Witchampton

{{Short description|Village and civil parish in Dorset, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox UK place

|country= England

|coordinates = {{coord|50.857|-2.018|display=inline,title}}

|official_name= Witchampton

|static_image_name= Witchampton, parish church of St. Mary and St. Cuthburga - geograph.org.uk - 474186.jpg

|static_image_caption= Parish church of St Mary, St Cuthburga & All Saints

|label_position= left

|population= 398

|civil_parish= Witchampton

| unitary_england= Dorset

| lieutenancy_england= Dorset

|region= South West England

|constituency_westminster= North Dorset

|post_town= WIMBORNE

|postcode_area= BH

|postcode_district= BH21

|dial_code= 01258

|os_grid_reference= ST988064

}}

Witchampton is a village and civil parish in Dorset, England, situated on the River Allen {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} north of Wimborne Minster. The 2011 census recorded a population of 398.{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11130807&c=Witchampton&d=16&e=62&g=6417750&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1370493781361&enc=1|accessdate=6 June 2013|publisher=Office for National Statistics|title=Neighbourhood Statistics. Area: Witchampton (Parish)}}

Witchampton lies close to where the dip slope of the chalk hills of Cranborne Chase is overlain by newer deposits of London Clay. Although Witchampton is sited within the area of the chalk, where cob and thatch are the traditional building materials, the nearness of the clay has resulted in many of the older houses in the village being built from brick.{{cite book|title=Portrait of Dorset|author=Ralph Wightman|author-link=Ralph Wightman|year=1983|edition=4|publisher=Robert Hale Ltd|pages=63–64|isbn=0 7090 0844 9}} The early 16th-century Abbey House contains some of the earliest brickwork in the county.{{cite web|url=http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2012/09/witchampton-short-walk-with-clive-hannay/|title=Witchampton: Short walk with Clive Hannay|author=Clive Hannay|date=September 2012|accessdate=24 May 2013|publisher=Dorset Life}}

To the northeast of the village there used to be a paper mill by the river. In 1980 it was described by writer Roland Gant as a "discreet industrial oasis in an agricultural plain".{{cite book|title=Dorset Villages|author=Roland Gant|year=1980|publisher=Robert Hale Ltd|pages=34–5|isbn=0 7091 8135 3}} It had been in operation since the early 18th century, but has now been converted to residential accommodation.

11th-century whalebone chess pieces have been found within the parish, and are some of the best surviving early English chess pieces.[http://www.goddesschess.com/chessays/goodgame.html Chessays - When There is no End to a Good Game]