We are very fortunate to have a link with the village over 200 years ago in the form of a Census carried out in 1812. When I originally saw the list of names with a description of their occupations in the Parish Records kept at the Family History Centre in Dorchester, I wasn't sure what relevance it had as their was no heading or year to it. But since then, with my researches on the village history I realise it is an early Census. By collating lists for the Poor Rates, Land Taxes and Burials for Charmouth, I can accurately place it at the end of 1812. For amongst the list of names is a Peter Clapcott, who is shown as dying on 28th June 1813. His Will is amongst a number that have survived from the people recorded on the List.
Closer study of the Census shows it to be the occupants of the houses that were in the village, as there is reference to a house, where Mrs. Mary Tozer lived as being void. Many of the inhabitants rented their properties from wealthy landowners, who lived elsewhere and hence do not appear on the list. The Poor Rates and Land Taxes for  the Year 1812 supply this information, but often leave out the occupants, especially if there are a number in the same building and is grouped together as "others". This is where the Census is exiting as it gives the number if Males and Females in each House. It also describes the occupation of the main person. I was particularly exited to find that Joseph Bradbeer was described as a Post Master. He would have been running his business from what is Nisa( Charmouth Stores), which shows it have been a shop for over 2 centuries. Almost every trade was represented and included Dress maker, Butcher, Carpenter,Shoe Maker,Fisherman,Builder, Dairyman,Baker,Taylor,Blacksmith and Surgeon. There were also three Inns at that time, which were the Fountain run by George Harvey and owned by Squire Gordon, who the following year closed it down and lived in it what is today Charmouth House. The George was owned by Samuel Gundry, who ran his brewery from the old building that still forms part of Palmers Brewery at Bridport. The tenant was Richard Hawkins. The largest of the Inns was the 3 Crowns whose landlord was Richard Clemoes, it's name was later to change to the Mail Coach Inn and finally the Coach and Horses. There are four men and five women shown as living there at that time.  
If we were to go back two centuries we would be surprised to see that the village had its own industry in the shape of Sail Making. For three of these business men are revealed on the list, they are William Burnard, George Webber's widow  and Jacob Ridley Kitt. They all rented or owned many of the fields in the village which would have been covered with Flax,the staple for their trade. The largest at that time was Kitts,which stood on the site of Charmouth Lodge,but at the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, was also the year that they went bankrupt with the decline in sails for shipping.  
The village had been centred along the Street for many centuries and the majority of those on the list were living along it. Both Lower and Higher Sea Lane were surrounded by fields, with few buildings. John Robins who appears in the list had recently built the  fine three storey. Sea Horse House in Rocket Lane as the latter was called then. Old Lyme Hill had a number of buildings along it, including the Poor House and the cottages where the Gordges lived.  
There were a number of farms surrounding the Street, the largest of which had been Charmouth Manor Farm, which had been bought by Lieutenant James Warden in 1788 and he kept the  fields to the South of The Street, which became known as Sea Lands. Those fields to the north were bought by the village Curate, Rev. Brian Combes and became known as Back Lands. By 1812, James daughter, Ann Liddon is renting them to John Harris, who appears as a Farmer on the list. Brian Combes, appears as the largest Land Owner and is renting his farm and other properties to some of the people who appear on the list. He is Rector of Catherston and although Curate for Charmouth, does the work of the absentee Rector, Rev Audain,who has quite a colourful life. Another clergyman, Reverend Puddicombe, the vicar of Branscombe, has inherited Wood Farm from his sister, Elizabeth, wife of James Warden. Mary Newton, William Burnard and William Palmer, who appear in the list are renting property from him. William Burnard runs his business from the  Mill buildings. William Browning, a coach man living in building opposite, owned by Frances, son of Joseph Bradbeer who share part of it and runs his Post Office from there.
The Mail and two other coaches pass daily through Charmouth from London to Plymouth, it being the Great Western Road – Bathing Machines are kept on the beach during the summer season, for the accommodation of the company who resort to this truly pleasant and healthy spot - advert in 1810.