Evershot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Evershot |
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 Evershot |
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 Evershot
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| Population | 210 |
| OS grid reference | ST574045 |
| Unitary authority |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Dorchester |
| Postcode district | DT2 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Evershot is a small village in the county of Dorset, located in southwest England. It's about 7 miles (11 km) south of Yeovil. Evershot is special because it's the second highest village in Dorset, sitting about 175 meters (574 feet) above sea level. The village is also known for its links to the famous writer Thomas Hardy.
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What's in a Name?
The name Evershot has a few interesting possible origins.
- One idea is that it comes from 'Eafor's Holt'. 'Eafor' means wild boar, and 'holt' means wood. So, it could mean 'Eafor's Wood'.
- Another similar idea is 'eafor sceat', which means 'wild boar thicket'. This makes sense because the area used to have a lot of wild boars.
- But the village was called 'Teversict' in 1202 and 'Theuershet' in 1268. This might come from an old English word 'teofor', meaning red lead, which could describe the color of the soil.
- A final idea is that the name combines 'Varia' (another name for the River Frome) and 'shot', an old Saxon word for a small stream.
A Glimpse into History
It's tricky to know exactly what Evershot was like before the Norman conquest (when William the Conqueror took over England in 1066). But people believe it started as a place to keep wild boars about 1,100 years ago. Because it was close to the River Frome, a settlement grew up nearby.
The Three Dumb Sisters
The oldest things you can find in Evershot are three standing stones, called the Three Dumb Sisters. Today, they are used as a bench. A local story says these stones were once three sisters who turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday! No one knows exactly when they were built or moved, but they might be from the Bronze Age, thousands of years ago.
Stickland's School
In 1628, a man named Christopher Stickland started Stickland's School. He wanted it to teach boys "reading, writing and grammar" and to help them learn "good learning, true religion and the fear of God."
Old Village Jobs
In the 1700s and 1800s, people in Evershot had jobs like:
- Tanning: This was making leather from animal hides.
- Turnery: Making things like bowls and ladles by shaping wood on a spinning machine.
- Coopery: Making wooden barrels and tubs.
The village had plenty of local wood, like oak, which was used for these jobs. Products like leather, bowls, and cheese vats were sold far away, even in Bristol. Many other small businesses grew to support the villagers. By 1851, about 600 people lived in Evershot.
The Railway Arrives
In 1857, a railway line opened through the area, with a station for Evershot at a place called Holywell. Building the railway was tough because they had to dig a tunnel through the soft greensand rock.
The Great Fire of Evershot
In 1865, a big fire broke out in the village. It destroyed 18 buildings and left over a hundred people without homes. Three fire engines were needed to put out the flames. Luckily, no one died in the fire. People quickly raised a lot of money to help those who lost their homes – £70 in just two days, which would be like over £3,000 today!
Village Location
Evershot village is built on greensand, about 175 meters (574 feet) above sea level. It's surrounded by chalk hills, part of the Dorset Downs. As mentioned, it's the second highest village in Dorset.
The area is also a "watershed." This means it's where the land divides the flow of water. Rainwater here either flows north into the River Yeo (which goes to the Bristol Channel) or southeast into the River Frome (which goes to Poole Harbour). The village hall is even the starting point for the Frome Valley Trail, a long walking path.
Evershot is about 7 miles (11 km) south of Yeovil, 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Dorchester, and 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bridport.
How Many People Live Here?
In 2013, the local council estimated that about 210 people lived in Evershot.
Important Places
St Osmund's Church
The village church, called St Osmund's, stands where an older chapel once was. That first chapel was built around the time of Richard the Lionheart (a king who lived in the 1100s). Only a few parts of the old chapel remain, like the font (where baptisms happen) and parts of the arches. The church has been rebuilt and updated several times, most recently in the 1850s and 1860s.
The church clock was a gift in 1853 from the 3rd Earl of Ilchester and cost £150. It was designed by a famous clockmaker and needs to be wound by hand once a week! From 1783 to 1787, the poet George Crabbe was the church's rector (a type of priest). The church is a Grade II* listed building, which means it's very important historically.
River Frome Source
The River Frome actually starts in Back Lane, very close to the church. Next to it is St John's well, which was fixed up in 2000. There's a plaque there with the names of villagers and information about the local area.
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel
This beautiful building was built in 1798 as a "dower house" (a house for a widow). It was made bigger in 1893 and became a hotel in 1979.
Village Hall
The village hall was given to the village after it was used by the military during World War II. Today, it's mainly used for music and art events.
West Hill
To the west of the village is a rounded hill called West Hill, which is 224 meters (735 feet) high.
Thomas Hardy's Evershot
Evershot has strong ties to the famous English writer Thomas Hardy. He often used real places in his novels but changed their names. In his fictional world of Wessex, Evershot was called 'Evershead'.
- The Acorn Inn, a pub in the village, appeared as 'The Sow and Acorn' in several of his books, including Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
- There's even a house called Tess Cottage in the village, named after the main character of Tess of the d'Urbervilles. She supposedly stayed in a fictional version of this cottage when visiting 'Evershead'.
Thomas Hardy was also an architect (someone who designs buildings). In 1893, he designed an extension for what is now the Summer Lodge Country House Hotel. Hardy's mother, Jemima Hand, was born and got married in the nearby village of Melbury Osmond.
The Hardy Way, a long-distance walking path, also goes through Evershot.
