Dorset village of Litton Cheney once had several pubs

These lovely old pictures of Litton Cheney were taken by Bridport photographer Claud Hider from the 1920s onward.

There were several recorded Victorian pubs and alehouses in the centre of the village, now, like the former Gladwyn Brewery, converted to housing.

But what remains is the White Horse Inn, which, in October 1924 was practically destroyed by fire.

White Horse Inn (Image: Claud Hider)

This Hider picture of the White Horse is particularly relevant as it was taken from the 1920s onwards, so not long after the pub would have been rebuilt.

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On February 18, 1925, Superintendent Lawrence, in his annual report for the Dorchester Police Division said that he did not oppose an application which would be made for the approval of plans for the erection of new premises on the same site.

The village church of St Mary is a solid structure built of stone and contains some interesting architectural features as well as some monuments to members of the Henvill family and an early tomb to George Dawbeny.

St Mary's Church (Image: Claud Hider)

The registers date from 1624. In the 19th century a Primitive Methodist chapel was erected.

St Mary's Church from the outside (Image: Claud Hider)

The hamlets of Nether Combe and Stancombe are in the parish.

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Higher Eggerton was transferred to the parish of Askerwell in 1884 and Ashwell and Gorwell have been transferred to Longbredy.

The village youth hostel (Image: Claud Hider) A parochial school was built in 1878 for 80 children. The parish area is 3,817 acres with the soil mainly chalk. The chief crops used to be wheat, barley and some pasture. The population in 1891 was 427 persons.

Landmarks in Litton Cheney are the parish church tower in the centre of the village; Baglake Farm at the eastern entry; the bus shelter to the west of Rocks; and the Mill buildings.

Litton Cheney (Image: Claud Hider)

The pre-war village had the expected mixture of Parish Church, Nonconformist Chapel (Methodist, opened in 1873), big houses (The Court, Old Rectory, Mill House and large farm houses (such as those at Baglake, Charity, Manor and Barge’s Farms), a corn mill, brewery, forge, school, public house, farm buildings and cottages.

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The Poorhouse, on Chalk Pit Lane closed in the mid 19th century replaced by houses, and the chapel has become part of its former manse, in residential use.

(Image: Claud Hider)

The mill closed after the Second World War and the shop and other businesses in the latter part of the 20th century. The village shop closed in August 2000.

With thanks to Neil Mattingly for his digital preservation of the Claud Hider photo archive and the websites www.opcdorset.org/ and www.littoncheney.org.uk for some of the information provided here.