Godmanstone

Godmanstone is a village of about 60 homes to the South of Cerne Abbas, lying in the Cerne Valley alongside the River Cerne. The parish is fairly small, being only 474 hectares, almost all to the West side of the road and River . There is a spur of modern development off Fry's Lane on the West side near the South end of the village but otherwise the properties are of mixed ages, some rather old and a few thatched.

Most of the village is within a Conservation Area and with its adjacent hamlet of Nether Cerne lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are many footpath walks round the village over the rolling hills between Cerne Valley and the Piddle Valley and Sydling St Nicholas.

It is mainly a retirement village without industries apart from Agriculture but it can boast 2 Farm Shops; one at Manor Farm, which was one of the earliest organic dairy farms and one at Longmeadow, which sells organically grown vegetables. The 'Bamboo people' also sell cane products from a store in the garden.

The main Church is Holy Trinity in Church Lane. It is a small Grade 1 listed church and of some antiquity. Services are usually held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths are held at The Records Office, Bridport Road, Dorchester. There is a small Village Hall which is now owned by the Village and available for hiring.

There is also All Saints Church at Nether Cerne, in the grounds of Nether Cerne Manor, which is in the care of The Churches Conservation Trust and at which services are held, normally once a year.

The 17th Century (?) Flint and thatched Pub claims to be the "Smallest Pub in England". It can seat only 28 people inside but It is pleasantly situated with gardens alongside the Cerne taking the overflow in the Summer. At the time of writing, the pub is closed owing to the illness of the proprietor.

For vegetarians, Bed and Breakfast accommodation is available at Cowden House, at the corner of Fry's Lane. The proprietor, Tim Mills, specialises in Vegetarian catering and can be reached on 01300/341295 or on his website www.cowdenhouse.co.uk .