Alcester

Settlement in Dorset

England

Alcester

Gold Hill Shaftesbury Gold Hill Shaftesbury looking up the hill
Gold Hill Shaftesbury Credit: Colin Prosser

Alcester is a quaint and picturesque village located in the county of Dorset, England. Situated in the heart of the Dorset Downs, it is surrounded by rolling hills, lush green meadows, and breathtaking countryside views. The village is about 10 miles north of the bustling market town of Dorchester and approximately 25 miles west of the historic city of Salisbury.

With a population of around 500 residents, Alcester retains a strong sense of community and a peaceful ambiance. The village is renowned for its charming thatched cottages, many of which date back to the 17th century, adding to its traditional and timeless appeal. The village center features a small but well-preserved medieval church, St. Mary's, which serves as a focal point for local religious activities and historical interest.

While Alcester may be small in size, it offers a range of amenities for its residents and visitors. There is a local pub, The Alcester Arms, which serves as a social hub and provides a warm and friendly atmosphere for locals and visitors alike. The village also boasts a primary school, a community center, a post office, and a few small independent businesses.

The surrounding countryside offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. The nearby Dorset Downs, part of the larger South Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, provide stunning landscapes and scenic trails for nature enthusiasts.

Alcester is a hidden gem, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, while still providing necessary amenities and access to the beautiful Dorset countryside.

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Alcester Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.002903/-2.2059997 or Grid Reference ST8522. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Gold Hill Shaftesbury Gold Hill Shaftesbury looking up the hill
Gold Hill Shaftesbury
Gold Hill Shaftesbury looking up the hill
Gold Hill Shaftesbury Gold Hill Shaftesbury, the building at the top of the hill
Gold Hill Shaftesbury
Gold Hill Shaftesbury, the building at the top of the hill
Gold Hill Looking down Gold Hill in Shaftesbury.  Most of the houses seen here are grade II listed, as are the stone sets forming the road surface.
Gold Hill
Looking down Gold Hill in Shaftesbury. Most of the houses seen here are grade II listed, as are the stone sets forming the road surface.
1 Bimport Building at the junction of Bimport and High Street.  Grade II listed - see <span class="nowrap"><a title="www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1108756" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1108756">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>.  The blue plaque to the right of the frontage (see <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7025373">ST8623 : Blue plaque, 1 Bimport</a> for close up) reads "Site of Lord Arundel's town house c.1590, later the Rose & Crown Inn.  Present buildingc.1835 may include parts of the old house."
1 Bimport
Building at the junction of Bimport and High Street. Grade II listed - see LinkExternal link. The blue plaque to the right of the frontage (see ST8623 : Blue plaque, 1 Bimport for close up) reads "Site of Lord Arundel's town house c.1590, later the Rose & Crown Inn. Present buildingc.1835 may include parts of the old house."
Blue plaque, 1 Bimport Blue plaque on 1 Bimport (see <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7025363">ST8623 : 1 Bimport</a>) reading "Site of Lord Arundel's town house c.1590, later the Rose & Crown Inn.  Present building c.1835 may include parts of the old house."
Blue plaque, 1 Bimport
Blue plaque on 1 Bimport (see ST8623 : 1 Bimport) reading "Site of Lord Arundel's town house c.1590, later the Rose & Crown Inn. Present building c.1835 may include parts of the old house."
View from the back of The Mitre, Shaftesbury This is looking roughly SSE. Centre on the horizon is Melbury Hill.
View from the back of The Mitre, Shaftesbury
This is looking roughly SSE. Centre on the horizon is Melbury Hill.
Bar in The Grosvenor The Grosvenor Arms is Grade II* listed, see <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1218032" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1218032">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Bar in The Grosvenor
The Grosvenor Arms is Grade II* listed, see LinkExternal link
Trinity Centre Former church in Shaftesbury.
Trinity Centre
Former church in Shaftesbury.
Layton Lane Houses in Shaftesbury.
Layton Lane
Houses in Shaftesbury.
French Mill Lane House south of Shaftesbury.
French Mill Lane
House south of Shaftesbury.
French Mill Lane View across the fields on French Mill Lane.
French Mill Lane
View across the fields on French Mill Lane.
French Mill Lane House on French Mill Lane.
French Mill Lane
House on French Mill Lane.
High Street, Shaftesbury c.1970
High Street, Shaftesbury c.1970
Direction Sign, Shaftesbury In the garden of the Half Moon, Salisbury Road.  The inscription "Aptenodytes forsteri" (see <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_penguin)" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_penguin)">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> is pointing to Emperor Penguins in Antarctica. The "Rude Giant" is <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5439068">ST6601 : The Cerne Giant</a> (see Wiki <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerne_Abbas_Giant)" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerne_Abbas_Giant)">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> . The Hall & Woodhouse Brewery is 12.2 miles due South.
Direction Sign, Shaftesbury
In the garden of the Half Moon, Salisbury Road. The inscription "Aptenodytes forsteri" (see LinkExternal link is pointing to Emperor Penguins in Antarctica. The "Rude Giant" is ST6601 : The Cerne Giant (see Wiki LinkExternal link . The Hall & Woodhouse Brewery is 12.2 miles due South.
Old Milepost by the B3091, Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury Cast iron post by the B3091, in parish of Shaftesbury (North Dorset District), Salisbury Street, by No. 56, by the road, on East side of road. Cockey iron casting, erected by the Shaftesbury & New Road to Blandford turnpike trust in the 19th century. 

Inscription reads:-
: SHERBORN / 15 : : ST PETERS SHAFTESBURY : : SALISBURY / 20 :
Maker:-
: COCKEY IRO(N) :

Grade II Listed. List Entry Number:1240035
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1240035" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1240035">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

Milestone Society National ID: DO_SBSA15
Old Milepost by the B3091, Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury
Cast iron post by the B3091, in parish of Shaftesbury (North Dorset District), Salisbury Street, by No. 56, by the road, on East side of road. Cockey iron casting, erected by the Shaftesbury & New Road to Blandford turnpike trust in the 19th century. Inscription reads:- : SHERBORN / 15 : : ST PETERS SHAFTESBURY : : SALISBURY / 20 : Maker:- : COCKEY IRO(N) : Grade II Listed. List Entry Number:1240035 LinkExternal link Milestone Society National ID: DO_SBSA15
Shaftesbury: High Street just before Carnival
Shaftesbury: High Street just before Carnival
Shaftesbury Carnival: marching band
Shaftesbury Carnival: marching band
The Retreat - Bell Street Georgian Town House converted into a ten bedroom guest house. The building was run by the Red Cross as an Auxiliary Hospital during the Great War.
The Retreat - Bell Street
Georgian Town House converted into a ten bedroom guest house. The building was run by the Red Cross as an Auxiliary Hospital during the Great War.
Show me another place!

Alcester is located at Grid Ref: ST8522 (Lat: 51.002903, Lng: -2.2059997)

Unitary Authority: Dorset

Police Authority: Dorset

What 3 Words

///tried.spinners.mavericks. Near Shaftesbury, Dorset

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.002903,-2.2059997
Ambulance Station
Emergency: ambulance_station
Lat/Long: 51.0052564/-2.20183
War Memorial
Historic: memorial
Lat/Long: 51.0046131/-2.1994008
Post Box
Post Box Type: wall
Ref: SP7 13
Ref GB Uprn: 10013287378
Lat/Long: 51.0026343/-2.2009259
Post Box
Collection Times: Mo-Fr 17:45; Sa 11:45
Post Box Type: wall
Ref: SP7 43
Ref GB Uprn: 10015358616
Royal Cypher: EIIR
Royal Cypher Wikidata: Q33102113
Source: survey
Lat/Long: 51.0046867/-2.2023132
Barrier: stile
Lat/Long: 51.002956/-2.2112602
Post Box
Operator: Royal Mail
Post Box Type: lamp
Ref: SP7 21D
Ref GB Uprn: 10013297974
Royal Cypher: EIIR
Lat/Long: 51.0013134/-2.2030632
Barrier: kissing_gate
Lat/Long: 51.0042452/-2.2006193
Oldest House in Shaftesbury
Historic: memorial
Openplaques Id: 2337
Lat/Long: 51.0041257/-2.2034064
Bicycle Parking
Bicycle Parking: stands
Capacity: 8
Covered: no
Lat/Long: 51.0045719/-2.1995841
Bicycle Parking
Bicycle Parking: stands
Capacity: 4
Covered: no
Lat/Long: 51.0046439/-2.1994519
Barrier: kissing_gate
Lat/Long: 51.0057224/-2.2020187
Post Box
Ref GB Uprn: 10015310634
Lat/Long: 51.0070896/-2.2046509
Castle Hill
Tourism: viewpoint
Lat/Long: 51.0052107/-2.2032545
Barrier: stile
Foot: yes
Material: stone
Stile: stepover
Lat/Long: 51.0004631/-2.2081849
Breach Common
Leisure: common
Lat/Long: 51.0024878/-2.2095931
Alcester
Place: hamlet
Lat/Long: 51.002403/-2.2052981
St James
Place: suburb
Lat/Long: 51.0027055/-2.2012812
Power: pole
Source: bing
Lat/Long: 51.0066811/-2.2072569
Power: pole
Source: bing
Lat/Long: 51.0068136/-2.2091599
Entrance: main
Lat/Long: 51.0008059/-2.2038549
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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