Iwerne Courtney

Also known locally as Shroton
includes Farrington and Ranston

Shroton Church

 

Iwerne Courtney known locally as Shroton is situated in a valley just off the Blandford to Shaftesbury road. It is first mentioned in the Domesday book as just 'Werne' by the mid 13th Century the Courtney affix had appeared though spelt Curtney as that time. The Courtenay family, Earls of Devon held the Manor from the early 13th Century. The other, locally used name of Shroton derives from the Old English scir-refa & tun meaning 'the sheriff's estate', at the time of Domesday the manor belonged to Baldwin of Exeter, sheriff of Devon. The name Shroton is preferred locally; in his 1980 book Dorset Villages, Roland Gant stated that "I have heard only visitors to Dorset call it Iwerne Courtney".

At the time of the Domesday Book, Iwerne Courtney had 17 households and was in the hundred of Gillingham. It had 2 mills, 30 acres (12 ha) of meadow, 8 ploughlands, and its value to the lord of the manor was £10. In 1261 the village received a grant from Henry the Third, enabling it to hold two annual fairs and a weekly market. The autumn "Shroton Fair" used to be "one of the main Dorset events of the year"

The parish originally consisted three settlements: Iwerne Courtney in the centre, Farrington to the northwest and Ranston immediately east of the river. Each settlement had its own open field system. Farrington now consists of a few farms, and at Ranston only the manor house remains.



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Census 1841 Census
1851 Census
1861 Census
1871 Census [Christel Muncaster]
1881 Census
1891 Census [John Ridout]
1901 Census
1911 Census
Parish Registers Baptisms
1731-1812, 1813-1844 [Janet Courtney]
1845-1858, 1858-1912 [Pam Sharkey]
Marriages
1832-1912 [Richard Travell]
Burials
1813-1892 [Pam Sharkey]
Postal Directories Harrod's Directory 1865
Other Records Rectors 1295-1986 [Dorinda Miles]
St Mary's Memorial Index [Jan Hibberd]
Photographs Photographs [Dorinda Miles]
Memorials [Dorinda Miles]
Further Photographs [Julie Browning]
Useful Links  
Other information  
Maps The 1891 Ordnance Survey maps of the parish can be seen at the old-maps site, just enter 'Iwerne Courtney' or 'Shroton' under place search.

View Larger Map
   
Records held at the Dorset History Centre
[Ref PE-IWC]
 
Registers
Christenings 1562-1912. Marriages 1563-2003. Burials 1562-1892.
Registration District
(for the purpose of civil registration births, marriages & deaths)
1 Jul 1837-30 Jun 1956: Blandford
1 Jul 1956-31 Mar 1974: Poole
1 Apr 1974-17 Oct 2005: North Dorset

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