West Bexington — Dorset, England
West Bexington is a small village in the South West of Dorset, at Chesil Beach, which is a part of the beautiful Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site and is in close proximity to the World Heritage Gateway Town of Abbotsbury.
Historically the Jurassic Coast has seen habitation for at least the past 10,000 years, and there were many settlers in the area of West Bexington, including the Durotriges, who fiercely fought invaders; however they were quelled by the Romans whose military was too strong for the indigenous tribes. During the Saxon period and after the Norman's took control there was still a viable settlement, albeit a small one in West Bexington. It is believed that circa 1440 a French raiding party sacked the village and its church, destroying whatever lay in their path. The Abbot of Bindon Abbey made the decision not to rebuild the church of St Giles at West Bexington and had all viable church remains and antiquities transferred to the nearby St. Mary's Church located in Puncknowle, where they can be viewed today and where an Aisle dedicated to St. Giles was erected for the few remaining people at West Bexington.
Some years ago The National Trust purchased land in and around West Bexington to preserve the integrity of the great pebble barrier bank of Chesil Beach, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as well as being designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The National Trust leases land within the scope of its' protective parameters, such as the farm land rented to Tamarisk Farm, one of the ancient farms that may have survived the depopulation of West Bexington. Tamarisk Farm history goes back to at least the late Middle Ages circa 1645, with records of quite extensive holdings, including a coastguard station. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the village was referred to as Bessintone which may have meant a village or farm where there were box-trees. Those few residents that survived the French marauders may have been located on the farms. In the late 1800's only West Bexington Farm, now called Tamarisk Farm, was shown as the only place of habitation on the maps of the time. Today West Bexington still has a farm situated at the centre of the small village, with a touch of modern development and bungalows from the 1930's leading down to the sea. There is also a 16th century manor house that has been converted to a hotel close to Chesil beach.
During the 18th century, when smuggling was prolific in the coastal villages, the smuggler Isaac Gulliver owned a farm near the Iron Age fort at Eggardon Hill, which was used as a collection and distribution point for his smuggling activities at West Bexington, one of several of his landing places on the lonely beaches of the Dorset Coast. The rich tapestry of smuggling and the tales of reputable citizens aiding and abetting the illegal trade, while helping to outfox the "Revenue Men" has become part of the romance of the Dorset Coast; and virtually every small village and hamlet enjoys the tales of its past involvement.
Today tourists can walk the entire Jurassic Coast along the South West Coast Path or take the Jurassic Coast Bus Service from one area to another while enjoying some of the shorter walks, of which there are many. Along the way you will see the modern reminders of recent history, the bunkers or "pill boxes" of the 20th century, while simultaneously marvelling at the prehistoric panorama of the Jurassic Coast whose accumulated fossils, cliffs and beaches leave the viewer breathless. You can take a branch off of the South West Coast Path up through West Bexington to the hilltops that offer spectacular vistas. West Bexington survived centuries of changes, a microcosm in the scheme of time, yet this little village that sits on a slope running down to Chesil Beach offers an unbelievable view of millions of years of change.
This is a tourist's paradise, with its year round fishing and the sea fishing that is very popular from the beach at West Bexington. Here the Trust Nature Reserve by the village consists of a shingle beach, reedbed, wet meadow and scrub that are perfect for birdwatching. There are warm seas during the summer, sunbathing, and a deep sea that is virtually current free, however swimming is recommended only for strong swimmers and it is very dangerous when stormy. The beach near the village has small fingernail sized pebbles with blocks of Cerastoderma Clay from beneath the Chesil Beach, whereas at Portland the pebbles are large, while a sandy stretch can be found at Weymouth. Chesil Beach is also known for the variety of fish that can be caught from mackerel in the summer to bass in autumn with cod, plaice, dabs, flounders and many other varieties throughout various times of the year. While visiting the village, make certain to plan some time fossil hunting on the beach, as the Dorset Coast has an international reputation for fossils.
Where is West Bexington?West Bexington is located in west Dorset along the B3157 between Abbotsbury and Burton Bradstock. The nearest populated areas include Abbotsbury to the southeast and Puncknowle to the northwest.
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