Work on the village hall entrance in early to mid November will stop vehicular access

CLICK HERE FOR  COVID VACCINE NEWS FROM PFIZER - 

NOVEMBER 2020 - A second lockdown starts on Thursday November 5th - more here on the government regulations. As in the first lockdown, the village will be co-ordinating a list of volunteers willing to help others with shopping, collecting prescriptions etc. If you need advice or help please e mail us at info@melburyosmond.co.uk
We would like to politely remind potential visitors wishing to take exercise in Melbury Park that they follow the latest rules that say:-

 You can exercise or visit outdoor public places with the people you live with, your support bubble, or 1 person from another household (children under school age, as well as those dependent on round-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside).

Apologies that the tennis  & boules courts are closed during the Lockdown 2 period, also the village hall. We will keep you updated on re-opening details.
The church will be closed during this lockdown with certain exceptions i.e funerals, individual prayer. 

PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU DO GO SHOPPING, VISIT THE DOCTORS OR GO ANYWHERE ELSE ESSENTIAL THEN WEAR A MASK AND KEEP TO THE

TWO METRE RULE 

St Osmund’s is in the Gothic style with 5 bells and during the restoration in 1888 by the 5^th Earl of Ilchester a Norman font of Ham Hill stone was found built into the masonry, the chancel was lengthened in 1910.

The major part of Melbury Osmond village lies on a cul-de-sac lane which from the church descends past cottages to a stream and ford. The attractive appearance of the village has been noted by commentators: it has been described as "a calendar smith’s dream of thatched cottages" and in 1906 Sir Frederick Treves wrote that it was "the most charming village in these Western backwoods".

In its history the village has been involved in the trade of plated buckles and horn buttons, and the manufacture of dowlas. During the 19th century, the village was home to the Dorset Ooser, a wooden mask brought out during "Rough Music" ceremonies.

There are 34 listed buildings and structures within the parish, including the Grade II* Old Rectory and the Grade I parish church.

Thomas Hardy's mother lived in Melbury Osmond as a child, and she was married in the church.The village appears as "Little Hintock" in Hardy's novel The Woodlanders, in which the heroine's name is "Grace Melbury". Hardy also incorporated a legend about the Duke of Monmouth taking refuge in one of the village's cottages into his short story "The Duke's Reappearance".