Description
Melbury Abbas, a parish in Dorsetshire, adjacent to Wiltshire, 2 1/2 miles SSE of Shaftesbury, and 5 S by E of Semley station on the L. & S.W.R. It has a post office under Shaftesbury; money order and telegraph office, Shaftesbury. Acreage, 2374; population, 288. The manor belongs to the Glyn family. Melbury Hill and Melbury Down are prominent features. Limestone is worked. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Salisbury; value, £280 with residence. The church was rebuilt in 1851, and has a turreted tower. Bishop Blandford was a native.
Parish Church
The church of St. Thomas, rebuilt in 1851 by the late Sir R. P. Glyn bart and opened on St. Thomas day, 1852, is a stone edifice in the Decorated style, consisting of chancel, nave of three bays, south aisle, south porch and a western tower containing 5 bells: there are 300 sittings.
The register dates from the year 1716.
