Background history to Kinson in Dorset

How Kinson got its name! The word for a farm in the Saxon language was CYNESTON, and Kinson in those times was known by that name. It is likely that a Saxon chieftan sailed or ventured up and down the River Stour before deciding to settle here. The land around Kinson, Millhams and Longham was and still is very fertile.A small village came into being and would have been enclosed by a TON or a TUN, which means a fence. Going back further into history, the people of the Stone Age, Bronze Age and the Iron Age, probably moved down the valley which descends from the higher regions at Turbary and started to firmly establish themselves in the lower regions of a very fertile plain. The whole area of Kinson and the locality surrounding it is still very rich in archaeological evidence today. Kinson is also recorded in the Domesday or Doomsday Book. Its name then was CHINESTANESTONE From the Domesday Book we learn that: Edward also holds Chinestanestone. Wulfen held it before 1066. It paid tax for 13 hides. Land for 9 ploughs, of which 5 hides and 1 virgate of land are in the lordship; 2 ploughs there: 7 slaves; 18 villagers, 14 cottagers and 4 cottagers with 7 ploughs. A mill which pays 5s; woodland, 1 acre; meadow, 100 acres,less5;pasture 3 leagues long and 2 leagues wide,less 3 furlongs. The value of CANFORD & the KINSON Manors had now increased in value from £50 to £70. Name changes to the present day: 1086AD - Chinestanestone 1231 - Kynestanton 1238 - Kinestaneston 1326 - Kenstaneston 1407 - Kinstanton 1662 - Kynston 1771 - Kingston How 1800 - Kingston 20th Century - Kinson What is left of Saxon Kinson? The answer to this question is, very little. The base of the tower of Kinson church was once thought to date to the Saxon times. Many of the old field systems around Millhams and the Kinson Common once had some long strip field systems which were around for many centuries, disappearing in the latter part of the 20th century. Unfortunately, places such as Barnes Mead at Millhams and Redgate Moor, Redgate Hill and Barn Close on the Kinson Common, have all now mostly disappeared for ever. In the latter named location, a hint of the ancient may still be found. One thing that is for certain is that Kinson as a community with a village feel about it is very much here to stay!