Kingston (near Corfe Castle)
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DORSET OPC
Hutchins
A manor, farm, tithing and hamlet, the latter consisting of between 30 and 40 houses,
is situated on the brow of a hill, a mile south of Corfe, and has a chapel dedicated
to St. James. It was sometimes called South Kingston and Kingston Abbess to distinguish
it from the other Kingstons in the County. It takes its name from having been part
of the possessions of the Crown under the Anglo-
At the Domesday survey the Church of St. Mary at Shaftesbury held Chingestone. On the dissolution of the Abbey of Shaftesbury the manor of Kingston came to the Crown.
In 1796 … this village has entirely been rebuilt within these late years and convenient gardens have been added to each cottage. Still greater improvements have been made and many of the houses have since been rebuilt and a handsome and commodious schoolhouse, with residence for a master, has been erected by the children of the late Earl in memory of their parents.
At the east end of this hamlet is a small chapel dedicated to St. James. In Hutchin’s time (1774) it was only officiated by the rector of Corfe once a fortnight in summer, and once a month in winter. From 1786 divine service was afterwards performed once every Sunday in the year. Divine service is now regularly performed twice every Sunday. The inhabitants bury in the chapel yard. The chapel which was a mean structure was entirely taken down and rebuilt by Lord Chancellor Eldon.
Mr Pitt … has established a large and extensive manufactory here for spinning twine,
making cordage, dowlas, sacking and sail-
Extracted from: The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset by John Hutchins Volume 1 Page 511