CHARMOUTH, a parish in the hundred of WHITCHURCH-
CANONICORUM, Bridport division of the county
of DORSET, 2 miles (N. E. byE.) from Lime-Regis, containing
607 inhabitants. The living is a discharged rectory,
in the archdeaconry of Dorset, and diocese of
Bristol, rated in the king's books at £8.16. 8., endowed
with £200 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty,
and in the patronage of F. P. Henville, Esq. The church
is dedicated to St. Matthew. The ancient village of
Charmouth derives its name from being situated at the
mouth of the river Char, over which there is a bridge;
it lies on the coast of the Bristol channel, at the foot of
a steep hill, round the north-western side of which the
road was directed in 1758, and is considerably resorted
to as a watering-place. The neighbouring cliffs abound
with martial pyrites, bitumen, and other inflammable
matter, which, after heavy rains, have been seen to burn
with a vivid flame, particularly in the year 1751. Two
sanguinary battles were fought here between the Danes
and the Saxons; the first, in 833, ended in the retreat
of the latter, under King Egbert, and the return of the
former to their ships; the second, in 840, terminated
also in the defeat of the Saxons, under King Ethelwolf,
who commanded in person; but the Danes so little improved
their victory, as to embark precipitately without
booty. After the battle of Worcester, Charles II. and
his suite fled hither, with an intention to escape into
France; but having been disappointed, the monarch
quitted the place; soon after which, a blacksmith
having discovered, from the manner of shoeing the horse
of Lord Wilmot, who had tarried behind, that the party
came from the north, a pursuit was immediately commenced,
but without success. In the 7th of Edward I.
license was granted to the abbot of Ford for a weekly
market on Monday, and a fair annually on the eve, day,
and morrow of St. Matthew, to be held at this place.