Todber

St Andrew's Church, Todber
© Copyright Chris Downer and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Todber (or Todbere) is a small village and parish and lies in the Blackmore Vale. It is 4½ miles north-east from Sturminster Newton, and 5 south-west from Shaftesbury, historically in the Northern division of the county, hundred of Redlane, Shaftesbury petty sessional division, union and county court district, rural deanery of Shaftesbury (Shaftesbury portion), archdeaconry of Dorset, and diocese of Salisbury.

The church, dedicated to St Andrew, was rebuilt, with the exception of the tower, in 1879 by Elizabeth Marchioness of Westminster on the old site in the Early English and Perpendicular style. It consists of chancel, nave, vestry, and a tower containing two bells, dated 1736-7, one of which was recast in 1879. The register dates from the year 1653.

In 1086 Todber was recorded in the Domesday Book as Todeberie, it was in the hundred of Gillingham, the lord was Geoffrey Mallory and the tenant-in-chief was William of Mohun.

The soil is sand and loam; subsoil, green sandstone, which is worked for building purposes and metalling roads. The chief crops are wheat, oats, barley and beans. The area is 373 acres.

The population in 1901 was 131.

(Extract from Kelly's Directory 1915)

Manor Farm (view from Church yard)

The new Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for Todber is Rosy Treasure

As well as the information already online Rosy has access to MIs and to some transcripts of the parish registers. More material will appear online in the future. Please note Rosy does not live locally.