Everything about Stalbridge totally explained
Stalbridge is a small town and
parish in
Dorset,
England, situated in the
Blackmore Vale area of
North Dorset district, near the border with
Somerset. In
2001 the town had a population of 2,579, and is still growing. 30.8% of the inhabitants are retired. The nearest towns are
Sturminster Newton, four
miles south east,
Sherborne, six miles west, and
Shaftesbury, seven miles north east. The town is situated on the
A357 road on a low
limestone ridge, one mile west of the
River Stour. The settlement became a town in April 1992
Though relatively small, Stalbridge is quite independent, with its own small
supermarket,
newsagent, electronics store, GP Surgery and many other services, reflecting its
catchment area of surrounding farms and hamlets. The town is also home to the local free newspaper, the
Blackmore Vale Magazine.
History
There was a settlement near Stalbridge in
Roman times. The town has a
15th century church with a
19th century tower, dedicated to
Saint Mary and designed by
T. H. Wyatt, which overlooks the town from a hill. The town has had market rights since the time of
King George I, though it hasn't held a regular market for many years. In the town centre stands a 10 metre (30 ft) tall
market cross, said to be the finest in the country.
Stalbridge was home to scientist
Robert Boyle (see below), and writer
Douglas Adams, who wrote much of "
The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" in the town. The town also boasts that it's home to the oldest living male
twins in the world.
Artist Sir
James Thornhill lived just south of the town, in Thornhill Park, which he bought in 1725. In 1727 he erected an
obelisk in the park to honour the accession of
King George II.
Stalbridge House
In 1618
Mervyn Tuchet (or Audley), 2nd Earl of Castlehaven, who had inherited Stalbridge Park from his father, decided to build a
mansion house on his Stalbridge estate. He enclosed an area used as
common land to the northwest of the church, moving tenant farmers out, and built a
Jacobean style mansion, the fifth largest house in
Dorset.
In 1631 the earl's eldest son
James brought a case against him for "unnatural practices", and he was subsequently
executed.
James sold the house to
Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork. After his father's death, the scientist
Robert Boyle became
Lord of the Manor, and the house was his residence between 1644 and 1655. It was here that he conducted many of his experiments.. By 1827 all that remained was the raised area where it had stood. The stone was sold off and much of it's in use elsewhere in the town, including the large farm house which now stands in the park.
There are many popular local myths and ghost stories about the demise of the house, mostly involving a fire destroying the house.
Stalbridge Park features in
Thomas Hardy's
Wessex as "Stapleford Park"
[.]
Further Information
Get more info on 'Stalbridge'.
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