Sturminster Marshall

Sturminster Marshall is a village and civil parish in the east of Dorset in England, situated on the River Stour between Blandford Forum and Poole. The parish had a population of 1,895 at the 2001 census,[1] increasing to 1,969 at the 2011 Census and includes the village of Almer (50.78°N 2.12°W / 50.78; -2.12) west of Sturminster Marshall, near Winterborne Zelston and the hamlet of Henbury to the south-east of the village. The village is twinned with the French commune of Sainte-Mère-Église in Normandy. The appropriate electoral ward is called 'Stour'. From Sturminster Marshall the ward goes east to Pamphill, with a total population of 2,582.[2]

Sturminster Marshall
Village and civil parish
St Mary's Church
Sturminster Marshall is located in Dorset
Sturminster Marshall
Sturminster Marshall
Location within Dorset
Population1,969 (2011)
OS grid referenceSY946998
Unitary authority
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWIMBORNE
Postcode districtBH21
Dialling code01258
PoliceDorset
FireDorset and Wiltshire
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament

King Alfred the Great, in his will of 899, a copy of which can be seen at the British Library, left the village to his youngest son Æthelweard (c.880-922).

Sturminster Marshall has a 13th century church, St. Mary's. Its predecessor contributed to the village's name; 'Sturminster' meaning "church on the River Stour". The second part of the name came from William Marshall.[3] Until 1857, St. Hubert's Church in Corfe Mullen acted as a chapel of ease to Sturminster Marshall.[4] St. Mary's pre-reformation chalice, dating to 1536, has survived although the stem has been replaced.[5] It is on loan to Dorset County Museum.[6]


Village amenities

Sturminster Marshall has a playing field with a children's playground in one corner. Nearby is the Memorial Hall which offers a meeting-space for many village societies. There is also an old school hall which is also used as a meeting-space.

There are many walks around the village including the Stour Valley Way, which follows the Stour right from the source to the sea.

The village has two pubs: the Red Lion within the village and the Golden Fox on the outskirts.

The village has a cricket club with a side in Dorset division 3. There is also a football club with a senior side and several junior teams.

References
  1. "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Sturminster Marshall CP (Parish)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  2. "Stour Ward 2011". Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  3. Welcome to the Bridge Benefice at bridgebeneficedorset.org. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  4. St Huberts History at parishofcorfemullen.com. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  5. An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 2, South east. Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1970. pp. 283–290.
  6. The Sturminster Marshall chalice (Museum label). Dorset County Museum first floor: Dorset County Museum. 2023.

Media related to Sturminster Marshall at Wikimedia Commons



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