Sturminster Newton

The Dorset Historic Towns Project report on Sturminster Newton.

The historic urban character of Sturminster Newton is closely bound up with the town's distinctive landscape setting and the quality of its historic fabric. The medieval town plan survives virtually complete and the associated streetscapes are largely intact.

The surviving plan elements of Sturminster's market reflect the importance of rural commerce to the town. Large scale modern development has been limited to the northern part of the historic town. The landscape setting of the town is fundamental to its character. In particular, its containment within a wide bend of the Stour and its relationship with Newton on the opposite bank.

Summary report

Here is a summary of the report (February 2011).

Detailed sections of the report

We have broken down the full report into individual sections, please select one of the parts to read:

• Part 1 and 2 Introduction and overview
• Part 3 and 4 Context and sources
• Part 5.1 and 5.2 Historical development - Saxon and medieval
• Part 5.3 to 5.5 Post-medieval to modern
• Part 6 Character appraisal
• Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 1 The Minster
• Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 2 The Town Centre
• Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 3 The Western Fringe
• Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 4 The Railway and Butts Pond Industrial Estate
• Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 5 North East Sturminster Housing Estates
• Part 7 Research and appendices