Welcome to Chettle
CLICK FOR 2021 CENSUS DATAIntroduction
Chettle is a small village and civil parish in the county of Dorset in southern England. It lies 6 miles (10 kilometres) northeast of Blandford Forum. It is sited at the head of a gently sloping valley on the dip slope of the chalk formation called Cranborne Chase. The A354 trunk road crosses the valley about 1 km to the south. In 2013 the estimated population of the civil parish was 90. A 2008 report indicated that the entire village was owned by the Bourke family and operated in the mode of "benevolent feudalism". A news item from 2015 confirmed the ownership and provided the following update about the community:The tiny hamlet, with its hotel, manor house, 40 cottages, farms and lumber yard has belonged to the Bourke family for more than 400 years, in a benign throwback to feudal times. Chettle House, the village manor, is a red brick Baroque mansion designed by Thomas Archer, a pupil of Vanbrugh, and built by the Bastard brothers of Blandford Forum during the reign of Queen Anne. Pevsner called it "the plum among Dorset houses of the early 18th century, and even nationally outstanding as a specimen of English Baroque". Two rounded ends were added to the house in 1912. From the 1950s to 2015 the house was a series of flats. After 2015, extensive renovations were completed by new owners; the house and gardens were closed to the public.A book about Chettle, "Enduring Village", was published in August, 2008.
Parish Information
Parish statistics
Area |
454 hectares |
---|---|
Population |
263 (2021) |
Density |
58 people/km2 |
Mean age |
|
Ward |
Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants |
District |
North Dorset |
Postcodes |
DT11 |
ONS ID |
E04003399 |
Council
Contact details for Chettle Parish Council, including current councillors, precept data and election results.
Education
View educational establishments in Chettle Parish. Data includes OFSTED rating and current appointed governors.
Business
Business directory listing local businesses operating within Chettle Parish.
Property
Price paid data for all property sold in Chettle Parish since 2018. Includes average prices for each property type.
Heritage
Local heritage sites, historic churches, heritage pubs plus local heritage initiatives for Chettle Parish.
Local News
Hosted and licensed by Country Life
Chettle House: Almost a ruin 200 years ago; a triumph today — 'Everything about the house is novel and ingenious'
Published: 29th Nov 2020
Hosted and licensed by Dorset Echo
Changes to polling stations in Dorset Council area
Published: 19th Dec 2023
Hosted and licensed by Country Life
Chettle House Gardens: A special place, a fascinating history, and gardens that become softer and more romantic with ...
Published: 2nd Oct 2021