Poole Stadium hosts regular greyhound racing and is the home to top-flight speedway team Poole Pirates. [204] Several other writers have called Dorset home, including Douglas Adams, who wrote much of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy while he lived in Stalbridge;[205] John le Carré, author of espionage novels, was born in Poole;[206] Tom Sharpe of Wilt fame lived in Bridport;[207] John Fowles (The French Lieutenant's Woman) lived in Lyme Regis before he died in late 2005;[208] T.F. [45][46] Tens-of-thousands of troops departed Weymouth, Portland and Poole harbours during D-Day and gliders from RAF Tarrant Rushton dropped troops near Caen to begin Operation Tonga. [243] A 4th century Roman mosaic discovered near Hinton St Mary contains what is generally accepted to be an image of Christ. [59] Beaminster and Bridport are situated in the west of the county; Verwood and the historic Saxon market towns of Wareham and Wimborne Minster are located to the east. Powys lived in Chaldon Herring for over 20 years and used it as inspiration for the fictitious village of Folly Down in his novel Mr. Weston's Good Wine;[209] John Cowper Powys, his elder brother, also set a number of his works in Dorset, such as the novels Maiden Castle and Weymouth Sands. [218] The golden colour represents Dorset's sandy beaches and the Dorset landmarks of Golden Cap and Gold Hill. The county has one of the highest proportions of conservation areas in England—and two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covering 53% of the administrative county. Alongside the rural areas, North Dorset is also home to a number of popular towns including Blandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, and Sturminster Newton. Non-League semi-professional teams in the county include Southern Premier Division teams Dorchester Town F.C., Poole Town F.C. [2] The Romans established the settlement in the 1st century and named it Durnovaria which was a Latinised version of a Common Brittonic word possibly meaning "place with fist-sized pebbles". The Dorset coast, south of Bridport. Dorset has seen much civil unrest: in the English Civil War, an uprising of vigilantes was crushed by Oliver Cromwell's forces in a pitched battle near Shaftesbury; the doomed Monmouth Rebellion began at Lyme Regis; and a group of farm labourers from Tolpuddle were instrumental in the formation of the trade union movement. [94] The Dorset section has yielded important fossils, including Jurassic trees and the first complete Ichthyosaur, discovered near Lyme Regis in 1811 by Mary Anning. [99][100] It has two Heritage Coasts totalling 92 kilometres (57 mi) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest covering 199 km2 (77 sq mi). Map of Poundbury Dorset (United Kingdom) In mapskm.com to page "Map of Poundbury Dorset (United Kingdom)" we provide useful information to those who are to start a trip with arrival in Poundbury. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. The county's coastline, on the English Channel, is noted for its watersports (particularly sailing, gig racing, windsurfing, power boating and kayaking) which take advantage of the sheltered waters in the bays of Weymouth and Poole, and the harbours of Poole and Portland. [20] The Normans consolidated their control over the area by constructing castles at Corfe, Wareham and Dorchester in the early part of the 12th century. [266] Poole recorded an above average Progress 8 score and 54% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs. Get directions, maps, and traffic for Dorset, ON. Get free map for your website. [103] There are also substantial areas of green belt surrounding the South East Dorset conurbation, filling in the area between this and the Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs AONB. [170][171] The Dorset County Museum in Dorchester was founded in 1846 and contains an extensive collection of exhibits covering the county's history and environment. Dorset County Council was first formed in 1888 by an act of government to govern the newly created administrative county of Dorset which had been based largely on the historic county borders. 246 reviews. [34], During the 18th century, much smuggling took place along the Dorset coast; its coves, caves and sandy beaches provided opportunities for gangs such as the Hawkhursts to stealthily bring smuggled goods ashore. The first recorded Viking raid on the British Isles occurred in Dorset during the eighth century, and the Black Death entered England at Melcombe Regis in 1348. [217] All three colours are used in Dorset County Council's coat of arms and the red and white was used in recognition of the English flag. Our list contains blockbusters, forgotten gems, and cult classics. [28] An uprising of Clubmen—vigilantes weary of the depredations of the war—took place in Dorset in 1645. [166], As a largely rural county, Dorset has fewer major cultural institutions than larger or more densely populated areas. [76] The soils created from these deposits support a heathland habitat which sustains all six native British reptile species. Arguably the most exclusive area of Dorset is found at Sandbanks, a small spit that sits at the mouth of Poole Harbour just between Bournemouth and the Isle of Purbeck. [23] However, Dorset was devastated by the bubonic plague in 1348 which arrived in Melcombe Regis on a ship from Gascony. Bournemouth Beach. The ceremonial county of Dorset, in the South West region of England is made up of the non-metropolitan county of Dorset together with the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset. [173] The museum is the largest in Dorset and its collection has been designated of national importance. [189][190] In addition to the smaller folk festivals held in towns such as Christchurch and Wimborne,[191][192] Dorset holds several larger musical events such as Camp Bestival, End of the Road and the Larmer Tree Festival. Some other significant towns that are located in South Dorset include the popular seaside town of Weymouth, as well as Bere Regis, Corfe Castle, Swanage, Wareham, and Worth Matravers. During the Second World War, Dorset was heavily involved in the preparations for the invasion of Normandy, and the large harbours of Portland and Poole were two of the main embarkation points. The labourers, who are now known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs, were subsequently arrested for administering "unlawful oaths" and sentenced to transportation but they were pardoned following massive protests by the working classes. Dorset has ports at Poole, Weymouth and Portland, and an international airport near Bournemouth. In the north of the county, you will find acres upon acres of tranquil, unspoilt countryside as most of the area falls into a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; it is easy to see how so many authors and artists were compelled to base their works on this region. Maphill is more than just a map gallery. [Note 2][128] Following a review by the Local Government Commission for England, Bournemouth and Poole each became administratively independent single-tier unitary authorities in 1997. [171][175], Dorset contains 190 conservation areas, more than 1,500 scheduled monuments, over 30 registered parks and gardens and 12,850 listed buildings. [75] South-east Dorset, including the lower Frome valley and around Poole and Bournemouth, comprises younger Eocene deposits,[70] mainly sands and clays of poor agricultural quality. Many are boarding schools which also take day pupils, such as the co-educational Canford School which is built around a 19th-century Grade I listed manor house; and Sherborne School, a boys' school founded in the 16th century. [101][102] The South West Coast Path, National Trail, begins at South Haven Point at the entrance to Poole Harbour. The Irish Sea lies west of England and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. 02431506 | VAT reg: 143053210. 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