HANDLEY, a parish in that part of the hundred of
SIXPENNY-HANDLEY which is in the Shastori (East)
division of the county of DORSET, 5 miles (N..W. by
W.) from Cranborne, containing, with the chapelry of
Gussage-St. Andrew, and the tythings of Minchintoh
and Woodcots,831 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual
curacy annexed to the vicarage of Iwerne-Minster,
in the archdeaconry of Dorset, and diocese of Bristol.
The church is dedicated to St. Mary. A market, was
granted for this place at an early period, and the
market-day was changed in the reign of Henry III.
but it has been disused from time immemorial.