A Brief History of Chideock

 in the Domesday Book for 1086 is, 900 years later today’s Dorset Village of Chideock, though the name has enjoyed many spellings over the past centuries as well as in early Saxon Times.  Prior to the Norman Conquest, it had belonged to King Alfred but was seized by William the Conqueror within two years of the Conquest.  The Manor was subsequently granted to Norman Barons, but in 1312 Edward II transferred the lands of CHIDIOCK to the first John De Chidiock whose family came from Bridport. In 1449 they passed through marriage, to the Arundell family who held them until purchased in 1802 by Thomas Weld, whose grandson subsequently married a descendant of the last Sir John De Chidiock.  The Welds lived in the present Manor House until recently, so only three families have held the tenure of the Manor of Chideock for over 650 years.  This continuity of tenure over the centuries, despite troubled times of the Civil War during which the Castle was “slighted” or demolished, can well have helped make it possible for a Curate of Chideock to write, a hundred years ago, of the “sequestered scene” and “soft retreat” which attracts so many retired people today.  Prior to this, in the middle of the 16^th century, the antiquary Leland had dismissed Chidwick as being merely a “fisher town distant a mile from the shore.”  In 1801 it had a total population of 578 of whom 302 were employed in agriculture and 49 in trade or manufacture.  Presumably, many of the agricultural workers were engaged in growing flax to supply the thriving net and cordage industry of Bridport and support the many out-workers in Chideock who were making nets.  Symondsbury at that time was reputed to be producing more flax than any other parish in England to make the nets and cables which had rigged the nation’s fleet since the time of King John.  Chideock certainly shared her neighbours’ activity.  Early in the 19^th century also, no less than 40 fishermen were operating from Seatown and doubtless supplementing their incomes by considerable activity in smuggling and even in 1906 the Dorset historian Sir Frederick Treves still referred to the “sea town of Chideock”.  Today those supporting the tourist industry have taken over from the fishermen and smugglers and many of those who used to work on the land and sea.  The whole of the Parish of Chideock is designated An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  The village is a conservation area and the coastal parts of the Parish have been nominated for World Heritage Site status.  It is this area, which, without prejudice either to the life and livelihood of its inhabitants or to the pleasure of its visitors we wish to preserve.

The origin of the Name Chideock is uncertain; it possibly comes from an Old English word 'coediog' which means 'wooded' or 'woody'.  Alternatively, it may have derived from 'Cedda's Oak' - Cedda being a common Anglo-Saxon name.

All that remains of Chideock Castle today are earthen mounds and trenches.  The signboard to the Castle Inn gives an indication of its original form; it is a copy of an original draft, made in 1733 showing the castle gates.  The castle was supplied with water by leaden pipes from a spring which rises at the foot of Quarry Hill.  It was finally destroyed by the Parliamentarians in 1645 having changed hands several times during the Civil War.

Martyr's Cross erected to the memory of five Catholic priests who refused to conform to the new Established Church and were conseqently taken and butchered.  It stands in the centre of the earthen remains of Chideock Castle

St Giles Church, Chideock contains the effigy of John de Chideoke, who was responsible for building the castle in 1380.  It was caught up in the cannonading of the castle in the Civil War - one of the firing positions was supposed to have been in the churchyard to the east of the chancel.

Cobb Cottages Chideock has good examples of cob-walling, common in Dorset.  It is basically a mixture of chalk, clay and straw, although it varies from one part of the country to another.  Cobb cottages have two main features - low hanging eaves and brick or stone bases for the walls.  "All cob wants is a good hat and a good pair of shoes".

Chideock Cyder used to be made by the workers on Chideock Manor farm.  Made with wheaten straw in presses of oak, elm and iron it was potent enough "to make 'ee zing and dance and tangle up thy lags."

Chideock House (now a hotel & Restaurant) was the location for the trial of five Chideock martyrs.  It was also the headquarters of the Roundheads in 1645

The Monmouth Rebellion 

JAMES SCOTT, DUKE OF MONMOUTH,  was the illegitimate son of Charles II, and in the 1670s he was brought into the public eye as an alternative protestant successor to the throne instead of Charles's catholic brother James. Leading politicians encouraged the Duke and in 1680 he was hailed as the protestant heir in the House of Commons. However , Monmouth was implicated in the 1683 RYE HOUSE PLOT against the King and exiled to Holland. JAMES II succeeded Charles in February 1685 and Monmouth and his followers decided to try and seize the crown. (Sounds like a takeover of the Parish Council!!!).

The Duke sailed from exile in Holland on the 29th May 1685, his intention being to sail to LYME REGIS-and raise an array amongst his West Country followers. The Kings array remained in London not knowing of Monmouth's
destination. On Thursday 11th June, a small party of his forces landed at CHIDEOCK (SEATOWN) and investigated Hawkchurch and Forde Abbey to collect horses and men.

Three mysterious vessels lay some way of the west which perplexed the inhabitants of the villages lying along this corner of the Dorset coast.  News of the early morning landing at CHIDEOCK (SEATOWN) had spread, and the
Mayor of LYME REGIS despatched a couple of men of men in the direction of HAWKCHURCH. At length the vessels came within gunshot and put off seven boats of armed men who effected a landing on the west side of the COBB. The first act of MONMOUTH on setting foot on the beach was to offer a short prayer. He the then unsheathed his sword and led his men by a field path over the cliff into the town. The Mayor of LYME REGIS left the town for
HONITON raising the alarm as he went, and on arrival despatched an express to Whitehall.

During the next four days THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH lodged at the GEORGE (LYME REGIS), this inn stood in Coombe Street, but was destroyed by fire in 1844.

Men from West Dorset and East Devon joined the uprising swelling the Duke's forces to about 9000. But the Dorset (Militia) at BRIDPORT kept many would-be followers from leaving the town.

On the evening of Sunday 14th, aforce started in the direction of BRIDPORT to attack the Dorset Militia, they were beaten off and fled back to LYME.  MONMOUTH met them near CHARMOUTH and was astonished to hear of the defeat.  He then decided to move towards TAUNTON, the first stage in his intended march to LONDON. The next day he marched out of LYME REGIS and on FRIDAY 20th JUNE he was proclaimed KING OF ENGLAND in TAUNTON. He then proceeded through SOMERSET where the campaign was defeated on the 5th and 6th July at THE BATTLE OF SEDGEMOOR, MONMOUTH was publicly executed on 15th July at TOWER HILL.

Over the next few weeks the Constables of each Parish in the area were ordered to produce lists of all those suspected to have been involved in the rebellion. It was the men on these lists that LORD CHIEF JUSTICE JEFFREYS
tried at the BLOODY ASSIZES

In September 1685 JUDGE JEFFREYS came to DORCHESTER and lodged at 6 HIGH WEST STREET, now a restaurant 'Judge Jeffreys Lodgings', which had been acquired by the Alderman of Dorchester as a Judge's lodgings.

The BLOODY ASSIZES were held in the Oak Room of the Antelope Hotel and begun on the 5th September. JUDGE JEFFREYS is said to have had a secret passage from his lodgings to the Court. The ASSIZES SERMON was preached at the opening of the ASSIZES in St Peters Church, and this custom is still observed today at each assizes.

JEFFREYS is described as having a particularly brutal nature which was inflamed by continual intoxication!!. He was however a sick man and took drink to alleviate his pain. This, however was no consolation to the TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY_EIGHT rebels who were tried in DORCHESTER, many of whom had the slenderest of connections with the rebellion and were innocent of any crime. Seventy-four were executed, one hundred and seventy-five were
transported and only twenty-nine were pardoned.

The executions were carried out in towns and villages in the area and the dismembered bodies were displayed on spears and poles in prominent places where they stayed until the King made a tour of inspection of the West
Country in the summer of 1686.