Motcombe

including Enmore Green

Motcombe Church, photograph © J G Kennedy 2003-2011

Motcombe is a large scattered parish 2 miles north from Shaftesbury. As early as the 19th century the parish was described as being well supplied with water, the source of which is a spring rising on the hills close to Cowherds Shute. The area is noted for numerous apple orchards and cider is manufactured; it was also a great cheesemaking area and market gardening, dairy farming and brick making were also carried on. Motcombe House is a handsome red brick structure in the Tudor style. 

The church of St Mary was rebuilt in 1846 and seats nearly 400 people. The registers date from 1676. At Enmore Green the church of St John the Evangelist was erected in 1843, it is in the Norman style and seats 300 persons. There was a Wesleyan and a Primitive Methodist chapel in Motcombe and a Primitive Methodist chapel and Life Boat Mission at Enmore Green. The population of the parish in 1891 was 1309 persons and the area is 4837 acres

Enmore Green Church, photograph © J G Kennedy 2003-2011

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