Sydling St Nicholas

“SYDLING ST. NICHOLAS, a parish and liberty in the Cerne division of county Dorset, 8 miles N.W. of Dorchester, its post town, and 2½ S.W. of Cerne-Abbas. It comprises the tythings of Upper Sydling and Fifehead Sydling. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Sarum, value £169, in the patronage of Winchester College, Oxford. The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, has a tower containing five bells. The chancel was rebuilt by the late Sir William Smith. There is also a district church at Hilfield, the living of which is a perpetual curacy, value £52. The church was erected in 1680. The parochial charities produce about £31 per annum, which belongs to Barber's school."

"HILFIELD, a parochial chapelry in the parish of Sydling St. Nicholas, hundred of Cerne, county Dorset, 4 miles WW. of Cerne-Abbas, its post town, 12 N.W. of Dorchester, and 4 from the Evershot railway station. It is a small village of irregular form, and entirely agricultural. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Sarum, value £52, in the patronage of the Vicar of Sydling. Charles Cousin, Esq., is lord of the manor."

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from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868