Editing Compton Valence

{{Short description|Village and civil parish in Dorset, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
|static_image_name = Compton Valence, parish church of St. Thomas à Becket - geograph.org.uk - 503998.jpg
|static_image_caption = Parish church of St Thomas à Becket
|country = England
|coordinates = {{coord|50.7373|-2.5772|display=inline,title}}
|map_type = Dorset
|official_name = Compton Valence
|population = 50
|population_ref = <ref name=dcc>{{cite web|url=https://www.dorsetforyou.com/344882|title=Parish Population Data|date=20 January 2015|accessdate=28 February 2015|publisher=Dorset County Council}}</ref>
|unitary_england = [[Dorset (unitary authority)|Dorset]]
|lieutenancy_england = [[Dorset]]
|post_town = Dorchester
|postcode_area = DT
|postcode_district = DT2
|constituency_westminster = [[West Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|West Dorset]]
|region = South West England
|os_grid_reference = SY594932
}}

'''Compton Valence''' is a small [[village]] and [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[English county|county]] of [[Dorset]] in southern [[England]]. It lies approximately {{convert|7|mi|km}} west of the county town [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]]. It is sited at the head of a narrow valley, formed by a small tributary of the [[River Frome, Dorset|River Frome]], and is surrounded by the hills of the [[Dorset Downs]], which has led to it having been described as "a pocket of habitation in the downs."<ref>Gant, R., ''Dorset Villages'', Hale, 1980, p138 {{ISBN|0 7091 8135 3}}</ref> [[Dorset County Council]] estimate that in 2013 the population of the parish was 50.<ref name=dcc/>

The [[parish church]] has a 15th-century tower, but the rest of the building was rebuilt in 1838–1839 by [[Benjamin Ferrey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=127222|title=Compton Valence, An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 1: West (1952), pp. 104-105|accessdate=24 January 2014|publisher=University of London & History of Parliament Trust|year=2013}}</ref> The church is a Grade II* [[listed building]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=CHURCH OF ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY, Compton Valence - 1214304 {{!}} Historic England|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1214304|access-date=2021-12-07|website=historicengland.org.uk|language=en}}</ref>

The locality is known to geologists for the 'Compton Valence Dome', arising from the local upcoming of the [[chalk]] strata. The core of this [[structural geology|geological structure]] has been eroded to reveal the older underlying Middle [[Jurassic]] [[mudstone]]s. It lies astride the Wynford Fault and is thought to arise from a complex intersection of faults in the area.<ref>Barton et al. 2011 ''Geology of south Dorset and south-east Devon and its World Heritage Coast.'' Special memoir of the British Geological Survey. Sheets 328, 341/2, 342/3 and parts of 326/340, 327, 329 and 339 (England and Wales)</ref>

Compton Valence is known locally for its display of [[Galanthus|snowdrops]], which fill the road verges in late winter.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/gardening/start-of-something-snowdrops-signal-the-first-stirrings-of-spring-1545855.html ''Snowdrops signal the first stirrings of spring'' The Independent.] Retrieved May 2, 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2011/02/dorset-in-winter/ Dorset Life.] Retrieved 2 May 2012</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Compton Valence}}
{{Dorset}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Dorset]]