Puddletown Area Parish Council

What makes Puddletown Area Parish Council

Puddletown Area Parish Council is a grouped council representing the parishes of Athelhampton & Puddletown and Burleston & Tolpuddle. Together, these areas cover approximately 4,075 hectares. According to the 2010 Census, the parish combined had 852 dwellings, a number that grew significantly to 2,905 dwellings by the 2021 Census. The Council is composed of 12 councillors, each serving a four-year term. It also appoints a Clerk, responsible for managing the Council’s affairs between meetings.

Meetings

The Parish Council usually holds 12 meetings a year starting at 7pm.  All meetings start with a short democratic period for members of the public to raise issues of concern. For more information about our meetings, please see our agenda and minutes page.

What is a Parish Council?

Parish Councils have their origins in the development of villages centuries ago. When villages were ruled by the Lord of the Manor Parish Priests, and often Schoolmasters would join him to form a ruling clique. By the 17th century Church Vestry Meetings were given the responsibility of levying the “poor rate” (The first effective taxes). In 1894 the Local Government Act was seen through parliament by the then Prime Minister W. E. Gladstone. Whilst seeing a lot of opposition it nevertheless became law and Parish Councils were formed.

Created in 1894 a Parish Council is the first tier of Local Government, under the Local Government Act, and there are over 8,500 Parish Councils today acting as a focus for local opinion and providing a way to push policy in a way best suited to the local community.

Roles and Responsibilities of Parish Councils

For a more complete guide (but by no means exhaustive) please see the following pdf document: Powers-and-Functions-of-Parish-Councils

Community Governance Review 

Puddletown Area Parish Council was not always two parishes working together. In 2021 Dorset Councils undertook a Community Governance Review of all the parishes within the Council area. This review related to the whole of the Dorset Council area and considered changes to parish areas and parish electoral arrangements. These changes included the alteration, merging, creation and abolishing of parishes, the naming of parishes, and the adoption of an alternative style for new parishes. Residents of the Puddletown Area Parish Council area were given the opportunity to have their say via a survey which was carried out in the autumn of 2021. In July 2022 Dorset Council approved the merging of the Parishes of Puddletown with Athelhampton and Tolpuddle with Burleston. 

Athelhampton

Athelhampton (also known as Admiston or Adminston) is a settlement in the civil parish of Athelhampton and Puddletown, in Dorset, England, situated approximately 5 miles east of Dorchester, 5 miles from Moreton Railway Station. It consists of a manor house and a former Church of England parish church. The population in 1961 was 50 across 15 homes in 2022 records show a population of 33 across 15 homes. On 1 April 2024 the parish was abolished and merged with Puddletown to form “Athelhampton and Puddletown”.

Burleston

Burleston is a village in the civil parish of Burleston and Tolpuddle, in Dorset, England. Burleston is 4 miles North north west of Moreton Railway Station and 7 miles East north East of Dorchester, on the river Piddle. In 1961 the parish had a population of 60 across 10 homes, in 2022 the population was 24 across 10 homes. On 1 April 2024 the parish was abolished and merged with Tolpuddle to form “Burleston and Tolpuddle”.

Burleston is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086, having at that time a small population of nine households and the Abbey of Milton St. Peter.^[3]

Puddletown

Puddletown is situated 5 miles east of Dorchester in the River Piddle valley. In 1961 Puddletown had a population of 790 across 261 homes, whilst in 2022 the village had a population of 1,477 across 645 homes. Puddletown was featured in the novel Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy, where it was renamed as the village of Weatherbury. To the western end of the village is a large recreation ground, containing a MUGA, kick wall, children’s play area and the sports pavilion. The pavilion is managed by a team of volunteers under the heading of PRIDE (Puddletown Recreation Ground Improvement & Development). The village boasts a spacious Village Hall, centrally located within the village with easy access. 

Tolpuddle

The village of Tolpuddle is situated 2 miles east of Puddletown and is considered the birthplace of the Trade Unions. In 1961 the population was 200 across 82 homes, whilst in 2022 this grew to 494 across 214 homes. The village is home to the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum run by the TUC, St John’s Church, a village hall and Orchard Meadow park. More information about Tolpuddle can be found at www.tolpuddlevillage.co.uk.

“Puddletown” – a song by Daisy Chute

An award winning singer/songwriter has created a song about the story of a cobbler’s daughter. Thomas Hardy is thought to have based one of his characters in Far From the Madding Crowd on a shoemaker in Puddletown whose daughter died of scarlet fever. Many thanks to Ben Kaye, who lived in Puddletown for many years, for bringing this to our attention. Click here