Short History of Parish Council and the Villages

The parishes of Winterbourne Abbas and Winterbourne Steepleton were originally governed by "parish meetings". Later, it was considered that the affairs of the villages might be better served by a group Parish Council which could then raise its own finances.

After due process, a group Parish Council was formally constituted with councillors from each village. We are fortunate in still having the original formation letter of 5th May 1972.

For some reason, it does not appear that the first meeting of the newly formed grouped parish council was held in the Village School, Winterbourne Abbas until the 20th June 1973.

Six members formed the grouped parish Council, three from Winterbourne Abbas and three from Winterbourne Steepleton.

The first elected chairman was Mr R Hyde with Mr J Reeves as vice chairman. Mr Stephen Slade was appointed as the clerk to the council - a post that he held until his retirement after 50 years in March 2023. 

There is an original Minute Book of Winterbourne Steepleton Parish Council which commences in 1894 and records the annual Steepleton meetings (held annually each May) up to 2013. It has now been deposited in the DCC Dorset History Centre in Dorchester on the Bridport Road to the east of the hospital (formerly the County Record Office) and can be accessed by visiting this centre.

A selection of local history items relating to the two villages may be found on the Dorset Online Parish Clerk (OPC) website : (NB : These websites have no connection with the Parish Council but are maintained privately by our clerk)

Winterbourne Abbas OPC : https://sites.google.com/view/winterbourne-abbas

Winterbourne Steepleton OPC : sites.google.com/site/winterbournesteepletonopc