The village lies on the small River Piddle in a valley on the dip slope of the Dorset Downs, 8 miles (13 km) north of Dorchester.

In 1086 in the Domesday Book Piddletrenthide was recorded as Pidrie;[2] it had 70 households, 17 ploughlands, 16 acres (6.5 ha) of meadow, three mills and a taxable value of 30 geld units.

Over the west door of the church-tower is the Latin inscription: "Est pydeltrenth villa in dorsedie comitatu Nascitur in illa quam rexit Vicariatu 1487".

[7] The church and manor house are the higher tithing, a group of cottages form the middle, and the third is known as White Lackington, which is a little separate from the other parts and is close to neighbouring Piddlehinton.

"[8] Scrumpy and Western artist Trevor Crozier wrote a song entitled "The Piddletrenthide Jug Band" for Dorset folk group The Yetties.

In the 21st century the tenor John Hudson, formerly a principal with English National Opera, has performed in a series of annual concerts at All Saints parish church, with support provided by other musicians with local connections.

Wightman was the model for Kenneth Williams' country character Arthur Fallowfield and was noted in his radio broadcasts for his fine Dorset accent.