SDO16487 - The Book of Bere Regis

‘Although at the present time Bere Regis is no more than a large village situated at the busy junction of two trunk roads, The A31 and A35, it has known more illustrious times and even royal patronage during its 1000 years or more of history. If the parish as a whole is considered, the history of human occupation and settlement goes back much further, and archaeological remains show the higher downland in the northern part of the parish has been continuously occupied from Neolithic times (2500-1900 B.C.) until the Roman period (AD 43-AD410).’ Official Records and other manuscript sources form the basis of historical research at parish level, including Census Returns, Pipe Rolls Registers of electors Tithe maps etc., but various published sources have also been consulted in order to put such information in its proper context. These include a variety of specialist books, publications and manuscript sources, as well as The annual Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, The Royal Commission on Historic Monuments and Ordnance Survey maps.