Coordinates: 50°49′09″N 2°25′38″W / 50.81916°N 2.42725°W
| Alton Pancras | |
| Alton Pancras | |
  Alton Pancras shown within Dorset |
|
| Population | 145[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| - London | 130 miles (209 km) |
| Parish | Alton Pancras |
| District | West Dorset |
| Shire county | Dorset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DORCHESTER |
| Postcode district | DT2 |
| Dialling code | 01300 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | West Dorset |
| Website: http://www.altonpancras.co.uk/ | |
| List of places: UK • England • Dorset | |
Alton Pancras is a small village in the West Dorset district of Dorset, England; situated 9 miles north of Dorchester. The local travel links are located 7 miles from the village to Maiden Newton railway station and 26 miles to Bournemouth International Airport. Also, the main road running through the village is the B3143 connecting Alton Pancras to Dorchester. The village has a population of 145 according to the 2001 Census.
The village church is dedicated to Saint Pancras, which provides part of the village name.
It is in the Piddle valley and was formerly also a liberty, containing only the parish itself.
History
The village was first likely settled by Saxons during the expansion of the Kingdom of Wessex. The name of the village was then Awultune, meaning in West Saxon 'village at the source of the river'(the river being the Piddle valley). After conversion to Christianity, the village name incorporated the little known St Pancras and certainly by the time of the Battle of Agincourt was known as Aulton Pancras.
The current church was restored in the 19th century after an earlier Norman church was near collapse. All that remains of the old church is the 15th century spire and a Norman arch. The church organ used to be a fairground organ. The floor tiles were created by Poole Pottery.
References
- ^ Census, 2001
External links
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