EXTRACT FROM POST OFFICE DIRECTORY OF DORSETSHIRE 1855
Corfe Mullen is a parish in Cogdean Hundred, and Wimborne Union, distant from the latter town 2 miles south-west, 117 from London, 8 south-east from Blandford, and 8 north-west from Poole. The church or chapel, like most in this neighbourhood, appears very ancient, and was repaired about 1850. Here is one Dissenting chapel, and a Charity school. £10 a year, from a bequest, is expended and given to the poor in bread every Sunday, and cheese every fortnight, over a tombstone. Frederick Coventry, Esq., and Henry W Willett, are lords of this manor. The area is 3155 acres, and the population in 1851 was 763.
Brog Street, Sleight, and Condys, are three-quarters of a mile east; East End and Lamb’s Green, 1 mile north-east; Newtown, 1 mile south-east; Taylors and Dominys, half a mile south; Henbury, 1 mile west; Beldam Howe, 1 and a half miles south-east. On the down is a barrow. Knowle House is the seat of W.C. Lambert Esq.
| GENTRY | |
| Brett John Lowden esq. | |
| Lambert William Charles esq. | Knowle House |
| McCobb Rev. Matthew | |
| TRADERS | |
| Allen James | Carpenter |
| Apsey Joseph | Wheelwright |
| Barfoot Eleanor (Mrs) | Farmer |
| Barnes George | Farmer, Knowle |
| Barnes Henry | Builder and Wheelwright |
| Beaverstock William | Farmer |
| Brown George | Farmer |
| Cherrett Benjamin | Farmer |
| Clayton William | Farmer |
| Foot Richard | Shopkeeper |
| Frampton Mary (Mrs) | Shopkeeper |
| Grant Mary (Mrs) | Shopkeeper |
| Harris William | Farmer and Miller |
| Horwood John F. | ‘Angel’ Cogdean |
| Holloway Elizabeth (Mrs) | Shopkeeper and Postmistress |
| Lanning James | Farmer, Court Farm |
| Martin Thomas | Farmer |
| Penny William | ‘Coventry Arms’ |
| Priddle John | Wheelwright |
| Saunders Samuel | Smith |
| Spinny Jane (Mrs) | Beer Retailer |
| Wareham James | Grocer |
Post Office – Mrs. Elizabeth Holloway, receiver. Letters arrive by foot post from Wimborne at
7 a.m.; dispatched 7 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Wimborne.
Charity School – Mrs. Martha Thorne, mistress