poll dated 26 Nov. 1615, gave to the poor of West Parley a parcel of land called Frezells, containing 3 a. The rents to be bestowed in linen and woollen cloth, to clothe the poor where most need should be. Annual value 1869, 5£ per annum. CHURCH LAND.--It is stated in the report of the Charity Commissioners, 1815-37, that at the time of their inquiry an annual payment of 27s. was made "by the trustees of the late Roger Bramble, in respect of a small portion of land formerly inclosed, but latterly thrown into the adjoining farm, and cultivated with it." It is further stated in the returns of Charitable Benefactions, 1786, that Thomas Reeks gave by will, in 1775, in money, to the second poor, such as do not receive relief, vested in the curchwardens and overseers for the time being, [Churchwardens and overseers, as far as we know and believe,] 1£ yearly. But the possessor of the land refuses payment. The estate charged with the 20s. Yearly, is valued at 16£ a year. John Harbin, minister. Thomas Reeks, churchwarden, Sworn before us, F.T.Wentworth. 8 Sept. 1786 Roe King. The above 1£. per annum was claimed and acknowledged some years ago from Mr. Fryer's estate above mentioned, and 20s. Has since been regularly distributed to the poor by the parish churchwarden. In the returns of 1786 it is stated also that Margaret Wareham, who was for some years relieved by the parish, died afterwards possessed of some property; and that is now in the hands of Mr. Bramble, and he accounts yearly for the interest of 15£ to the parish; but he knows not how or in what manner it was given; and the justices deemed it not within the act of inquiry. This charity unknown 1869. This is a true account of every charity, as far as we know, or can learn. John Harbin, minister. Thomas Reeks, churchwarden James Bramble, overseer. As witness our hands, this 5th day of Oct. 1787. BALDWIN'S CHARITY.--Mrs. Baldwin left 45£. in trust to the Rector, churchwardens, and overseers of this parish, which they invested in the Wimborne Savings' Bank, Jan. 1856. The interest to be distributed, at their discretion, annually to the poor, with the exception of Jonadab Troke, so long as he lives, on St. Thomas's Day. By the reurn to Parliament in 1801, the parish of West Parley, cum Leigh, contained 1 unihabited house; and 39 inhabited houses, occupied by 42 families; consisting of 86 males and 94 females, in all 180; of whom 69 were chiefly employed in agriculture, and 45 in trade, manufactures, or handicraft. At the census of 1851 this parish contained 68 houses, inhabited by 286 persons, but in 1861 the houses had decreased to 45, and the population to 286 souls.

Whilst at the Library we came across a Sarum Almanak with some revealing population statistics

Parley has grown a lot since then. The story of how the Parish developed will be told in the coming months, a link will be provided here as soon as it becomes available

For the transcription and larger image of the paragraph describing All Saints see the Hutchinson article on the All Saints pages
The text relating to rectors is still being transcribed

If you would like to have a copy of the full size photographs (about 1mb) please contact us. (Supplied subject to copyright)
© St Marks West Parley