Editing Winterbourne Abbas

{{short description |Village and civil parish in Dorset, England}}
{{Distinguish|Winterbourne, Gloucestershire}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox UK place
 | official_name=          Winterbourne Abbas
 | static_image_name=     A35 Winterbourne Abbas - geograph.org.uk - 1555639.jpg
 | static_image_caption=  The A35 at Winterbourne Abbas
 | country=               England
 | region=                South West England
 | unitary_england=       [[Dorset (district)|Dorset]]
 | lieutenancy_england=   [[Dorset]]
 | constituency_westminster= [[West Dorset (constituency)|West Dorset]]
 | population =           355
 | population_ref =       <ref name=ons>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11130772&c=Winterbourne+Abbas&d=16&e=62&g=6418589&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1384417536111&enc=1|publisher=Office for National Statistics|title=Neighbourhood Statistics. Area: Winterbourne Abbas (Parish). Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics|accessdate=14 November 2013}}</ref>
 | population_density=
 | os_grid_reference=     SY618904
 | map_type=              Dorset
 | coordinates = {{coord|50.713|-2.541|display=inline,title}}
 | post_town=             DORCHESTER
 | postcode_area=         DT
 | postcode_district=     DT2
 | dial_code=             
 | london_distance=
 | website= 
}}
'''Winterbourne Abbas''' is a village and [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in south west [[Dorset]], [[England]], situated in a [[valley]] on the [[A35 road]] {{convert|5|mi|km}} west of [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]]. In the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]] the parish had a population of 355.<ref name=ons/>

== History ==
In the early hours of 6 May 2023, a large fire broke out at an industrial estate outside the village.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Huge fire in Dorset village |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23505482.huge-fire-village-winterbourne-abbas-along-a35/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref> The [[A35 road]] was closed for several hours.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-06 |title=Large fire breaks out at Dorset industrial site |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-65508569 |access-date=2023-05-07}}</ref>

==The village==
Winterbourne Abbas is a pleasant rural village, only spoilt by the heavy traffic which passes through on the A35. The Coach and Horses Inn dates from 1814 or earlier and was a coaching inn on the turnpike road from Dorchester to [[Bridport]]. The Baptist Chapel dates from 1872 and has been converted to residential use. Other notable buildings include the Old Post Office in the middle of a terrace of cottages and the Grange.<ref name=WD>{{cite web |url=http://www.weymouth-dorset.co.uk/winterbourneabbas.html |title=Winterbourne Abbas |publisher=Weymouth-Dorset.co.uk |accessdate=26 August 2016}}</ref>

The [[Nine Stones, Winterbourne Abbas|Nine Stones stone circle]] lies just to the west of the village just to the south of the A35 road and surrounded by trees. It is probably the best example of a stone circle in Dorset. Also near the village are the remains of various ancient barrows and burial chambers, including [[Poor Lot Barrow Cemetery]].<ref name=WD/>

The village has a school 'Winterbourne Valley First School', taking approximately 70 pupils of 3 to 9 years of age.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Winterbourne Valley CE VA First School |url=https://www.winterbournevalley.dorset.sch.uk/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=www.winterbournevalley.dorset.sch.uk}}</ref> The school was assessed as 'Outstanding' by [[Ofsted|OFSTED]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ofsted Communications Team |date=2020-10-06 |title=Find an inspection report and registered childcare |url=http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=reports.ofsted.gov.uk}}</ref> 

==The church==
The parish church is dedicated to [[St Mary]] and is a Grade I [[listed building]], being inscribed in the register on 26 January 1956. The church is built from coursed rubble stone and flint, dressed with local stone from [[Ham Hill, Somerset]] and the Ridgeway. The roof is slate and the tower, at the west end, has three stages and is supported by buttresses. The oldest parts of the church are the thirteenth century nave and the chancel, the chancel having been rebuilt in the fourteenth century. In the fifteenth century, the nave was widened to the north and the tower and rood stair installed. In the sixteenth century the entrance to the former south chapel was blocked, and in the seventeenth century, the porch was added. The eighteenth century saw an alteration to the chancel and the addition of buttresses to the nave.<ref name=BLB>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-403853-church-of-st-mary-winterbourne-abbas-dor#.V8CLga3GD6g |title=Church of St Mary, Winterbourne Abbas |publisher=British Listed Buildings |accessdate=26 August 2016}}</ref> There is the Royal coat of arms of Charles II dated 1661 on the chancel arch, and the Jacobean gallery is carved with the date 1701. South of the Sanctuary there is a [[piscina]] from about 1320 with a pyramidal hood and canopy supported by two figures.<ref name=WD/>

== Politics ==
After [[2019 structural changes to local government in England]], Winterbourne Abbas is part of the [[Winterborne and Broadmayne (ward)|Winterborne and Broadmayne ward]] which elects 1 member to [[Dorset Council (UK)|Dorset Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Area profile for Winterborne & Broadmayne - Dorset Council |url=https://gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/insights/AreaProfiles/Ward/winterborne-and-broadmayne |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Winterbourne Abbas}}
* [https://sites.google.com/view/winterbourne-abbas Winterbourne Abbas OPC (Online Parish Clerk)]
* [http://www.weymouth-dorset.co.uk/winterbourneabbas.html Winterbourne Abbas Local History]

{{Dorset}}
{{West Dorset}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Dorset]]