Milton Abbas

“MILTON ABBAS, a parish in the hundred of Whiteway, county Dorset, 7 miles S.W. of Blanford-Forum, its post town, and 11 N.E. of Dorchester. The parish, originally named Middleton, derives the suffix to its present name, which is a contraction, from its ancient lords, the Abbots. It was formerly a market town, and had a Benedictine abbey founded by King Athelstane in 933, which at the Dissolution had a revenue of £720 4s. 1d. The parish includes the hamlet of Holworth. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Sarum, value £127. The church, dedicated to St. James, is a stone structure, with a tower containing a clock and two bells. It was erected at the expense of the first Earl of Dorchester. The register dates from 1660. The Baptists have a chapel. The parochial charities produce about £219, of which £200 goes to the free school, which has been removed to Blanford, and £19 to Tregonnell's almshouses. The conventual buildings, with the exception of the ancient hall, were taken down in 1771, and replaced by the present mansion, called Milton Abbey, by Sir W. Chambers. The interior contains some paintings by Raphael, Titian, Claude, &., and the Abbey chapel, rebuilt in Edward II.'s time, contains a piscina, stone stalls, and screen bearing date 1492, also a brass of a Tregonnell. The monk's hall was erected in 1498. There is a savings-bank. Baron Hambro is lord of the manor."

"BAGBERE, a tything in the parish of Milton Abbas and hundred of Whiteway, in the county of Dorset, 1 mile to the N. of Sturminster."

"HOLWORTH, a hamlet in the parish of Milton-Abbas, county Dorset, 5 miles S.W. of Blandford."

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from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868