Chickerell in Brief
Chickerell is a small town and civil parish in Dorset, southwest England. The town is located about 2 miles northwest of Weymouth, 9 miles south west of Dorchester, and about half a mile inland of the Fleet Lagoon. Chickerell has grown steadily from its village status of the mid-19th century when it had a population of around 600. Like many places in the UK, the town has experienced exceptional population growth in the last 20 years. Historically, Chickerell is best known for its association with the mackerel trade and brickmaking.
View of the East Fleet Lagoon close to Chickerell. Photo Credit: Mark Godden/Shutterstock.com
A Fleeting History
There is archaeological evidence to suggest the area in and around Chickerell was inhabited during both the Bronze Age and Roman times. The ancient settlements of Chickerell, East Chickerell, and Putton gradually developed along Chickerell Brook. The original parish of Chickerell initially only occupied the south part of the present parish. Only Chickerell warranted a mention in the 11th century Domesday Book, but the reference was probably to all three hamlets.
The town’s ancient church of St Mary’s once belonged to the Abbey of Bindon. The former 12th-century Cistercian monastery was located close to Wool on the River Frome, some 16 miles away. St Mary’s dates from about 1260, but is thought to have replaced an earlier Saxon place of worship on the same site. The oldest existing part of the town is North Square. It has an eclectic mix of housing which was built between the early 17th and early 19th centuries.
In 1917, an airfield opened at Chickerell, which is thought to have served as an annexe to the nearby Portland airbase. Towards the end of WWI, it likely served as a base for anti-submarine patrols. It survived with only occasional usage during the interwar years. It was used by both the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm during WW2, though records of its exact role are sketchy. In 1959, the airbase officially closed with little fanfare. The site was eventually used for housing development.
In 1921, the population of Chickerell was 1,130, representing a growth of around 90% from its mid-19th century level. By 1971, the population had grown to 3,300, a further rise of around 200% in 50 years. In 2018, the estimated population of the whole of Chickerell parish was 7,630.
Getting to Chickerell
From London and the South, follow the M3/M27/A31 until its terminus at Bere Regis. Turn onto and follow the A35 to Dorchester, then turn off for the A354. Follow the A354 all the way to Weymouth. On the outskirts of Weymouth take the Coldharbour road for Chickerell. The distance is approximately 137 miles from the centre of London.
The nearest train station to Chickerell is at Weymouth, about 4 miles away. Trains to Weymouth operate hourly from London Waterloo. From the North, you can change trains at either London or Bristol, Bournemouth or Southampton to get to Weymouth.
National Express operates a regular coach service between Weymouth and London Victoria, as well as other major urban centres. Bournemouth Airport is around 38 miles, and Southampton Airport 67 miles, from Chickerell.
Things to see and do around Chickerell
- Bennetts Water Gardens – is an 8-acre site of tranquil lakes that has a world-famous lily collection. The National Plant Collection of Water Lilies has around 140 varieties on display, with a ‘Monet’ style bridge as the central feature. The gardens are open between late March and September but closed on Saturdays.
- Chesil Beach – is an 18-mile long shingle beach stretching from West Bay to Portland. It runs about ½ mile (1 km) from Chickerell and forms part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
- Weymouth Beach – is a wide sandy beach that is about 3.5 miles from Chickerell. It has the expected attractions of a traditional British holiday beach, including donkey rides, Punch & Judy shows, etc
- Portland Castle – is one of Henry VIII’s best-preserved forts. It was built in the late 1530s to protect the area against invasion. The Grade I listed building is less than 6 miles from Chickerell.
- Weymouth Harbour – is one of the UK’s most scenic harbours. During the holiday season, the bustling Georgian harbour is full of catamarans, fishing boats, yachts, etc. It’s around 4 miles from Chickerell.
- Weymouth Sea-Life Adventure Centre – features more than 1000 birds and sea creatures in both an indoor and outdoor environment. It also has adventure-themed play areas for kids. It’s 5 miles from Chickerell.
- Alexandra Gardens – a family-orientated place to enjoy some traditional British seaside entertainment. The gardens contain fairground rides, amusements, and arcade games.
- Nothe Fort – completed in 1872, is one of the best-preserved sea defense forts in the UK. A major tourist attraction, it has displays are over 3 floors, charting the fort’s history. It’s 4 miles from Chickerell.
Chickerell United
Chickerell United is the town’s local football. The first XI competes in the Senior Dorset League and plays home games at ‘The Stalls’.
Where to stay?
If you book early you’ll be able to find reasonably priced accommodation in Chickerell itself. However, there’s a limited supply, so staying in Weymouth provides a good alternative, as it’s only 2 miles away. The main accommodation choices in Weymouth consist of hotels along the seafront, guest houses around the town centre, and caravan and camping sites, just out of town. For 2 adults sharing, expect to pay £60 – £100 per night for a guesthouse or B & B, and £100 – £200 per night for a hotel. Holiday homes, camping or glamping, provide an alternative stay but prices vary greatly depending on facilities and location.
Moving to Chickerell?
Properties in Chickerell have achieved an overall average price of £281,600 over the last year (June 2021). Most of those sales were for detached properties, which sold for an average price of £331,500. Terraced properties sold for an average of £220,000, while semi-detached properties fetched a medium price of around £279,200. The average sold price of properties in Chickerell over the last year was about 2% up on the previous year.
Header image credit: Daniel Spence/Shutterstock.com
