Includes Potterne and Three Legged Cross. In the early eighteen hundreds most of south east Dorset, apart from land bordering the rivers, was mainly infertile heathland with pockets of workable clay. At that time a scattering of potters were to be found across the heath. They constructed simple living and working quarters and when the clay was worked out, moved on. Some folk found larger areas of workable soil and set up house with orchards and farms. Their houses were usually made of cob - a mixture of clay, gravel and straw - and had roofs thatched with straw or heather. A small hamlet developed into a self-supporting community called VERWOOD. Some think the name derives from “Fayre wood” from the many trees in the area.

The following group(s) are available in this area:

• > Verwood Local Action Group

The following projects(s) are available in this area: