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After the
dissolution of the monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII, Milton Abbey
monastery passed to the Tregonwell family who were in ownership for 200
years. In 1752 it was sold to James Damer who became the Earl of
Dorchester. Most of the old Abbey house was demolished and rebuilt. He
then wished to extend his parklands but the then thriving town of Milton
Abbas was to the south. Gradually over the years, shops and dwellings in
the town were bought and destroyed. In order to house his work people, a
new street of thatched cottages grew up in a side valley, out of sight
of Milton Abbey House. The old town of Milton Abbas is now hidden
beneath the surface of an ornamental lake. The Abbey buildings are now a
public school. The abbey church dates from around 1400.
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| Milton Abbas as it is
today |
The Almshouses, which
are opposite the Church were built in the old town and moved to their
present site in 1799. They were originally designated for six widows. |
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An old photograph of
Milton Abbas, on the left you can see the Hambro Arms and the Wesleyan Chapel which was
built in 1865
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The Hambro Arms 2003. Baron
Hambro was the proprietor of Milton Abbey during part of the 19th
century
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| Another old postcard of
the village, this one courtesy of Terri Davies |
This card of Milton
Abbey has on the reverse "With Mr & Mrs Angus
Hambro's Best Wishes for A Happy Christmas And A Prosperous New Year
1911-1912"
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| The old blacksmith's
forge, the name W H Evans is on the board above the door |
The village post office,
the three men standing and the one on the cart are all in postmen's
uniform.
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| The interior of the
church looking towards the chancel. Despite its recent construction by
the 1880s it was said to be in a "state of decay". After
restoration it was reopened in 1889. |
The church has no porch
and the entrance is in the west end beneath the tower. In the centre of
this area stands the font, this is an old font made of Purbeck marble
which was removed from the Abbey.
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| An idyllic sketch of the
village around 1800 |
For many years the
parishioners used the Abbey church as their parish church, until the
Earl of Dorchester built the church of St James which was
dedicated in 1786
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| Two
photographs of Milton Abbas Cemetery which is on a hillside above the
village. © Caryl Parsons |