Compton Abbas Explained

Official Name:Compton Abbas
Static Image Name:St Mary's Church, Compton Abbas - geograph.org.uk - 1694601.jpg
Static Image Caption:St Mary's Church, Compton Abbas
Coordinates:50.9655°N -2.1885°W
Population:216
Population Ref:(2011)[1]
Os Grid Reference:ST869184
Civil Parish:Compton Abbas
Unitary England:Dorset
Lieutenancy England:Dorset
Region:South West England
Country:England
Post Town:SHAFTESBURY
Postcode Area:SP
Postcode District:SP7
Dial Code:01747
Constituency Westminster:North Dorset

Compton Abbas is a village and civil parish in north Dorset, England. It lies 30NaN0 south of the town of Shaftesbury. It is sited on greensand strata on the edge of the Blackmore Vale,[2] below the chalk downs of Cranborne Chase. On top of these hills is Compton Abbas Airfield. The A350 road between Wiltshire and the south coast passes through the village. In the 2011 census the civil parish had a population of 216.[1] The name Compton Abbas derives from the Saxon "cumb-ton", meaning 'village in a narrow valley', plus "abbas" which refers to Shaftesbury Abbey (the land was owned by the abbess). The church, St. Mary's, was built in 1866 to replace the older structure which was more remote from the village.

Places of interest

The tower of the Church of St Mary in East Compton is a Grade I listed building.

Politics

Compton Abbas is part of the North Dorset constituency for elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Compton Abbas is part of the Beacon ward for elections to Dorset Council.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Area: Compton Abbas (Parish), Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics . Neighbourhood Statistics . . 4 July 2014.
  2. Book: Ralph Wightman. Ralph Wightman. Portrait of Dorset. Robert Hale Ltd. 1983. 16. 4. 0-7090-0844-9.
  3. Web site: Area profile for Beacon - Dorset Council . 2024-02-24 . gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.