This small parish of a little over 900 acres is four miles south-west of Sherborne; its neighbour to the north is Thornford, with Lillington to the east and Leigh to the south. The population of the parish, which includes the tything of Knighton, has held steady throughout the census decades at about 80-90; traditionally agriculture has been the major employer of labour here.
There are some attractive stone cottages in the village but little else. There are no village shops or other amenities but there is the parish church dedicated to St. Michael. Except for the tower the church was rebuilt in 1882 by George Crickmay, an architect who had a hand in the design and restoration of many Dorset churches during the 19th century.
Much was salvaged from the original church: masonry, the west window, the tower windows, gargoyles and the porch doorway all found there way into the present building; the tower was restored in 1897. St. Michael’s has a chancel, nave, and porch and the west tower housing four bells.
There is a photo of St. Michael’s church in the photo section.
