Milton Abbas

The picture-postcard village of Milton Abbas has a street of thatched cottages that is featured on many an English countryside calendar! 

The original village, known as Middleton, was situated in the valley south of Milton Abbey, but to improve the view from his new mansion, Joseph Damer (later Lord Milton and Earl of Dorchester) acquired all the property leases by fair means and foul, relocated the village and rebuilt it in its present form during the period 1773-80.

Almhouses

The rebuild included the re-erection of the 16th century almshouses opposite the church.

Milton Abbas is considered to be the first planned town or village in Britain.  Sturdy cottages were built on either side of the main street, each with a lawn in front and a chestnut tree in between every house.  Unfortunately these had to be felled some years ago because of disease.

Also in the village is a church, pub and post office (with an unusual grey telephone box!).