Langton Matravers
| Langton Matravers | |
| Dorset | |
|---|---|
 Parish church of Saint George | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SY999788 |
| Location: | 50°36’32"N, 2°0’22"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 853 (2011) |
| Post town: | Swanage |
| Postcode: | BH19 |
| Dialling code: | 01929 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Dorset |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
South Dorset |
Langton Matravers is a village on the Isle of Purbeck, in Dorset. It is situated about two miles west of Swanage town centre and five miles south-east of Corfe Castle. The village is within walking distance of the Jurassic Coast.
The 2011 Census recorded that parish had 381 households and a population of 853.
History
The name Langton stems from "long town", and is first attested in 1206, as Langeton. Matravers stems from the name of John Mautravers who owned the land there in 1281.[1]
The Old Malthouse was a preparatory school for boys and, more recently, girls which was founded in 1906, but closed in 2007. Two other preparatory schools Durnford School and Spyway used to be located in the village. Both Durnford and Spyway were closed earlier; Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond novels, was educated at Durnford.[2]
About the village
St George's First School was established at the end of the 19th century.
Leeson House, a Grade II listed 19th-century house, is a field studies centre located in the village, it was a pre-prep school for younger boys until the 1960s.
Langton Matravers Museum is located in St George's Close, behind the parish church of St George. The museum focuses on the quarrying industry (of Purbeck Marble and Purbeck Limestone) which has historically been important for the village. The museum occupies a former coach house, and houses approximately 25,000 artefacts.
Events
The Purbeck Folk Festival is held annually at a farm near the village.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Langton Matravers) |
- Langtonia: Langton Maltravers Village
- Dorset Online Parish Clerks (online parish registers)
References
- ↑ Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 4th edition, 1960. p. 287 ISBN 0198691033
- ↑ "Bond 'based on Elizabethan spy'". BBC. 31 October 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7701530.stm. Retrieved 2009-09-02.