Acton, Dorset

Hamlet in Dorset, England

Human settlement in England

Acton

Acton and Piles of Purbeck Stone

Acton

Location within Dorset

OS grid reference| SY988784
Civil parish|

* Langton Matravers

Unitary authority|

* Dorset

Ceremonial county|

* Dorset

Region|

* South West

Country| England
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Post town| SWANAGE
Postcode district| BH19
Dialling code| 01929
Police| Dorset
Fire| Dorset and Wiltshire
Ambulance| South Western
UK Parliament|

* South Dorset

List of places

England
Dorset

50°36′22″N 2°01′01″W﻿ / ﻿50.6061°N 2.0169°W﻿ / 50.6061; -2.0169

Acton is a hamlet in the parish of Langton Matravers, on the Isle of Purbeck, in the county of Dorset in the south of England.[1][2]

Acton was built as living quarters for the quarrymen working at the local quarries. Quarrying still takes place in the settlement today, with the Bonfield family (currently H F Bonfield & Son of Blacklands Quarry) having quarried in the area since 1651.[3] The Burngate Purbeck Stone Centre is located near the hamlet, a small charitable trust that supports the sharing of skills and the advancement of knowledge associated with Purbeck Stone.[4]

In addition to the quarrying activities, the settlement has a high proportion of holiday rental properties and second homes.[5]

## Toponymy

[edit]

The name “Acton” is derived from the Old English for “farm for young sheep”, the first element of which is *tacca.[6] The hamlet was documented in the Domesday Book as Tacatone.

## Politics

[edit]

Acton is covered by the South Dorset constituency.

After 2019 structural changes to local government in England, Acton is part of the South East Purbeck ward which elects one member to Dorset Council.[7]

## Transport

[edit]

The hamlet is served by Acton Lane on the Morebus route 40 Purbeck Breezer service between Poole and Swanage (via Wareham and Corfe Castle), with the stop situated north of the hamlet on the B3069.[8]

The nearest railway station is Harman's Cross on the Swanage Railway, which is located approximately 1 mile to the north of the hamlet. The nearest station on the National Rail network is Wareham.

## Notable people

[edit]

Philosopher Michael Oakeshott retired to Acton in 1968, eventually dying in the hamlet, aged 89, in 1990.[9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ordnance Survey: 1:50,000 Scale Gazetteer" (csv (download)). Ordnance Survey. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
2. ^ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 195 Bournemouth & Purbeck (Wimborne Minster & Ringwood) (Map). Ordnance Survey. 2014. ISBN 9780319231418.
3. ^ "Natural Purbeck Stone". www.naturalpurbeckstone.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
4. ^ "Stone Carving Courses at the Burngate Purbeck Stone Centre". Burngate Purbeck Stone Centre. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
5. ^ Hannay, Clive (August 2017). "Acton | Dorset Life - The Dorset Magazine". Dorset Life. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
6. ^ Field, John (1980). Place-names of Great Britain and Ireland. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. p. 22\. ISBN 0389201545. OCLC 6964610.
7. ^ "Area profile for South East Purbeck - Dorset Council". gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
8. ^ "Purbeck Breezer 40 - Swanage to Poole". www.morebus.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
9. ^ "About Oakeshott – Michael Oakeshott Association". michael-oakeshott-association.com. 8 October 2008. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Acton, Dorset at Wikimedia Commons
* Acton in the Domesday Book

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