Cattistock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cattistock |
|
|---|---|
 Church and The Square, Cattistock |
|
 Cattistock
|
|
| Population | 509 |
| OS grid reference | SY592996 |
| Unitary authority |
|
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Dorchester |
| Postcode district | DT2 |
| Dialling code | 01300 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
|
Cattistock is a lovely village in west Dorset, England. It's located in the beautiful Frome Valley. The village is about 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Dorchester, a bigger town nearby. In 2011, about 509 people lived here. A famous Dorset poet, William Barnes, once called Cattistock "elbow-streeted" because its main street isn't straight!
The Village Church
A church was first built in Cattistock way back in the 12th century. It was built by monks from Milton Abbey. Sadly, that old church is not here anymore. The current church, named St Peter and St Paul, was rebuilt in the 1800s. Famous architects Sir George Gilbert Scott and his son, George Gilbert Scott Junior, designed it.
The church's tall tower was designed by George Gilbert Scott Junior. It's so grand that people sometimes call the church the 'Cathedral of the Frome Valley'. He also designed the church's entrance, the north side, and the room where priests get ready.
A special set of 35 bells, called a carillon, was put in the new tower. This was the very first carillon in England! It brought many visitors to the valley. However, these bells were sadly destroyed in a fire on September 15, 1940. The fire also ruined a huge clock in the tower. In 1972, a guide to architecture said this church was a "masterpiece" among Dorset churches for its time. It is now a Grade I Listed Building, which means it's a very important historic building.
Chantmarle Manor House
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_992561.jpg)
About 1.75 miles (2.8 km) north of Cattistock is Chantmarle. This is a large house that dates back to the 1400s! Parts of it were added in the 1500s, 1600s, and 1800s. Its name, "Chantmarle", means "song of the blackbird" in an old French language. It got this name from the Chauntmerles family, who lived there in the early 1200s.
In 1910, a designer named Inigo Thomas added new sections to the house. He also created a beautiful garden with terraces and ponds. Later, in the late 1900s, Chantmarle was used as a training center for police officers. After that, it became a place for Christian retreats and weddings. Today, it is a private home once again.
The Cattistock Hunt
The Cattistock Hunt is a group that uses foxhounds (a type of dog) for hunting. It was started by a local priest at Cattistock Lodge in the mid-1700s. It was first called 'The True Blue'.
This Hunt has a special connection with all the UK naval ships named HMS Cattistock. This includes the most recent ship, HMS Cattistock (M31). The village of Cattistock also has a close bond with these ships. The villagers have often welcomed the ships' crews to their home.
Inside the village church, you can see a special flag and a shield from HMS Cattistock. The shield shows a blue cornflower. This flower is the symbol of the Hunt's colors and grows wild in the area.
Village Events
Cattistock hosts a fun event called the Dorset knob throwing competition! It also holds the Frome Valley Food Festival every year. Both events happen on the first Sunday in May.
