Coordinates: 50°51′25″N 2°01′05″W / 50.857°N 2.018°W / 50.857; -2.018
Witchampton is a village and civil parish in East Dorset, England, situated on the River Allen 5 miles (8 km) north of Wimborne Minster. As of 2011 it has a population of 398.
Witchampton lies close to where the dip slope of the chalk hills of Cranborne Chase is overlain by newer deposits of London Clay. Although Witchampton is sited within the area of the chalk, where cob and thatch are the traditional building materials, the nearness of the clay has resulted in many of the older houses in the village being built from brick. The early 16th-century Abbey House contains some of the earliest brickwork in the county.
To the northeast of the village there used to be a paper mill by the river. In 1980 it was described by writer Roland Gant as a "discreet industrial oasis in an agricultural plain". It had been in operation since the early 18th century, but has now been converted to residential accommodation.
11th-century whalebone chess pieces have been found within the parish, and are some of the best surviving early English chess pieces.
Only life perished smiles
Magnificence drowning miles
Holy life hollow bones
Sightless eyes overthrown, overthrown
Only life perished smiles
Magnificence drowning miles
Holy life hollow bones
Sightless eyes to see
No throne overthrown
Perished life over throne
Buried life endless strife
Though it never can decide the lie
Holy love go in low
Holy life hollow bones
Sightless eyes overthrown
King without a throne
King without a throne
Blackened heart crystal skull
Culled messiah only where?
Devil mind Devil mind
Tide cast in time
This time
Two drops for eternity...
But don't turn back
We won't turn back