English: Witchampton nestles between woodlands and water meadows on the East-facing slopes of the Allen River valley, 5 miles North-North-West of Wimborne Minster. With its quaint timber-framed and thatched cottages resplendent in summer with honeysuckle, roses and jasmine, the village of Witchampton has been described as one of the most beautiful in the country. Until the mid 20th century every house in the village was in the ownership of the Crichel Estate, which helped to preserve its special character. Remains of a Roman villa near the hamlet of East Hemsworth (also known as Lower Hemelsworth) and traces of a Roman vineyard in the field adjoining the church attest to Witchampton’s ancient history. Indeed, the very name ‘Witchampton’ refers to the village’s Roman past, since the old English words ‘wic’ ‘haeme’ and ‘tun’ roughly translate to ‘farm of the dwellers on the site of a Romano-British settlement’. The church sits on a large hill overlooking the village and it subsequently dominates it.