| Chettle |
| Six miles northeast of the Blandford
Forum is the village of Chettle and Chettle house built around 1710 for
George Chafin who was a Member of Parliament and in 1845 it was
remodelled for Edward Castleman the well known railway entrepreneur. The
house and gardens are a favourite with the tourists to the county. The village is in a woodland hollow and there are two long barrows here which are said to be 2000 years old. The area is well know for many centuries of conflict and one such story relates to Thomas Chafin's family living here during the 17th century , Thomas was in command of a trop of Dorset Horse at Sedgemoor and was against Monmouths advance. He wrote constantly to his Nan his wife and these have been carefully stored. One particular letter that is dated July 1685 he wrote from London says 'I hope to be home Saturday sennight. The late Duke of Monmouth's head was severed from his body yesterday morning on Tower Hill about 10 in the forenoon. Lord Grey will soone be there too. Blessing to the bratts. So farewell my dearest, deare, Nan.' He died in 1691 aged 41 and Nan followed
him in 1705 and a memorial tablet is in the church that they lived next
to with their 14 children.
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