Kelly's Directory 1915

WINTERBORNE MONKTON (or Monkton) is a small parish and village 2 miles south from Dorchester stations on the Great Western and London and South Western railways, in the Southern Division of the County, petty sessional division, union and county court district of Dorchester, hundred of Culliford Tree, rural deanery of Dorchester (Dorchester portion), archdeaconry of Dorset and diocese of Salisbury. The rectory house and one farm, with a few small cottages, comprise the whole parish. The south Wintreborne river flows through the northern part of the parish. The church (supposed to be dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene) is a small building of stone, originally Norman, consisting of chancel, nave, south aisle, north porch and an embattled western tower containing one bell with an inscription in black letters: there is a stained window and a handsome carved oak screen: the church was restored in 1878 and re-seated with open benches, at a cost of about £1,500, and has 86 sittings. The register dates from the year 1756. The living is a rectory, net income £124, with 20 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of the Earl of Ilchester, and held since 1912 by the Rev. Arthur Chorley Woodhouse M.A. of St. John's College, Cambridge. Mr. William Elworthy is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The soil is gravel; subsoil, chalk. The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats. The area is 1,246 acres, rateable value, £1,490; the population in 1911 was 78 in the civil parish and 61 in the ecclesiastical parish.

By Local Government Order No. 31,962, part of the rural portion of Fordington civil parish was added to Winterborne Monkton, and by Order P. 1,546, dated 9th November, 1900, part of Winterborne Monkton civil parish was annexed to Dorchester St. Peter for civil purposes.

Wall Letter Box, cleared at 8a.m. and 5.25 and 8.45p.m.; sundays 8.45p.m. Letters arrive at 7.45a.m. & 2p.m. by foot post from Dorchester, which is the nearest money order and telegraph office, 2 miles distant.

Elementary School (mixed), with residence for mistress, for 30 children; [blank], mistress;.

Assistant Overseer, Thomas Alfred Pearce F.G.A. 47 South street, Dorchester