South Perrott is situated in the North West corner of Dorset, near the Somerset border. It runs along either side of the A356. The nearest town in Dorset is Beaminster.

The village itself is enhanced by the river Parrott which flows through it. It is situated at the foot of the hill leading to Winyard’s Gap and consists of quaint cottages on different levels. The site of Mohun Castle, destroyed in the Monmouth insurrection, can be found near the church of St Marys.

During the nineteenth century, it was a predominately agricultural area. The chief crops were wheat, barley, beans and hay. The major landowners were Captain Draper, W.T.Cox, Esq and the Rev. H Hoskins.

We can trace its existence back to Norman times as it is mentioned in the Domesday book.

‘The same William holds Pedret of the Earl (of Chester). Alnod held it in the time of King Edward, and it was gelded for five hides. There is arable land to five ploughs. There are two ploughs in demesne, and three servi, and six villains, and fourteen bordars, with three ploughs. A mill there pays two shillings, and there are twelve acres of meadow, pasture fourteen quarentens long and five broad. It was worth a hundred shillings, now six pounds. Alnod bought this manor of Bishop Alwold for his life only, the agreement being that after his death it should be restored to the church.’

• In the fourteenth century, the owners were the Maubanks family.
• In the fourteenth year of Henry IV’s reign (1412-13), Christian, widow of John Cruckhern of Childhay, and wife of Richard Clapton, held lands belonging to Philip Maubank.
• The manor passed to the Carent family and then to the Horseys of Clifton Maubank.
• In 1449 John Crokehorn held lands which belonged to Henry Horsey.

• It passed to the Albini or D’Albeniaco family who assumed the name of Aubigny or D’Aubeney during the reign of Edward II.
• The daughters of Sir John Horsey married into the Arnold and Mohun families which resulted in the lands passing to those families and becoming dispersed.
• During the eighteenth century, the Earl of Radnor and the Phelippses of Montacute were among the owners.
• In 1875 Captain Draper of the Draper family of North Down, Haselbury owned the lands.

The church of St Marys stands like a citadel overlooking the village, the river nestling at its base.

For more information about the church please use the link below.

St Mary’s Church, South Perrott (will be linked shortly)