West Bexington Explained

Official Name:West Bexington
Static Image Name:West Bexington from inland - geograph.org.uk - 351842.jpg
Static Image Caption:West Bexington viewed from inland
Map Type:Dorset
Coordinates:50.678°N -2.654°W
Os Grid Reference:SY533868
Civil Parish:Puncknowle
Unitary England:Dorset
Lieutenancy England:Dorset
Region:South West England
Country:England
Post Town:DORCHESTER
Postcode Area:DT
Postcode District:DT2
Dial Code:01308
Constituency Westminster:West Dorset

West Bexington is a village in south-west Dorset, England, sited just behind the Chesil Beach about 6miles southeast of Bridport. It forms part of the civil parish of Puncknowle. The coast here is part of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site.

History

In the Domesday Book of 1086 the estate here was recorded as Bessintone; it had twenty households and was owned by a Roger Arundel.[1]

The majority of the present houses in West Bexington were built between 1919 and 1939, on plots of farmland which had been sold due to the land becoming agriculturally derelict. At the same time a swimming pool was also built behind the beach.[2] The older manor house and farm buildings are still present and there are a number of more modern houses.

Nature reserve

The village of West Bexington provides access to the Chesil Beach. The West Bexington nature reserve is one of the Dorset Wildlife Trust's few coastal reserves. It is internationally important because of the rare vegetated shingle habitat that thrives here (Rock Samphire, Sea Beet, Sea Campion, Sea Kale, Tree Mallow, Tufted Vetch, Wild Carrot, Wild Parsnip, Woody Nightshade, Yellow Horned Poppy and Yellow Iris).

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Place: [East and West] Bexington]. Open Domesday. domesdaymap.co.uk. 24 May 2014.
  2. Book: Portrait of Dorset. Ralph Wightman. Ralph Wightman. 1983. Robert Hale Ltd. 0 7090 0844 9. 168. 4.