Cerne Abbas, Dorset
Accommodation, restaurants & cafés, & tourist attractions
Cerne Abbas (Dorset)
Famous for its Giant, Cerne Abbas is a quintessentially English village appearing in Thomas Hardy’s novels as “Abbots-Cernel”. The village grew around the Benedictine Abbey founded in AD987. Sadly this was destroyed in 1539 with the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII but remnants of the Abbot’s Porch and the Abbey Guesthouse may still be visited via the top of Abbey Street, as may St. Augustine’s Well at the far end of a pretty burial ground. St. Mary’s Church built for the parishioners by the abbey is in the heart of the village and retains many original features.Cerne’s underground water gave rise to a brewing industry and the village at one time had 14 public houses. There were other small industries such as milling, silk weaving, tanning, hat and glove making supporting a population of 1500.
By 1906 industry had declined and the population had halved due largely to the village being bypassed by the railway but Cerne is now an active community of some 700 people and able to boast three historic public houses, a school, Post Office, a village stores and a number of other shops.
The Giant – an 180 foot high figure carved into the steep hillside may best be seen from a viewpoint on the A35 Dorchester to Sherborne road. Whilst now a scheduled ancient monument the origins of the Giant are unclear. Credited by many with various tales related to fertility some believe he represents the god Hercules and is some 1500 years old. Others argue that he is a more recent caricature of any of a number of historical figures. In any event he is well worth a visit.
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