Situated on the banks of the Stour, this Blackmore Vale market town has successfully reinvented itself whilst maintaining a strong link to the past, writes Andy Greeves
THERE is no doubt that Sturminster Newton has a long and impressive history. Recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Charter of 968 as ‘Nywetone at Stoure’ and in the Domesday Book as ‘Newetone’, Sturminster was the birthplace of renowned writer and poet William Barnes, while novelist Thomas Hardy also called the town home for a time. It is also where you will find an annual Boogie Woogie Festival! (ukboogiewoogiefestival.co.uk)
During the reign of Henry III (1216 – 1272) Sturminster flourished: it was awarded a Royal Charter, permitting a fair and market to be hosted there. Over the next 778 years the town’s cattle market grew to become one of the biggest in the UK before its closure in 1997. But Sturminster’s ‘Monday Market’ continues on a weekly basis - weather permitting!
FROM CATTLE MARKET TO CULTURAL HUB
Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av Dorset Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av Dorset Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Fighting Fit At Fifty
As the country braces for a lockdown winter, seize the moment to become the fittest you can be – after all age is just a number
Last Night I Dreamt I Went To Mapperton Again...
Helen Stiles goes behind the scenes at the filming of Rebecca where two historic Dorset manor houses play a starring role as Manderley in this romantic thriller
Painting the Seasons
Nicholas Hely Hutchinson reveals how the changing moods of the Dorset coast and countryside inspire his paintings
THE HEAT IS ON
Weymouth 51 are blazing a trail through the chilli world with their handcrafted fermented sauces that offer layers of complex flavours from mild and fruity to super-hot tongue tinglers
Meeting MR FIX IT
Sir Oliver Letwin stepped down as the MP for West Dorset in 2019, but his passion for the county he served for 22 years is as strong as ever
Wildlife Wanderings
David Bailey shares some of his favourite Dorset images and stories taken from his new book
SOWING THE SEEDS
The average age of a British farmer is 60, which is why the Melplash Agricultural Society is investing in the next generation of Dorset farmers
HAUNTED DORSET
From spectral Roman armies and duelling ghosts to a beneficent black dog, Jerry Bird explores some of the spookier goings on around the county
Decorative art
Not simply functional, treat your walls like an extension of your personality
Age-old advice
Just become a grandparent for the first time? Perhaps you need a little guidance, so here are some top tips about how to embrace your new family role
