Charlton Down

Charlton Down is a new village in Dorset, England, situated approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the county town Dorchester. It lies within the civil parish of Charminster.

Charlton Down
Charlton Down
Charlton Down is located in Dorset
Charlton Down
Charlton Down
Location within Dorset
Population1,459 [1]
OS grid referenceSY679948
Civil parish
Unitary authority
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Postcode districtDT
Dialling code01305
PoliceDorset
FireDorset and Wiltshire
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament

History

The village of Charlton Down developed from the site of the old Dorset County Asylum. In 1920 it became the Dorset County Mental Hospital, and in 1940 was renamed Herrison Hospital.[2] The hospital closed in 1992 and three of the larger buildings — Redwood (built in 1863), Greenwood (1896) and Herrison House (1904) — have been converted into apartments.[2]

Facilities

Cottage style terrace houses, semi-detached and detached 3, 4, and 5 bed roomed house with all modern services fill the old site. The original cricket ground has a new pavilion and there is a thriving cricket club in the summer[3] with one large and one small park serving to the village [4][5] the village has a shop which contains a post office [6] and a cash dispensary. It is one of the few in the area without a church or pub. The village hall is used regularly for various social events.[7]

Toponymy

After the closure of Herrison Hospital in 1991 the area became known as charlton down. The new name of Charlton Down was chosen to honour a medieval epithet for the hill on which it was built.[8]

References
  1. "Charlton Down (Dorset, South West England, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information".
  2. "Herrison Hospital". County Asylums. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  3. "Charlton Down CC". charltondown.play-cricket.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  4. "Charlton Down Play Areas – Charminster Parish Council". Charlton down parish council. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  5. Hogger, Harry (15 November 2012). "Paralympian medallist opens Olympic Park". dorsetecho. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  6. "Branch Finder | Post Office". www.postoffice.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  7. "Charlton Down Village Hall". Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  8. "Charlton down or charminster herrison area appraisal". Dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
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