セルネ・アバスの村とその巨大なヌード！

セルネ・アバスの村とその巨大なヌード！

Our destination today is the picturesque village 
of Cerne Abbas. Nestled in Dorset Cerne Valley, this charming village with its thatched 
timber framed, flint and stone houses exudes an enduring old English charm. 
It is home to Britain’s largest and most recognisable chalk hill figure, as well 
as the remnants of a Benedictine abbey. Our visit begins on the outskirts of the 
village at the giant’s viewing car park. Carved into the chalky hillside, the Cerne Giant 
has generated considerable mystery and debate about its origins. Archaeological theories range 
from an ancient fertility symbol to a depiction of the Greco-Roman hero Hercules. Recent studies 
now suggest it may date to the late Anglo-Saxon period, around 700 to 1100 AD, disappearing into 
the hillside by the Tudor era, as no records exist during that period, and then being rediscovered 
and marked out again by the 17th century. This designated car park viewpoint, located 
off the A352, offers the best unobstructed view of the entire figure. You can also take 
a short walk up Giant Hill to get closer, but walking on the giant itself is restricted 
to prevent damage. Whilst the giant draws a curious crowd, the village is what we really come for, and it’s just a short walk away. So, we’re on Duck Street. Just came 
from the car park and I think it’s like a 5-minute walk. It’ll 
get us down into the centre of the village. Very small, it’s not 
going to take us long to get around, but it looked really sweet in the photos we saw 
on the internet. So, let’s have a little look. There is a slightly closer car park on Kettle 
Bridge Lane and you can walk into the village in the opposite direction via the riverwalk which 
is where we’ll end up at the end of our visit. Cerne Abbas owes its very existence and 
prosperity to the medieval foundation of Cerne Abbey. Initially founded in 987 AD 
by Æthelmær the Stout, the site was soon reestablished as a Benedictine Abbey in 
the late 10th century. For over 500 years, the abbey was a major landowner and the 
economic and social heart of the region. The village developed into a small market 
town with key streets like Long Street and Abbey Street forming around the Abbey Precinct 
and Market Cross. Historical records show that almost all the town folk were financially 
dependent on or employed by the abbey. When the abbey closed and surrendered to 
King Henry VIII in 1539, the village’s primary source of income disappeared. The manor 
fell into the hands of private landlords who dismantled the abbey, profiting from materials 
repurposed during a period of rebuilding. The original street pattern remarkably endures to 
this day, even with the addition of new housing developments after World War II. Reaching the end of Duck Street, we join Long Street. The blue and white building on the corner, now, a 
gift and haberdashery shop was once the saddlers. This 18th-century establishment was run by a 
skilled leather artisan. In an era when horses were the primary mode of transport, the busy shop 
supplied saddles, bridles, harnesses, halters, and other leather accessories to local horse riders 
and travellers on stagecoach routes. Constructed in 1859, this napped flint and chalk block 
building with its 14-inch thick walls originally served as the village police station. It was part 
of a larger complex that included the courthouse at number 10 and the sergeant’s quarters at number 
eight. Number six, a Tudor style house was one of two bakeries serving the town in the 1500s. 
The upper floors provided accommodation and it’s believed that Sir Walter Raleigh rested here 
during a visit to the parish in the early 1600s. The New Inn, initially a modest two-bay 
hall house from the 1200s with a central fireplace and roof fence, underwent significant 
expansion between the mid-1400s and early 1500s. It was likely the residence of a prosperous wool 
merchant, reflecting the economic success of such individuals during that era. These chalk downlands 
were and remain ideal for sheep grazing. The abbey and its tenants would have managed substantial 
flocks for both meat and wool production. Today, the building is recognised as a 16th-century 
former coaching inn. Its architecture features a distinctive carriage entrance, which 
allowed horses and carriages to pass through to the rear yard. It served as a stopover 
for travellers, particularly in the 18th century, when numerous stagecoaches traversed the area. 
Renowned for its high-quality beer in the 18th century, the New Inn was one of the village’s many 
public houses, which once boasted around 17 pubs and taverns. Today, there are just three, 
which is still a lot for a small village. The building known as the Old Manse is a Queen 
Anne-style brick and flint house with parts dating back to the early 1700s that served as 
the home of the minister of the Congressional Church on Abbey Street. The house was used 
for Sunday school and social gatherings and was later enlarged in 1959 by Sir Arthur and 
Lady Jane Gosling, who added rooms to the back. The main structure of the Giant Inn was rebuilt 
approximately a century ago after a fire in 1898. It wasn’t the first time a blaze had affected Long 
Street, with several buildings lost in November 1828. It has a beautiful Victorian facade, which 
highlights its former name, the Red Lion. Despite the fire and rebuild, a stone fireplace in 
the bar area is believed to date back to the 16th century. We popped in for a cheeky beer 
during our walkabout. Time for a quick pint! Across the road from the pub is the adorable 
local information boards and recycling centre, if that’s what they call it. 
It’s also the location of the old drinking water source for the village 
before piped water arrived in the 1930s. Recycling bins for everyone to use. The third remaining pub in 
the village, the Royal Oak, is believed to date from 1540 and may have been 
built using reclaimed stone from the abbey. The food menu looked enticing. The market house, the white building beside 
the pub, is now a closed tea room. However, it occupies the site of the medieval guild 
hall in the Marketplace. This area located in front of the church at the southern end of 
Abbey Street. once served as the market square. This site was granted to the abbot by King John 
in 1214 with market rights. It was originally a more open space than it is now, before extensive 
building work in later centuries. The Pitt Rivers family acquired the village of Cerne Abbas and 
much of the surrounding Dorset lands in 1705. It flourished as a market town, its prosperity 
fueled in part by its renowned brewing industry, which even exported to America. The last brewer, 
James Northover, ceased operations in 1883, but brewing returned to Cerne Abbas 
in 2016 with the opening of a small brewery on the village outskirts. Beyond brewing, other local industries thrived, including milling, tanning, silk weaving, and 
the production of gloves and hats. However, facing substantial death duties and difficult 
economic conditions after World War I, the Pitt Rivers family made a significant decision to 
sell most of Cerne Abbas at a village auction on September 24, 1919. This pivotal event dismantled 
the feudal-style estate, ushering in an era of widespread private ownership as many properties 
were purchased by their existing tenants. At the southern end of Abbey Street 
is St. Mary’s Church. Around 1300, the monks of the abbey built the foundations 
of the present structure, a dedicated parish church for the people of Cerne Abbas. The 
first vicar was inducted in 1317. The church underwent significant expansion during the 15th 
and 16th centuries. Around 1450, both the North and South aisles were added, followed by the 
impressive West Tower in the late 15th century. As we approach the altar and east window, 
notice that it appears to be the upper part of a much larger window, possibly salvaged 
from the abbey. The inscription 1639 in the stonework is of unknown significance, but 
may indicate when the window was installed. Around the altar, you’ll find early 
14th-century wall paintings depicting the life of St. John the Baptist 
and a portrayal of the annunciation. The exquisitely carved oak pulpit 
and canopy were fitted in 1640. The 15th-century font is mounted on a modern base 
and plinth with a colourful cover from the 1960s. Abbey Street is the historic backbone of Cerne 
Abbas. Its very structure is a remnant of the village’s monastic past. It was intentionally 
laid out to connect the abbey grounds to the north end of the marketplace and St. Mary’s 
Parish Church at the south, establishing the village’s enduring pattern. Despite the decline 
that followed the dissolution of monasteries in 1539 and the subsequent demolition of 
much of the abbey, the street retains significant medieval architecture. A terrace 
of original houses survives, distinguished by their front jettied first floors where the 
upper story projects out over the ground floor. The PitchMarket House is a group of cottages 
which includes numbers three and five, dating back to the early 16th century. The 
name derives from the market once held just outside. Millers would pitch or set down 
their sacks of corn for sale at this point, making it a local centre of trade. The 
property is reputed to have once been owned by Thomas Washington, the uncle of 
the first US President George Washington. Tucked away behind St. Mary’s Church, the Squibb 
Garden provides a quiet contrast to the bustling history of the main street. The precise origin 
of the name Squibb remains a mystery to me, but this small garden serves as a 
peaceful and picturesque retreat maintained by volunteers for the 
benefit of the village community. Ahead of us in the distance is the Abbey 
House which incorporates fragments of the abbey’s late medieval south gate house and 
porter’s lodge. This was the main monitored entrance from Abbey Street into the monastic 
precinct. Abbey Street itself was established to serve as the main route leading visitors, 
tradesmen and traffic directly to the gatehouse. On our right is a mill pond 
or abbey pond. Historically, its primary purpose was industrial. It served 
as a mill pond that supplied water to a corn mill and later a fulling mill located on 
what is now Mill Lane nearby. The pond held the water and created the necessary 
drop and flow to turn the water wheel. Abbey House is a private home, but is open to 
the public at certain times for a £5 cash only fee per person. Just the inner courtyard 
and the grounds, not the actual house. In the grounds stand two of the most significant 
surviving monastic buildings, the Abbott’s porch and the Abbott’s guest house. Sadly, we didn’t 
have any cash with us to explore further. The founding of the abbey directly 
on the site of St. Augustine’s well demonstrates the spring’s central 
importance as a place of veneration. Legend credits the well’s creation 
to St. Augustine of Canterbury, the missionary sent to England in 597 AD. This 
tale, likely promoted by the Benedictine monks, claims that Augustine met pagan shepherds in 
the valley. When they requested water over beer, Augustine struck the ground with his 
staff, causing the spring to gush forth. The site is almost certainly a very 
ancient holy spring revered long before the Benedictine Abbey was founded. 
It is also known as the Silver Well, a name that hints at a non-Christian, perhaps 
pagan affiliation, potentially linked to the tradition of leaving offerings 
like silver coins in the water. Look for the 15th-century Ham stone Preaching 
Cross in the Old Abbey burial ground. Made of distinctive golden limestone from Ham Hill, 
Somerset, it highlights the powerful Benedictine Abbey’s wealth. Originally an outdoor focal 
point for sermons and religious gatherings, its plinth and part of its octagonal shaft mark a 
sacred space that survived the 1539 dissolution. We’re now taking a stroll by the river Cerne. 
Rising in the chalk hills of the Dorset Downs, the river is a pristine example of a chalk stream, meaning it’s primarily fed by cold filtered 
groundwater. This results in a notable, crystal clear water that supports a 
rich ecosystem, including brown trout. The river flows through the Cerne Valley which 
is part of the Dorset National Landscape, providing the serene natural 
backdrop to the village. The river was historically 
the most critical resource for the settlement. Its reliable 
flow was harnessed for industry, powering the mill and contributing to 
the town’s wealth through various trades, including the fulling of cloth. Most famously, the 
clean, mineral rich water was ideal for brewing, making Cerne Abbas’s beer renowned far and 
wide during its economic heyday. This crucial water source also fed important features like the 
ancient St. Augustine’s well and the Abbey Pond. Today, the river is integral to the village’s 
visual charm, and it has guided us back to the Kettle Bridge car park, meaning we’ve 
completed our loop of this wonderful village. Next time, we’ll be just 20 minutes up the road. Sherborne captivates visitors with its warm, honey-hued stone buildings radiating 
centuries of history and inviting charm. The town’s spirit is embodied by 
the breathtaking Sherborne Abbey, a definitive architectural masterpiece. This unique Dorset setting boasts a 
fascinating contrast with its two castles. Explore the atmospheric romantic ruins of 
the old castle and then wander through the stunning landscape park and the younger 
estate crafted by Capability Brown. From engaging historic attractions to the energy 
of its local markets and various events, an abundance of experiences awaits you on 
your visit. We welcome you to subscribe and join us next week in this charming Dorset 
town for a truly memorable and enriching time. Well, that was Cerne Abbas. Very 
cute little village. I love the choice of three pubs. Very cool. If 
you’d like to see more like that, please subscribe to our channel and we’ll see you 
on the next one. Thanks for watching. Bye-bye.

Prepare to be utterly enchanted as we journey to the picturesque, history-steeped village of Cerne Abbas in the heart of Dorset, England!
In this video, we delve into the mysteries surrounding the colossal, sometimes controversial, and utterly captivating Cerne Abbas Giant. This monumental hill figure, an enormous nude male brandishing a club, is one of Britain’s most iconic and perplexing archaeological puzzles.

Forget everything you think you know about ancient figures—the sheer scale and mystery of the Cerne Abbas Giant simply demand attention. We’ll also explore the charming, yet historically significant, village nestled below, home to the ruins of a once-powerful Benedictine monastery, Cerne Abbey. This location, and especially the Cerne Abbas Giant, is a must-see for anyone interested in British folklore, ancient history, or simply breathtaking rural landscapes.

The village of Cerne Abbas is arguably one of the most beautiful in England. It’s a protected conservation area, boasting a stunning collection of thatched and stone-built cottages, several excellent traditional pubs (perfect for a historic pint!), and clear, babbling streams running right through the main street.

Cerne Abbas is the perfect gateway to exploring the rest of the spectacular Dorset countryside, including the Jurassic Coast. It’s the ideal blend of history, folklore, and rural beauty.

Join us as we peel back the layers of myth and history!

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With thanks to www.google.com and Google Earth for the use of their images.
00:00 Revealing Cerne Abbas
00:45 Cerne Abbas Giant
01:38 Walking into Cerne Abbas
02:25 Cerne Abbas and Abbey History
03:40 Long Street Highlights
08:55 Pitt-Rivers Family
09:56 St Mary’s Church
12:36 Abbey Street
16:03 Remains of Cerne Abbey
17:43 St Augustine’s Well
20:12 River Cerne Walk
22:30 Next Time….

#cerneabbas #dorsetvillage #dorset