Charmouth: Information from Answers.com

Coordinates: 50°43′59″N 2°54′00″W / 50.733°N 2.900°W / 50.733; -2.900

Charmouth
Charmouth Beach looking towards Golden Cap
Charmouth Charmouth shown within Dorset
Population	1,687
District	West Dorset
Shire county	Dorset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRIDPORT
Postcode district	DT6
Dialling code	01297
Police	Dorset
Fire	Dorset
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	West Dorset
List of places: UK • England • Dorset

Charmouth is a village at the mouth of the River Char in West Dorset, England, with a population of 1,687 according to the 2001 census.^[1]

The cliffs above the beach are noted for the number of fossils from the Jurassic era. Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre acts as a visitor centre for the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site, and identifies fossils found in the area. Walkers and fossil-hunters walk the beaches between Lyme Regis and Charmouth but have to be wary of tides and landslips.

Golden Cap is a landmark hill and cliff on the coast just east of Charmouth.

1 History
2 Shops
3 See also
4 References
5 Bibliography
6 External links

History

The history of Charmouth dates back to the Iron Age^{[citation needed]} when a Celtic tribe, the Durotriges, founded a settlement. Evidence of hill forts can still be seen in the area.

The name Charmouth originated from the Saxon 'Cerne' meaning stony river, Charmouth was therefore known as 'Cernmunde'.

Excerpt from The History and Antiquities of the Borough of Lyme Regis and Charmouth by George Roberts, 1834:^[2]

During the Saxon period, the neighbouring coast was particularly subject to the invasions of the Danes, concerning whom so much has been written. In 787, the Danes, Northern men, or Normans, landed at Portland from three ships, to reconnoitre the country, which they did without interruption, as the Saxons had neglected their marine. A. D. 833, according to the Saxon Chronicle, though some of our historians place the event in 831 or 832, a dreadful battle was fought at Charmouth. The Danes having met with repulses in other parts of the kingdom sailed to Charmouth where having landed, Speed says, " they made cruel ravage and slaughter." Their fleet consisted of thirty-five ships, containing a powerful army: their whole force, Huntingdon remarks, must have amounted to 17,500 men; other writers have estimated their numbers at about 15,000. Egbert collected the whole force of the county, and marched to attack them, after they had continued their ravages, according to Matthew of Westminster, about a twelve month. The king had nearly succeeded in cutting them off as they were forming; he threw them into great confusion, but continual supplies of men from the ships turned the scale in their favour. The Saxons were routed: the night alone prevented their destruction by the infuriated invaders, by the favour of which, Speed says, the king hardly escaped. Among the number of the slain were two earls, his principal officers, Dudda and Osmond, Wigen, bishop of Sherborne, and Hereferth, bishop of Winton.^{[disambiguation needed]} The Danes, finding a settlement would be liable to the attacks of the brave Egbert, retired to their ships with precipitation, and set sail. They continued to hover about the coast. In 840, they effected a landing on the same spot, (set Carrum,) from the same number of ships. Ethelwulf's army, which he headed in person, advanced to encounter them: a bloody battle ensued, which, after a desperate struggle, terminated in the Danes remaining masters of the field, though they shortly afterwards retired without any spoil. A successive series of invasions followed.

The buildings running either side of Charmouth's street vary in age, some of the smaller cottages are 17th and 18th century whilst those going up the hill are built in Regency style. A number of buildings in the village have listed building status.^[3] The Queens Armes Hotel, which is a grade II listed building, looks like a Georgian built house, but is actually an early 16th century house that was re-faced in the 18th century.^[4] The house once belonged to Forde Abbey and the badge of Catherine of Aragon was found worked into the plaster of an upstairs room.^[5] Later, after the house became an inn, it gave shelter to the fugitive King Charles II on 22 September 1651, when he came disguised looking for a boat to take him to France following his defeat at the Battle of Worcester. A small trading ship was found bound for St Malo. The master, Stephen Limbry, agreed to pick up the King from Charmouth beach and transport him to the ship, but just two hours before the pick up Limbry told his wife, who locked him in his room and stole his clothes to ensure he would not become involved.^[6] On the following day Charles left Charmouth pursued by troops, who were alerted to his presence by an employee of the inn.^[7]