Welcome to Charmouth Local History Society

VE Day – 80th Anniversary
The sheer joy of that day 80 years ago is hard to imagine, alongside the pain, grief and suffering of six years of war. Like many across the country, on the 8th May, Charmouth prepares to celebrate and remember the day with a tea party kindly hosted by one of the CLHS committee in her garden here in Charmouth.

During a recent review of our book collection at the Pavey Rooms, we came across a six volume set entitled The War in Pictures, published in 1946, it has one volume per year with photographs of events month by month. The books will be available to peruse at the Charmouth event in Liddon Field. The photographs in these volumes provide a stark reminder of the ravages of the time. Within one of the six volumes was discovered a number of war time newspaper cuttings, they are not relevant to Charmouth but they do convey a glimpse into the desperate position the country found themselves in.

A document returns to Charmouth after 224 years!
With history “finds” you never know what surprise awaits in the most unusual of circumstances. None less than when Catherine from Rosey Ravelston books in the lovely Blue Mountains of Australia contacted us to say she had what appeared to be deeds of a property in Charmouth dated 1801 and in very good condition. A UK visitor to the shop who lives near Chippenham kindly offered to courier the document back, and so here it is, returned, having travelled the world! The document was one of a number of history books and documents donated to the Catherine’s shop by a gentleman clearing his father-in-law’s estate, so unfortunately we are unable to discover how the document travelled to Australia.

Neil Mattingly has confirmed the “Afsignment” document dated 16th March 1801, to be that for Little Lodge and Charmouth House, when they were acquired by Jacob Ridley Kitt. You can read more on Neil’s Freshford website here. Photographs of the document can be found here , with a good example of Stamp Duty!

Our Origins
Our society is built on the work of local historian Reginald Pavey. Recently we received the kind donation of three of his original papers which had found their way to the USA, discovered during a paperwork clear-out by a member of the Charmouth Grinter family who lives there. They are available here as pdf scans:

‘A Few Notes on the North West end of Charmouth and some of the people who have lived there’; Charmouth Notes, Part 1 – 1968

‘A few Notes on Charmouth Street from Charmouth House to the Coach and Horses Hotel and some of the people who have lived there’; Charmouth Notes, Part 2 – 1968

‘A few Notes on the Eastern Portion of “Charmouth Street” including “The Lower Sea Lane”, “The Higher Sea Lane” and Some of the people who have lived there’; Charmouth Notes, Part 3 – 1969

What has Charmouth been like in the past?
The society has a large collection of documents, photographs and objects which have been donated to us. These show that our relatively small village has a very wide and rich history, ranging from visits by royalty or the author Jane Austen to interesting old characters, charities, amazing buildings and even the last duel in England!

We want to use this collection to interest and intrigue people of all ages who live in Charmouth or have connections with the local area or are visitors to Charmouth.

A New Version of the Free Charmouth History Trail Leaflet is available to download

We have updated the free Charmouth History Trail leaflet and it is available to download here.

The full 24-page booklet is available from the CLHS online store (£3 postage included) or shops in the village for £2. The Charmouth History Trail is also available on your mobile phone, tablet or PC as an interactive Google Earth page here