Official Name: | Melplash |
Country: | England |
Region: | South West England |
Static Image: | Melplash, Christ Church - geograph.org.uk - 451925.jpg |
Static Image Width: | 237px |
Static Image Caption: | Christ's Church, Melplash |
Os Grid Reference: | SY485985 |
Coordinates: | 50.7832°N -2.7306°W |
Post Town: | BRIDPORT |
Postcode Area: | DT |
Postcode District: | DT6 |
Dial Code: | 01308 |
London Distance: | 145miles |
Shire County: | Dorset |
Melplash is a village in western Dorset, England. It is situated on the A3066 road 3miles north of Bridport and 2miles south of Beaminster.
The construction of Christ Church between 1845 and 1846 was funded by James Bandinel (who was at one time secretary to William Wilberforce) in memory of his father, who had been vicar of Melplash and the neighbouring village of Netherbury.[1] [2] The church was designed by Benjamin Ferrey[1] and built in Neo-Norman style.
There was once a flax industry in the village. An annual agricultural show held in August by the name of The Melplash Agricultural Show started in the village in the 19th century but is now held on fields owned by the Melplash Agricultural Show Society at nearby West Bay.
In 1938, the Melplash Players theatre group "had the advantage of coaching and casting" from Gertrude Bugler, previously of The Hardy Players.[3]