Fordington, Dorset Explained

Official Name:Fordington
Civil Parish:Dorchester
Country:England
Region:South West England
Coordinates:50.714°N -2.429°W
Unitary England:Dorset
Lieutenancy England:Dorset
Static Image:Fordington High Street 1976.jpg
Static Image Caption:Fordington High Street in 1976

Fordington is a part of the town of Dorchester, in Dorset, England. It was originally a separate village, it has now become a suburb. Taking its name from a ford across the River Frome, it grew up around the church of St. George (where Henry Moule was once Vicar), though the parish was much larger and surrounded Dorchester on three sides. It was part of the liberty of Fordington.

The will of Alfred the Great is said to make an early reference to Saint George of England, in the context of the church of Fordington, Dorset. Certainly at Fordington a stone over the south door records the miraculous appearance of St George to lead crusaders into battle.[1]

At West Fordington is St Mary's Church, built in 1911–12 to the designs of Charles Ponting.[2] It replaced Christ Church as parish church in 1929.[3]

In 1891 the civil parish had a population of 5088.[4] On 9 November 1900 the parish was abolished and merged with Dorchester St Peter and Dorchester All Saints.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Religions - Christianity: Saint George . . 2017-07-23.
  2. Web site: CHURCH OF ST MARY, Dorchester - 1110596 Historic England.
  3. Web site: Dorsetforyou. www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. 7 December 2023. 7 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231207190056/https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/dorsetforyou. dead.
  4. Web site: Population statistics Fordington AP/CP through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 18 May 2024.
  5. Web site: Dorchester Registration District. UKBMD. 18 May 2024.