West Stafford Village

West Stafford, was originally known as Stanford, from the Old English for “stony ford”, perhaps alluding to a crossing of the South Winterborne which flows through it, or even of the River Frome just to the North. It gained its cardinal affix to distinguish it from a settlement of the same name in the neighbouring parish of West Knighton, but which is now known as Lewell. Evidence of occupation from Neolithic to Roman times has been found, including urns of Samian ware, and the landscape is dotted here and there with ancient earthworks, barrows and tumuli.