That house on the hill
PERCHED atop the Valley of the River Bride stands a tiny coastguard’s cottage.
Visible from the coast road far below, its empty eyes still seem to watch over Lyme Bay, the swoop of Chesil Beach and the gleaming treachery of the Fleet lagoon.
Sea, view
Known as The Knoll, this ancient barrow slopes down cornfields and on towards Puncknowle, (pronounced ‘Punnel’).
Sweet valley from on high
This village is crammed with character: there are thatched cottages, an elegant manor-house and the ghost of a landlady is said to still haunt the 16th century Crown Inn.
A Millennium project has restored a footpath leading from from a windswept place called Knackers Hole to the Knoll.
It is name checked by Sir Frederick Treves in Highways and Byways In Dorset (1906): “Those who are imaginative have here a favourable spot for a story of hidden treasure.
“The story would be based upon the fact that in 1791 a farm labourer turned up with his plough a jar which contained no fewer than 1,200 coins.
“They are described as being ‘almost entirely decayed by time.’
“The money can hardly have represented the hoard of a miser, and if it had been buried in troublous times by the great family of the village [Napiers or Nappers], it is scarcely to be believed that the place of hiding was not known to some.
“There would at least have been some legend of hidden gold to be handed down from father to son.
“It is probable therefore that this was the booty of some sea rover who beached his boat at Swyre, and, going off to seek further adventure, was either murdered for the secret or was wrecked on the Chesil Beach on a less fortunate venture.”
(Thanks to Mum for photos!)
Totally Dorset 
Hi,
I have really enjoyed reading your descriptions of the Dorset countryside. I came across it when I searched for the place name of an ancestor of mine as given in the 1851 census. That place is Knackers Hole. I cannot find reference to it on any current maps, although the name does seem to be still in use. Do you perhaps have a map ref or lat/long for the location? Any information would be greatly appreciated. There must have been some houses there once. Thanks in anticipation!
Best regards,
Rowan
Hello, thank you for lovely feedback! I must admit I struggled to find many more references to Knackers Hole myself – one online mention was on the local parish council website here http://www.burtonbradstock.org.uk/What's%20on/BVN/2000/may%202000/may2000.htm: Good luck on your quest: you have inspired me to do some research of my own, and I will come back to you if I find out anything!