PORTISHAM, a parish in the hundred of UGGSCOMBE, Dorchester division of the county of DORSET, 7¾ miles (S.W. by W.) from Dorchester, containing 600 inhabitants.

The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Dorset, and diocese of Bristol, rated in the king's books at £8. 14. 2., endowed with £1000 parliamentary grant. Joseph Hardy, Esq. was patron in 1814. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a large ancient structure, having a lofty embattled tower crowned with pinnacles. Charles Masterman, in 1771, left £100 for teaching poor children.

In this parish is the largest cromlech in the county; it consists of a flat stone, ten feet by six, resting horizontally on nine upright ones, and stands on a tumulus, having on the north-west an avenue leading to it: there is a small barrow to the eastward of this ancient monument.

Volume 3, page 557