Welcome to Toller Porcorum
(this site is still under construction)
The village from Popes Hill
Toller Porcorum is a village of approximately 160 households, in the heart of West Dorset, just over 10 miles north-west of Dorchester, and 8 miles north-east of Bridport. It is roughly 120 metres above sea level, nestling in the valley of the River Hooke. Toller Porcorum is also situated within the West Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the South Wessex Downs Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) and the South Wessex Downs Natural Area. Land use is almost entirely agricultural, including a few organic farms.
There are two important nature reserves within the parish boundaries (both belonging to the Dorset Wildlife Trust) Powerstock Common and Kingcombe Meadows. The animals and birds living there include roe and fallow deer, badgers, dormice and otters, buzzard, owl, hobby, kestrel, sparrowhawk, peregrine, dippers, grey wagtails and kingfishers. There is a huge variety of wild plants and insects, ranging from bluebell woods and species of orchid to rare butterflies like the Marsh Fritillary and the Wood White. The parish also has a archaeological heritage dating from the Prehistoric period.
There are 29 sites and finds recorded on the Sites and Monuments Record. The church is situated on high ground between the River Hooke to the north and a stream to the south. In the vicinity of the new parish hall there was archaeological evidence of a Medieval settlement and earthworks, suggesting that an older village surrounded the church.
Toller suffered a steady reduction of amenities since the end of the Second World War. The school closed in 1980, The Bridport branch railway line survived the cuts of the 1960s, but was closed down in 1975, and the saw mill that depended on it lasted only another 10 years. Around the same time there was extensive building of new houses in the village, notably in Church Mead, and the population grew significantly for the first time in 150 years; it is now around 300.
Parts of the old railway track are now permissive paths, open to public access.
After a nationwide appeal, the Dorset Trust for Nature Conservation bought about 350 acres of the Kingcombe Estate, which became famous as it had never had modern weedkillers or fertilizers used on it. It is now part of the well-known Kingcombe Meadows nature reserve, and close by is the Kingcombe Centre, where a wide variety of courses are held throughout the year.
The parish today has limited facilities. There is a part time community post office, selling stationary and confectionary. The village hall acts as a focal point in the community and is used by a number of groups and clubs. The church is the only other meeting place in the village, with services each Sunday. The Playing Field committee run and maintain the playing field with a well equipped play area to the rear of Church Mead.
The only pub in the village, The Old Swan closed down in 1999 and has remained empty. There has recently been a renewed community led campaign to persuade the brewery to help get the pub reopened. The nearest pub is 3 miles distant at Maiden Newton, where other essential services such as primary education, primary health care, basic groceries, a full time post office, petrol and garage facilities and limited train services to other parts of the country can be found.
Another petrol station and garage situated on the A356 about two miles north of the village centre remains open. The nearest secondary school is 6 miles away in Beaminster.
There is a bus service three times daily (not Sundays) through Toller Porcorum, to Maiden Newton,/Bridport and on Wednesdays only, a service to Dorchester & Beaminster.
There is family housing and a few rented “affordable” properties through Magna Housing Association, but the majority of stock has been sold under the “Right to Buy”.
Employment opportunities are very limited with a few working farms, holiday lets and bed & breakfast accommodation but most people travel outside the parish to work. However, there is much social activity in the village allowing residents of Toller Porcorum and nearby hamlets, such as Hooke, to contribute to a strong sense of community spirit.
The church February 2009
