Sturminster Marshall

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
List of places
UK
England
Dorset
50°47′50″N 2°04′29″W / 50.7973°N 2.0747°W / 50.7973; -2.0747

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°47′N 2°07′W / 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]

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 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.

Landmarks

Church of St Mary the Virgin

The earliest parts of the Church of England parish church date from the 12th century, with 13th, 14th and 15th century additions. The three-stage west tower was rebuilt in 1805 and the whole building was heavily restored in 1859.[7] The monuments and brasses inside the church are mainly 19th century, but there is a 17th century funeral helm and a 14th century coffin slab with a Latin inscription: Quisquis ades qui morte cades, sta, perlege, plora. Sum quod eris, fueram quod es. Pro me precor, ora.[a][8] It is a Grade II* listed building.[7]

White Mill Bridge

Crossing the River Stour to the east of the village is a 16th century stone bridge of eight arches. The later parapet overhangs the bridge sides on corbels. An early 19th century iron plaque threatens anyone damaging the bridge with penal transportation. It is a Grade I listed building.[9]

  • Interior of St Mary's Church, looking east
    Interior of St Mary's Church, looking east
  • 14th century coffin lid in the south porch of the church
    14th century coffin lid in the south porch of the church
  • The 16th century White Mill Bridge crossing the River Stour
    The 16th century White Mill Bridge crossing the River Stour
  • Old iron warning sign on the bridge parapet
    Old iron warning sign on the bridge parapet

Notes

  1. ^ Perhaps translated as: "Anyone present, who will fall to death, stand, read, weep. I am what you will be, I had been what you are. Pray for me, I pray."

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 Museum first floor: Dorset Museum. 2023.
  7. ^ a b Historic England. "Church of St Mary the Virgin (1154649)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  8. ^ Newman, John; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2018). Dorset. Yale University Press. p. 406. ISBN 978-0300224788.
  9. ^ Historic England. "White Mill Bridge (1120035)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 August 2024.

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