Little Bredy (or Littlebredy, pronounced "briddy") lies in the shadow of an ancient earthwork thought to be an Iron Age fort, near the source of the River Bride, just below the Valley of Stones. 'Bredy' and 'Bride' are derived from the Celtic word for 'surging stream' and 'Little' is by way of comparison with 'Long', since nearby Long Bredy is a larger parish. Bridehead House at Little Bredy (Image: Claud Hider) To this day people still love to see the waterfall at Bridehead House, named after the river that rises on the estate.
These pictures were taken by Bridport photographer Claud Hider from 1922 onwards and have been digitised by Charmouth resident Neil Mattingly, who has done such a good job of sharing Hider's work. Some of these images show Bridehead House, the church, the river and the village itself. Little Bredy (Image: Claud Hider) The manor of 'Litelbridia', as it was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book, was for many centuries in the possession of Cerne Abbey.
When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, Cerne Abbey sold its lands and the first purchaser of Little Bredy was Philip Vanwilder in 1544. READ MORE: The West Dorset village that once proudly boasted five pubs After holding it for 40 years, he sold it on to the Freke family of Iwerne Courtney, from whom Sir Robert Meller of Came House at Winterborne Came inherited it in 1623. Meller built Bridehead House, named after the river that rises on the estate.
Bridehead House at Little Bredy (Image: Claud Hider) Aft.