Loders

Loders is a village in the English county of Dorset. It lies within the West Dorset administrative district of the county, two miles north-east of the town of Bridport. It is a linear village, sited in the valley of the small River Asker, between Waddon Hill and Boarsbarrow Hill. In the 2001 Census the village had a population of 502.

The parish of Loders comprises three settlements. In the east is Uploders which has its own public house, "The Crown", and a chapel. To the west of Uploders and separated from it by a few fields is Yondover. The village playing field and two farms are located in this area. It is also where the village road crosses the River Asker. West of Yondover is Lower Loders, the boundary being close to where the old Maiden Newton to Bridport branch line crosses the village road. Lower Loders most notably has a public house, "The Loders Arms", a church, a village hall, several farms, and a primary school. Lower Loders is now generally referred to simply as Loders.

A railway line used to pass through the village, although this has been in disuse for many years, since the closing of the Bridport to Maiden Newton branch line in 1975. However some features are still visible; most prominently, there are two bridges, one of which must be passed under to get from one end of the village to the other.

Loders is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Lodres.

Johnny Coppin's Westcountry Christmas album includes a song called Song for Loders, which mentions many places around the area, including Eggerton, Askerswell and Muckleford, amongst others.

When frost lies thick on Egerton

And every pool begins to freeze

From Muckleford to Nettle Coombe

And hills are hung with sparkling trees

Then to Loders we must go

Before the world is drowned in snow

External links

• Census data