The Cerne River Cottage is a delightful old thatched cottage near the centre of the village. As its name implies, it is set by the little river that flows through the village and on down the Cerne valley.

Your hosts are Nick & Ginny - click here to visit their Website and for booking details.

Terry and Pat Dean's Home Page.
We are the current owners of the Singing Kettle and would like to share it with you.
You can contact us through the enquiry link on our Home Page, or by phone,or snail mail address:
Phone: 01300 341349
7, Long Street, Cerne Abbas, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7JF

Aviary Bred Golden Mantel Rosellas
Unsexed £15.00 ea
Tel: 01963210343
Middlemarsh, Sherborne

PROPERTY TO LET

Old Gaol Cottage
10 Long Street
Cerne Abbas

The cottage is a chequered stone listed building built in 1859. It served as the jail and police station from 1860 - 1954 and is situated in the heart of the village. It has been lovingly restored and professionally decorated. The English Tourism Board has awarded Old Gaol Cottage a rare "five-star" rating.
The cottage features:
* Sitting room with television and video recorder with comfortable seating for eight.
* Modern kitchen created by an national award-winning kitchen designer features a cooker, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher and breakfast bar.
* Dinning room with stone floors and round table to seat six.
* Master bedroom has queen sized antique lace canopied bed with electric fireplace.
* Guest bedroom has two double beds with views of the hillsides.
* Bathroom features a large separate soaking tub and shower, basin and loo.
* Small flint walled patio with chairs and container garden.

Need more information?
Contact Jan Kirkpatrick at tenlongstreet@aol.com
for brochure, video cottage guide
or to place reservation.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

34 Long Street
Cerne Abbas

A Grade II Listed Thatched Cottage
with South Facing Rear Garden

Freehold price £415,000

Thatched Cottage, rendered with brick relevations, extended and modernised and providing comfortable and spacous accommodation. Believed to be amongst some of the oldest properties in the village, with a Georgian facade superimposed in 1824. Over the years the property has been an ironmongers, sweet shop and art gallery. In 1997 the property was extended to provide a new fitted kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, study and shower room. Oil-fired central heating. Walled south facing garden stretching to Back Lane where there is a garage/workshop. The accommodation comprises entrance lobby, hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility/cloakroom, master suite of bedroom, dressing room/study and en suite shower room, three further bedrooms, large garage/workshop, garden.

Viewing stictly by appointment with Vendors Agents
Greenslade Taylor Hunt,
Westgate House,
45 High West street,
Dorchester. Dorset DT1 1UT
Telephone: 01305 268786
Fax: 01305 250467
E-mail: residential.dorchester@gth.net

Summer view of Garden may be seen on
Open Gardens page
click to go there - use Back button to return.

CAN ANYONE HELP WITH INFORMATION? (Webmaster)

From: Amy Wandlass
Date: 21 September 2003 17:51:57
To: mail@cerneabbas.org.uk
Subject: Re. 'Britain's top 10 ancient monuments' History channel 21/9/03


Dear Sir/Madam, Have just watched the above which featured a cerne abbas giant clock made by someone in the village. Can I have his contact details as I'd like to buy one!

Thankyou.
Amy Wandlass
amy.wandlass@ntlworld.com
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From: Ayrmer@aol.com
Date: 29 August 2003 12:44:28
To: mail@cerneabbas.org.uk
Subject: CLOCKMAKER-CERNE ABBAS

My family has a "grandmother" clock, made by W.Clarke of Cerne Abbas. It was made for my great or great-great grandfather, George Spiller, I believe in the early 18'00's. Can anyone tell me more about the Clarke family, was "W". a relation of Robert Clarke, also a clockmaker
Jane Stevenson

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From: PaulAtton@aol.com
Date: 30 July 2003 18:01:31
To: mail@cerneabbas.org.uk
Subject: T-Shirts

Hi,

Many years ago our Brunel University Five-a-side football team was named The Cerne Abbas Giants and we all (about 10 people played for the team on and off) regularly went down to Dorset to collect our supply of T-Shirts.

Now we are planning a reunion in October and I wondered if you knew where we can get a supply.

many thanks.

Paul Atton

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From: Kcsmy@aol.com
Date: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 20:35:38
To: cerneabbas@btinternet.com
Subject: Thomas Johns...

I wanted to find out some information about Thomas Johns, I believe he used to be a clockmaker in the 19th century. If you have any information about Thomas Johns please can you let me know.

Many thanks

Kelly Smy
15453 Greater Groves Blvd
Clermont, FL 34711
USA
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If anyone can help with information please e-mail Kelly at: Kcmy@aol.com and let me know so that I can update this query. [Webmaster at: mail@cerneabbas.org.uk ]
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ANY COMMENT? (Webmaster)

From: AnnelieseCoats@aol.com
Date: Friday, April 25, 2003 16:37:43
To: cerneabbas@btinternet.com
Subject: Role of AEthelwead and Ailmer

Foundation of Cerne Abbey, Role of Ailmer

I do like your web site and it was the origins of my study of Cerne but it does contain an error in the Samuel Lewis extract. The point is made that Ailmer,( now normally spelt AEthelmaer), Earl of Cornwall, erected or sponsored the abbey. When I checked that with the Duchy of Cornwall they said that this was wrong as there were no Earls of Cornwall at that time. I think the error originated in Hutchins and was then copied through time.

The sponsors of the abbey were far more important than a mere Earl of Cornwall. The support seemed mainly to come from AEthelweard, who was the father of Ailmer, and who was Earldorman of the Western Provinces for many of the last three decades of the tenth century. He was granted estates by Saint Oswald in an earlier period and then by Kings and he passed on these estates through to his son.

AEthelweard
Royal Patron, supporter of the monastic movement of Saint Dunstan
AEthelweard was a key figure in the monastic movement, led by Saint Dunstan, Oswald and Aethelwold. Oswald ( in 967) appears to have been the first to grant him estates and AEthelweard was a dedicated believer in monastic reform. 'Earldorman' was a title given in Anglo-Saxon times to a ruler of a major province - AEthelweard ruled the area west of Selwood, the West Country. He was the great grandson of AEthelred 1 and so was part of the Royal family. After AEthelred 1 died he was succeeded by King Alfred the Great, chosen for his skills in preference to the son of AEthelred 1. The line of succession then passed through the sons of King Alfred the Great but the family of AEthelred was involved in the rule of the country - with AEthelweard being an important figure. It is important to note that King Alfred had high ideals of reforming the Church and defending the realm - these traditions seem to have been carried forward by his family - including AEthelweard.

Leading Historian
AEthelweard was an historian as well as a civil leader and wrote a version of the Anglo Saxon Chronicles ( the only translation of which is The Chronicle of AEthelweard by A Campbell - published by Nelson in 1962). His version of the Anglo Saxon Chronicles was written in poor Latin and dedicated to Mathilda of Essen ( family - of Otto 1 - Holy Roman Emperor). He hence had good connections for his sources.
Supporter of the Voice of the Monastic Revolution,
AEthelweard brought AElfric to the newly founded Cerne abbey to be mass priest and he was then the most prolific writer in old English. ( most are still available today - many translated through the AElfric Society). Many of his writings were dedicated to AEthlweard and he produced an enormous collection of sermons or Homilies. Some were in Latin but he also brought the Vernacular to the people - a move requested by AEthelweard. Almost all of his key works were written when he was at Cerne - that is 987 to 1005. He occupies many in Oxford and Cambridge Universities today with many comments on his role in religion, Old English and even his historic importance as the Voice of the monastic movement. He may be second to Bede in the amount he wrote and, what is important, he was the Voice of a movement that actually united England.

So I would have the arrogance to say that AEthelweard ( the effective sponsor of the abbey and of AElfric), was immensely important and the magnitude and authority of his writings must have meant that in the period 987 to 1005 Cerne was a major seat of learning. Some of the things that AElfric achieved did not reappear till the Reformation - as the Church appeared to go back to Latin.

I would say that AElfric was the voice of the monastic revolution that created England and the importance of Cerne in the monastic revolution is hence pivotal. I would also say that Cerne has failed to capitalise on this position and the history has been developed in our leading universities, marginalising Cerne's importance as the original post Bede centre of Anglo Saxon learning.

Alan Coats
Old Market House & Red Lion
Tel 01300 341 680

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If any local historians would like to comment on or confirm the above information. I hope to update the local history section in due course. With thanks for the above contribution. FJS. Webmaster.
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