STURMINSTER, or STURMINSTER-NEWTON-CASTLE, is a parish and small market town, 10 miles N.W. from Blandford, 8 S.W. from Shaftesbury, 20 N. from Dorchester, and 110 W.S.W. from London, standing principally upon the north bank of the river Stour, from whence the first syllable of its name, Stur, is derived, Minster from its ancient church, and Newton-Castle from a suburb, having a castle on the opposite side of the river, to which hamlet it is united by a stone bridge of six arches.

The town is of great antiquity, as many of its low-built, ill-contrived dwellings seem to demonstrate; about the market place, however, a few of the houses are of a different class, being either modernized or of more modern build, and exhibit a pleasing contrast, when their uniformity is placed in comparison with the gable ends and pointed roofs of the older unimproved edifices. The market house is a convenient building, the upper part of it forming warehouses, and the basement is partly occupied by the butchers’ shambles. At one period woollen goods were made here, but at the present time no manufactures exist; it has however, the best market in the county for horned cattle. Petty sessions for the hundred are held here, and manorial courts annually, when constables and other officers are appointed. The parish church, (St. Mary) was some few years since entirely rebuilt, except the tower (and this was repaired and heightened), at the entire cost of the Rev. T. H. Fox, the present vicar; it is a handsome cruciform structure, in the Norman style of architecture. The original building was constructed by John Selwood, a monk of Glastonbury. Here is a place of worship for Wesleyans, and there are public schools for instructing poor children of each sex. Sturminster, with 19 parishes, forms a union under the poor law amendment act, and about a quarter of a mile from the town a suitable workhouse has been erected. Fairs are held on May 12th, and October the 24th, and an excellent market for cattle on every alternate Thursday. In 1841 the parish contained 1910 persons. On the Newton side of the river are the remains of the ancient castle; it is supposed this strong hold was originally constructed by the Romans, and afterwards used as the regal residence of the West Saxon Kings.
POST OFFICE, at Henry Burbidge’s. Letters despatched to all parts, at 6.25 p.m. and delivered at 7 a.m.

CARRIERS to BLANDFORD, Ford and Co., Tues. Thur. and Sat. at 7 p.m., also, Stickland, Sat. 8 a.m., likewise the Post cart daily, at 6 25 p.m. BRISTOL, Dodimead, Tues. Wed. and Fri. at 1 p.m. POOLE, Dodimead, Mon. Wed. and Fri. 1 p.m. SHAFTESBURY & STALBRIDGE, Ford & Co. Tues. Th. & Sat. at 2 p.m. WEYMOUTH, Stickland, Mon. 8 a.m.

Buckland and Sturminster Newton Castle Hundred included these parishes:
Buckland Newton
Hinton St Mary
Mappowder
Margaret Marsh
Marnhull
Okeford Fitzpaine
Pulham (East and West)
Stock Gayland
Sturminster Newton Castle
Wootton Glanville and Newland

Dorset summary
Parishes 273
Townships, chapelries, tythings etc: 14
Square miles: 1,005
Square acres: 643,200
Family occupations
Agricutural: 14,821
Trades: 10,811
Other: 4,680
Divisional meetings or petty sessions: 9
Acting county magistrates: 63
Population
Male: 68,934
Female: 75,565

INTRODUCTION
The Sturminster Newton Castle Hundred contains the parishes of Hinton St Mary, Margaret Marsh, Marnhull, Okeford Fitzpaine and Sturminster Newton Castle. Its area and population (1871) are 12,120 acres and 4,517 people.

The Poor Law Union of Sturminster Newton covers the parishes of Belchalwell, Caundle Stourton, Child Okeford, Fifehead Magdalen, Fifehead Neville, Hammoon, Hanford, Haselbury Bryan, Hinton St Mary, Ibberton, Lydlinch, Manston, Marnhull, Okeford Fitzpaine, Shillingstone or Shilling Okeford, Stalbridge, Stock Gayland, Stoke Wake, Sturminster Newton Castle and Woolland.

HINTON ST MARY is a parish and village, in the petty sessional division, hundred and union of Sturminster, Shaftesbury county court district, diocese of Salisbury, archdeaconry of Dorset and rural deanery of Shaftesbury fourth portion, 1½ miles north from Sturminster station, and 8½ south-west from Shaftesbury, near the river Stour. The church of St Mary is in the Perpendicular style, and, with the exception of the square tower, was rebuilt in 1846: it consists of chancel and nave, and contains an old monument of the Freke family. The register dates from the year 1534. The living, formerly a chapelry of Iwerne Minster, is now a vicarage, yearly value £100, with residence, in the gift of the vicar of Iwerne Minster and held by the Rev Malcolm Strickland Laing, of St Bees. The Primitive Methodists have a chapel. There is a charity of about £8 yearly, originally for the purpose of apprenticing children, but now partly applied to education and partly in relief. Lord Rivers is lord of the manor and chief landowner. The soil is clay and limestone; subsoil, rock. The crops are grass, wheat, barley and roots. The area is 982 acres; rateable value £2,151; the population in 1871 was 328.
HEWSTOCK is half a mile south, and Cut Mill half a mile north-west, on the Stour.
Parish Clerk, Richard Moore.
Post office: Enos Kenisson, receiver. Letters through Blandford arrive at 7am. dispatched at 6pm. The nearest money order office is at Sturminster Newton.
Here is a National school for boys and girls; the school and teacher’s house were built in 1841 at a cost of £400; Miss Whitting, mistress.
Harvey Robert R. JP Manor house
Laing Rev. Malcolm Strickland, Vicarage
Rake Martin
Rolls George
COMMERCIAL.
Adams Charles, White Horse inn
Applin John, farmer
Barter Mary Ann (Mrs.) grocer
Coombs Charles, boot maker
Fish Frederick, farmer
Hames Arthur, farmer, Cut Mill
Hames George, farmer
Hames John Rowland, farmer
Hames Roger, farmer
Hames Thomas, farmer
Harris Joseph, farmer
Hunt Robert, miller, Cut Mill
Kerley George, blacksmith
Martin William, shopkeeper
Moore Richard, farmer
Parsons Henry, dairyman
Senior James, farmer
Seymer William, farmer
Webber Sarah (Mrs.), shopkeeper

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MARGARET MARSH is a very small parish within the parliamentary borough of Shaftesbury, in the petty sessional division of Sturminster, hundred of Sturminster Newton, union and county court district of Shaftesbury, rural deanery of Shaftesbury fourth portion, archdeaconry of Dorset and diocese of Salisbury, 4 miles south-west from Shaftesbury and 5 north-east from Sturminster station. The church of St Margaret is a Norman structure, with square embattled tower, containing 4 bells, rebuilt (with the exception of the tower) in 1873, at a cost of £800, and consists of chancel, nave and south porch and has sittings for 80 people. The register dates from the year 1563. The living is a vicarage, annexed to the vicarage of East Orchard, yearly value £200, in the gift of the vicar of Iwerne Minster and held by the Rev. Eldon Vaughan Chappel M.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge. The principal landowners are the Rev. H. Boucher and Sir Richard G. Glyn bart. The soil is clay; subsoil, blue clay. The land is principally in pasture. The area is 525 acres; rateable value £842; the population in 1871 was 70.
Parish Clerk, Thomas Elliott.
Letters through Shaftesbury, which is also the nearest money order office.
Antill John, farmer, Church farm
Drew James, farmer
Garrett Stephen, farmer, Higher farm
Garrett Jane (Mrs.), farmer & cow-keeper, Gore farm
Knott Sellena (Miss), farmer
Lodge Charles, farmer, Jop’s farm
Pike James, dairyman

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STURMINSTER NEWTON (CASTLE) is a market and union town, station on the Somerset and Dorset railway, parish and polling place for the county, in the petty sessional division, and hundred of the same name, Blandford county court district, diocese of Salisbury, archdeaconry of Dorset and rural deanery of Shaftesbury fourth portion, 108 miles from London, 10 north-west from Blandford, 12 west from Sherborne, 5 south-east from Stalbridge and 8 south-west from Shaftesbury, situated on the banks of the river Stour, which, flowing through the vale of Blackmoor, empties itself into the sea at Christchurch, in Hampshire. The church of St. Mary was in 1827 nearly rebuilt, and very considerably enlarged, at the sole expense of the Rev. T.H.L. Fox, the late vicar: it is in the Perpendicular style and consists of chancel and chancel aisles, nave, aisles and transept: the tower is part of the original building; its height was, however increased at the time of the repair of the church. The register dates from the year 1681. The living is a vicarage, in the gift of Lord Rivers; the tithes have been commuted for £775, with residence and 79 acres of glebe: the Rev. Richard Lowndes M.A. of Christ Church, Oxford, is vicar. The Primitive Methodists and the Wesleyans have each a chapel and Sunday schools: attached to the former a minister’s residence has been erected at a cost of £440. There are several charities: Williams’, derived from land in Haselbury Bryan, and paid in annuities to the poor of that parish, with those of Blandford and Shaftesbury; another, called Marsh’s, of £16 5s. yearly, partly applied to the apprenticing of a boy and girl and partly to poor attending parish church; Moore’s, of £9 12s. distributed in money; and another of £4, distributed in bread at Christmas; Hutchin’s, interest of £105 9s. 3d. stock, with 14 acres of land, producing about £14, laid out in coals yearly. On the Newton side of the river are the ruins of an old castle, supposed to have been erected by the Saxons: they consist of a keep, within a vallum and ditch, seated on a hill: the ground-plan was in the form of the letter D. A literary and scientific institution was established about 1845. There is a market every alternate Thursday, chiefly for cattle. The fairs are held on the 12th of May and 24th of October. Lord Rivers is lord of the manor and chief landowner. The soil is chiefly clay: subsoil is clay and gravel. The land is chiefly in pasture, with some barley and roots. The area of Sturminster Newton Castle is 4,240 acres; rateable value, £10,031; and the population in 1871 was 1,965.
NEWTON tithing is divided from Sturminster by the river Stour. BAGBER is a tithing 2 miles west, on the road to Sherborne.
Parish Clerk, Philip Adams.

POST, MONEY ORDER and TELEGRAPH OFFICE and Government Insurance Office and Savings Bank. – Jesse Meader, sub-postmaster. Letters through Blandford.
d = Dispatch / a = Arrivals
West of England d 6.10am / a 6.30pm
London and all parts d 9.30am / a 7am
Ditto d 6.15pm / a 3.40pm
Bath and West of England d 7.15pm
Wall Letter Box at Bagber cleared at 5.55pm

COUNTY MAGISTRATES
For Sturminster Newton Petty Sessional division.
Yeatman M.S. esq Glossop Lieut-Col
Hanham Capt. R.N Guest Merthyr esq
Boucher Rev. H Yeatman Major H.F
Wolverton The Rt. Hon. Lord Ker Seymer E.C. esq
Williams M. esq Harvey R.B. esq
Bower H.S. esq Serrell D.H. esq
Clerk, R.S. Freame.
Petty Sessions are held at the Police Court every Monday and Thursday. The following places are included in the Petty Sessional Division : – Belchawell, Caundle Stourton, Child Okeford, Fifehead Magdalen, Fifehead Neville, Hammoon, Hanford, Hazelbury Bryan, Hinton St. Mary, Ibberton, Lydlinch, Manston, Marnhull, Okeford Fitzpaine, Shilling Okeford, Stalbridge, Stock Gaylard, Stoke Wake, Sturminster and Woolland.

INSURANCE AGENTS
Commercial Union, G.T. W. Robinson, Newton
Crown Life, G.S. Rake, The Bank
Imperial Fire, W.H. Marshallsay
Law Union, H.C. Dashwood
Liverpool and London and Globe, W. Creech
Norwich Union, C.S. Rose
Royal Exchange, H. Thorne
Scottish Widows’ Fund, H.S. Senior
Sceptre Life, T. Tucker, Station
Standard Life, W.H. Marshallsay, Dorchester bank
Sun Fire, G.S. Rake, Bank
West of England, H.C. Dashwood
Westminster Fire, W.C. Norman

PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS
Excise Office, Swan Inn
Police Station, William Grant, superintendent
Stamp Office, Jesse Meader, distributor and commissioner for receiving affidavits for exchanging spoiled stamps
Dorset (10th) Volunteers, Captain Dashwood

STURMINSTER NEWTON UNION
The union comprises the following parishes :- Belchawell, Caundle Stourton, Child Okeford, Fifehead Magdalen, Fifehead Neville, Hammoon, Haselbury Bryan, Hinton St. Mary, Ibberton, Lydlinch, Manston, Marnhull, Okeford Fitzpaine, Shillingstone, or Shilling Okeford, Stalbridge, Stock Gaylard, Stoke Wake, Sturminster Newton Castle and Woolland. The workhouse is situate here. The area of the union is 36,143 acre; rateable value, £73,619.
Board day, alternate Wednesdays.
Clerk, B. Cheesman, Sturminster Newton
Assistant Overseer, T. Potter, Sturminster Newton
Collectors, Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Relieving Officers, Vaccination Officers and School Attendance Officers, Stalbridge district, John Hunt, Stalbridge; Sturminster district, R.E. Holdway, Childe Okeford
Medical Officers, J. Tarzewell, Hinton St. Mary; J.C. Leach, Sturminster; R.G. Long, Stalbridge; D. Curme, Childe Okeford
Supt. Registrar, B. Cheesman, Sturminster Newton
Workhouse, George Keates, master; Rev. M.S. Laing, chaplain; J. Tarzewell, surgeon; Mrs. H. Keates, matron

RURAL SANITARY AUTHORITY
Clerk, B. Cheesman, Sturminster
Medical Officer, J. Comyns Leech
Inspector of Nuisances, T. Taylor
Highway District Board, H.S. Bowyer, chairman; A.G. Creech, vice-chairman; H. Williams, treasurer; B. Cheesman, clerk; T. Taylor, surveyor

PUBLIC OFFICER
Clerk to Commissioners of Taxes, Clerk to Vale of Blackmoor Turnpike Trust and Secretary to Agricultural Society, H.C. Dashwood

SCHOOLS
National, Wm. J. Pinton, master; Miss Hine, mistress
National, Bagber (mixed), Mrs. Spinney, mistress
Wesleyan (mixed), Walter H. Wilkins, master

PRIVATE RESIDENTS
Bell Mrs
Cheesman Benjamin, Newton
Coate Tom, Newton house
Collins Mrs
Creech Arthur Gerrard, Newton
Creech Henry George
Creech William, Beech house
Dashwood Henry Charles
Dashwood Miss
Goodridge Miss
Groves L. Luckman
Guy Alexander, Newton
Hallett Robert
Knott Ambrose sen, Hamgate house
Leach John Comyns, The Lindens
Lowndes Rev. Richard M.A. (vicar)
Marshallsay William Hy. The Dorsetshire bank
Newman Richard
Norman Walter Charles
Read Mrs
Robinson George T.W. Newton
Tarzewell James
Watts Rev. Nathaniel (Primitive Methodist), Newton
COMMERCIAL
Adams Charles Walter, carpenter
Andrews Eli, farmer, Bagber
Applin Thomas Edward, Common
Baker George, hair dresser
Ballantyne Thomas, draper
Barfoot Ann (Mrs.), linen draper
Barnett Edward William, tailor and draper
Barnett Thomas William, general and furnishing ironmonger and oil and colour warehouse
Beale William, shoeing smith, Newton
Bennett Mary (Mrs.), farmer, Puxey
Best John, tin plate worker
Brice Edward, veterinary surgeon
Bright Mary Ann (Mrs.), baker
Brook James, station master
Cake Charles, grocer, boot and shoe warehouse and earthenware dealer
Chapman Richard, White Hart inn and posting house and brewer
Cheesman Benjamin, accountant and superintendent registrar, clerk to Union and Rural Sanitary Authority
Cluett Carrie (Mrs.), dress maker
Cluett James, farmer, Bagber
Cluett John Major, farmer
Cluett William, dairyman and farmer, Bagber
Coate Tom, yeoman, Newton house
Coombes George, blacksmith, Bagber
Cowly Susanna (Miss), shopkeeper
Creech Henry George, auctioneer and estate agent, see Senior and Creech
Creech William, steward and agent to Lord Rivers, Beech house
Dashwood Henry Charles, solicitor and commisioner
Dawe Mary Ann (Mrs.), farmer, Bagber
Dorchester Old Bank (branch of) R. and H. Williams and Co. (W. H. Marshallsay, manager); draw on Williams, Deacon and Co. London E.C.
Dowding George, Bull Inn, Newton
Dowding Joseph, horse breaker, Newton
Drake John, farmer
Drake Brothers, boot and shoe makers
Drake Samuel, stationer
Duffett Edward, farmer
Duffett John, farmer, Common
Duffett Samuel, farmer
Duffett William, butcher, Newton
Fish George, brick maker, Bagber
Fish Joshua and Josiah, farmers, Bagber
Fish Josiah and Co. corn and cake merchants
Flavell George, M.R.C.V.S.L. veterinary surgeon
Foe Francis, sawyer, Newton
Fry John, saddler
Gould Willam, farmer, Haydon
Grant William, superintendent of police
Harris John, Swan commercial inn and posting house
Hawkins Thomas, linen draper and stationer
Higgins William, plumber and glazier
Hopkins Charles, mason, Bagber
Hutchings Charles, watch and clock maker
Inkpen Thomas, shopkeeper
Jackson Edward, grocer and druggist
James William, grocer
Jeffery George, farmer, Bagber
Knott Ambrose, farmer
Knott George, harness maker, Newton
Knott John, pig dealer, Common
Knott William, farmer
Lane William, chimney sweeper
Leach John Comyns, surgeon and medical officer to the Union and to the Rural Sanitary Authority, The Lindens
Lemon Henry, tailor
Lewis Henry, tailor and woollen draper
Light Louisa (Mrs.), wardrobe dealer
Lydford James, shoe maker
Meader Jesse, watch and clock maker, jeweller and silversmith
Melmoth Thomas, saddler
Moors William, commission agent
Morris William, confectioner
National Provincial Bank (branch of) (F. B. Cooke, manager); draw on Head Office, Bishopsgate st. London
Newman Daniel, farmer, Bagber
Newman Joseph, tailor
Newman Richard P. mason
Paviour Thomas Barter and Co. linen and woollen drapers and tailors
Phillips Edwin, farmer
Phillips Thomas Benjamin, plumber and glazier
Pitt Albert, smith, machinist and agricultural implement agent
Pitt Jane (Mrs.), refreshment rooms
Pollock Joseph Alexander, general draper and outfitter, and boot and shoe warehouse; and at Wincanton
Pope John, cooper
Porter James, marine store dealer
Potter Thomas, grocer and assistant overseer
Rabbetts Henry and George, farmers, Bagber
Rake Martin, grocer
Ralph Charles, farmer, Bagber
Ridout John, cheese merchant
Rose Charles, carpenter
Rose Charles, shopkeeper
Rose Charles Seymour, printer and stationer
Rose Daniel, baker
Rose Harry, farmer, Bagber
Rose James, farmer, Bagber
Rose James, tailor
Rose Job, farmer, Newton
Rose John, farmer
Rose Joseph, farmer, Newton
Rose Maria (Mrs.), Red Lion, Newton
Rose Matilda (Mrs.), miller, Newton
Rose Rosanna (Miss), baker
Rose Thomas, beer retailer
Rowland Elizabeth (Mrs.), straw bonnet maker
Rowland John, butcher
Rowland Matthew, pig dealer
Rowland Thomas, boot and shoe maker
Russell Hodder, baker, Common
Senior and Creech, auctioneers and estate agents. See advertisement
Sherring Richard, Rivers’ Arms
Short Charles, butcher
Short Elizabeth (Mrs.), butcher
Strange James and Son, grocer
Strange Frank, boot and shoe maker
Strange Joseph, farmer
Sturminster Gas and Coke Co. Limited (William H. Marshallsay, sec)
Sturminster Literary Institute (W. H. Marshallsay, sec)
Tarzewell James, surgeon and medical officer to the Union
Taylor Thomas, road surveyor and inspector of nuisances
Thorne Henry, auctioneer, appraiser, surveyor and commision agent, agent to the Allan Royal Mail Steam Packet Co
Topp John, grazier
Trowbridge Job, farmer, Common
Tucker Thomas, coal, cake and manure merchant
Tuffin Tom, Rose and Crown, Bagber
Westcott John, currier and farmer
White Henry William, beer retailer
Young Barbara and Mary (Misses), young ladies’ day and boarding school, Riverside villa. See advertisement
Young Ann (Mrs.), draper
Young Robert, tailor
Young William, shoe maker

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Last updated: 17 Jul 2025 @ 17:10

STURMINSTER NEWTON CASTLE, a market town, parish, and railway station, on the Dorset Central Railway, in the hundred and union of the same name, distant 108 miles from London, 10 N.W. from Blandford, 12 W. from Sherborne, 5 S.E. from Stalbridge, and 8 S.W. from Shaftesbury. The town is situated on the banks of the river Stour,. Which, flowing through the vale of Blackmoor, empties itself into the sea at Christchurch, in Hampshire. The church, St. Mary’s, within about the last twenty years has been nearly rebuilt, and very considerably enlarged, at the sole expense of the late Rev. T. H. Lane Fox; it is in the Norman style, in the form of a cross. The living is a vicarage, in the gift of Lord Rivers, lord of the manor, and the tithes have been commuted for £712, with residence; glebe, 200 acres; the Rev. Richard Lowndes is the vicar. The Primitive Methodists have a chapel. The Wesleyans have a chapel and Sunday school. There are schools for children of both sexes and for infants, supported by voluntary subscriptions. On the Newton side of the river are the remains of an old castle, supposed to have been erected by the Romans; they consist of a keep, within a vallum and ditch, seated on a hill. The ground-plan was in the form of the letter D. There is a large camp, called Banbury. A Literary and Scientific Institution was established in 1850. There is a market every alternate Thursday, chiefly for cattle. The fairs are held on the 12th of May and 24th of October, at which is appointed the high constable of the hundred of Sturminster. The petty sessions of the division are held monthly here, The population in 1861 was 1,880, and the acreage 4,229. In the union of Sturminster there are twenty parishes. The workhouse is at Sturminster. Board meeting every Wednesday.

NEWTON tithing is divided from Sturminster by the river. Bagbere is a tithing 2 miles W., on the road to Sherborne.

FIDDLEFORD is a hamlet of Sturminster Newton, 2 miles S.E. from that town, and 8 N.W. from Blandford; Kingsdown, 1 S.E.; Hole, half a mile S.; Knacker’s Hole, Garland, and Common Gate, 2 miles S.; Darknell, 2 miles S.W.

POSTAL REGULATIONS.– William Trite, postmaster. Letters delivered at 7.30 a.m. Box closes at 6.15 p.m.; letters received until 6.25 by affixing an extra stamp; dispatched for Blandford at 6.25. Money-orders are issued and paid at this office, and Savings Bank business transacted.

BANKERS:–
Dorset Bank – (Robert and Herbert Williams) (William Colbourne, Esq., manager); draw on Williams, Deacon and Co.
National Provincial Bank – (J. W. Coffin, manager); draw on London Joint Stock Bank.

PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS:–
Excise Office – ‘Swan’.
Stamp Office – William Trite, distributor.
Union Workhouse – M. Williams, Esq., chairman; R. Stiby, Esq., vice chairman; Samuel Walter Long, Esq., clerk; William Kemp Clough, master; Mrs. Grace Goodenough Clough, matron; Miss A. Roe, Schoolmistress; J. Tarzewell, Esq., surgeon.

PUBLIC OFFICERS:–
Clerk to the Commissioner of Taxes – H. C. Dashwood, Esq.
Clerk to Magistrates of Petty Sessions – Robert Rideout Harvey, Esq.
Clerk to Board of Guardians – Samuel Walter Long, Esq.
Superintendent Registrar – Samuel Walter Long, Esq.

PLACES OF WORSHIP:–
St. Mary’s Church – Rev. R. Lowndes, vicar; Philip Adams, parish clerk.
Primitive Methodist Chapel – ministers various.
Wesleyan Chapel – ministers various.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS:–
Parochial – J. Holmes, master; Miss Anne Bennett, mistress.
Infant – Mrs. Betsey Bennett, mistress.

CARRIERS:–
T. Bright, Blandford to Yeovil, Tuesday and Thursday; return, Wednesday and Friday.