CHARMOUTH
The village of
Charmouth is situated on the West Dorset Coast in southwest England.
The name
Charmouth derives from the ancient Cernemude - the mouth of the (river)
Cerne.
The name of the
village was first given in the Domesday Book 1086. It is probable that the name
represented a far wider area at the time. The river is now to narrow for
navigation but there might have been a small harbour at its mouth. The primary
activity at the time concerned the production of salt. The street the main road
of the village is of pre- Roman origin an ancient route that ran from the east
to Axmouth, the southern end of the Fosse Way.
It’s Character
The Street, the primary
thoroughfare, rises steeply from the river to the west with linear settlement
along its length. From the centre of the village modern development follows a
road running south to the coast. From the centre westward, the historic
developments continue to an ancient major junction with roads both to Axminster
and Lyme Regis. The Street is defined as a conservation area because of the
mixed historical structures ranging from the early 16th to late 19th
century. The village is unique in that it was a planned medieval community with
the 13th century boundaries defined the by a wall to the north and
formerly an earth bank at the southern limit. This containment was divided into
burgage plots that still form property boundaries to this day. In
recent times, the shops have developed in the centre: the building consisting of
1930 structures that house a basic range of services to the community.
In recent years the village has
grown; the demands for development within South West Dorset Development Plan has
had an impact upon the character of the village. Much of the construction has
answered the needs for second homes and retirement property. The effect of these
demands has caused such an increase in house prices that the younger village
generation and existing residents cannot compete in the local housing market.
The current
population of the village is 1250, but expands considerably in the summer months
with the holiday makers. There is a wide range of facilities that cater for the
visitors including caravan and camping areas within the village and the
immediate area.
It’s
Landscape
Charmouth is
situated in an area defined as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To
the west and east of the village is ringed by hills, pastures and woodlands. To
the south within 300m, there are amenity beaches on a coast now designated as a
World Heritage Site. It is a world famous geological coastline, rich in
fossils of the Lower Jurassic for which Charmouth is renowned. There are also a
number of
conservational designations for flora, fauna and marine life in the immediate
area.
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