Blandford Forum

Blandford Forum (or Chipping Blandford) is a market town and parish situated in the east of the county and lies between Wimborne and Sherborne. The town stands on the River Stour, and formerly on the Dorset Central Railway (later the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway). It has an unfortunate history having been nearly destroyed by fire in 1579, plundered by Parliamentarian forces in 1644 and almost totally destroyed by fire in 1731, at which date all the Bishop's Transcripts for the county deposited in Blandford were lost to the flames. Consequently the town dates from 1731 and the parish church of Sts Peter & Paul was rebuilt in 1732. Within the town was also a Congregational Chapel in Salisbury Street, a Primitive Methodist chapel in Albert Street, a Wesleyan Chapel in The Close and the Open Brethren also had a meeting room. There are several cemeteries in the town

The market which is always held on Saturdays was once large and well attended. The headquarters of the B Squadron of the Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry and H Company of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment were stationed here. A cottage hospital was built in 1889. The neighbourhood is rich in Roman and Early British remains and there are fortified camps and barrows on the higher land surrounding the town.

In 1871 the parish comprised about 862 acres and the population was approximately 3,900, accomodated in 731 houses [Source Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales]

The excellent photographs are courtesy of the FreeFoto.Com web site, there are more Blandford photos on their site.

              
The OPC for Blandford Forum is Michelle Cook

Please put OPC Blandford Forum in the Subject Line (click on the above link for a pre-formed and addressed email)