Two Dorset villages are celebrating their millennium with a series of historic events.

From June through to November, the villages of Abbotsbury and Portesham will be celebrating 1,000 years since its founding.

Both Abbotsbury and Portesham were granted as manors in 1024 by King Canute, and are marking the occasion with a host of events including a fayre that will take people through the ages.

The Through the Ages Fayre will take place on Saturday, July 27 at the Portesham School from 12pm to 5pm.

Refreshments will be available on the day, as too will activities including a tug of war, axe throwing, dry stone walling, willow weaving, with performances from Elizabethan dancers and ukuleles. There will also be stalls which include plants, clothes, homemade jewellery and a chance to get up close to alpacas.

Other events over the summer include a special service from the bishop of Salisbury to commemorate 1,000 years of Christianity in the area and a Viking re-enactment weekend.

Here are all the events taking place across both villages to commemorate the millennium.

  • Saturday June 15 and Sunday, June 16- Open Gardens in Portesham between 2pm to 5pm. Money will be raised for St Peter’s Church in Portesham and Weldmar Hospice.
  • Saturday, June 15- Historic walk through Portesham at 2pm. Led by Ann Martin. £2 per person.
  • Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, July 6- Flower festival at St Peter’s Church in Portesham
  • Sunday, July 7- Portesham Motor Show at the King’s Arms pub garden, honouring the D-Day landings.
  • Friday, July 12 to Friday, July 19- Flower festival at St Nicholas Church in Abbotsbury.
  • Sunday, July 14- Special service to be held in Abbotsbury by the bishop of Salisbury to commemorate 1,000 years of Christianity in the area.
  • Saturday, July 27- Historic walk through Portesham at 2pm. Led by Ann Martin. £2 per person.
  • Saturday, July 27- Through the Ages fayre at Portesham School between 12pm to 5pm.
  • Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4- Viking re-enactment in Abbotsbury- organised by the Friends of St Nicholas- a village will be set up east of the Tithe Barn.
  • Saturday, August 10- Millennium Boule tournament at 2pm, hosted by the King’s Arms in Portesham.
  • Sunday, August 18- Inter-village cricket match.
  • Saturday, August 24- The Great Portesham Breakfast at the village hall between 9am to 12pm.
  • Thursday, September 19- Children’s Art in Portesham at the school between 2pm to 7pm.
  • Saturday, October 26- Halloween themed café in Portesham run by Friends of St Peter’s Church between 10am to 12pm.
  • Sunday, November 24- Candles on the Hill in Abbotsbury, organised by Friends of St Nicholas.

For more information on the celebrations, and information on how to register stalls for the fayre, visit https://map24.org/