History Dorchester, Dorset

1 history

1.1 prehistory , romano-british
1.2 medieval
1.3 modern
1.4 modern

history
prehistory , romano-british

dorchester s roots stem prehistoric times. earliest settlements 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of modern town centre in vicinity of maiden castle, large iron age hill fort 1 of powerful settlements in pre-roman britain. different tribes lived there 4000 bc. durotriges have been there when romans arrived in britain in 43 ad.

the romans defeated local tribes 70 ad , established garrison became town romans named durnovaria, brythonic name incorporating durn, fist , loosely interpreted place fist-sized pebbles . appears have taken part of name local durotriges tribe inhabited area. durnovaria recorded in 4th-century antonine itinerary , became market centre surrounding countryside, important road junction , staging post, , subsequently 1 of twin capitals of celtic durotriges tribe. remains of roman walls surrounded town can still seen. majority have been replaced pathways form square inside modern dorchester known walks . small segment of original wall remains near top o town roundabout.

part of roman town house near county hall, showing underfloor heating system

other roman remains include part of town walls , foundations of town house near county hall. modern building works within walls have unearthed roman finds; in 1936 cache of 22,000 3rd-century roman coins discovered in south street. other roman finds include silver , copper coins known dorn pennies, gold ring, bronze figure of roman god mercury , large areas of tessellated pavement.

the county museum contains many roman artefacts. romans built aqueduct supply town water. rediscovered in 1900 remains of channel cut chalk , contouring round hills. source believed river frome @ notton, 12 miles (19 km) upstream dorchester. near town centre maumbury rings, ancient british henge earthwork converted romans use amphitheatre, , north west poundbury hill, pre-roman fortification.

little evidence exists suggest continued occupation after withdrawal of roman administration britain. name durnovaria survived old welsh durngueir, recorded asser in 9th century. area remained in british hands until mid-7th century , there continuity of use of roman cemetery @ nearby poundbury. dorchester has been suggested centre of sub-kingdom of dumnonia or other regional power base.

medieval

one of first raids of viking era may have taken place near dorchester around 790. according chronicler, king s reeve assembled few men , sped meet them thinking merchants country. when arrived @ location, admonished them , instructed should brought royal town. vikings slaughtered him , men.

by 864, area around durnovaria dominated saxons referred dorsaetas, people of dor – durnovaria. original local name have been dorn-gweir giving old english dornwary. town became known dornwaraceaster or dornwaracester, combining original name dor/dorn latin , celtic languages cester, old english word roman station. name evolved on time dorncester/dornceaster , dorchester.

at time of norman conquest, dorchester not place of great significance; normans did build castle has not survived. priory founded, in 1364, though has since disappeared. in later medieval period town prospered; became thriving commercial , political centre south dorset, textile trading , manufacturing industry continued until 17th century. in time of edward iii (1312–1377), town governed bailiffs , burgesses, number of burgesses increasing fifteen reign of james (1566–1625).

judge jeffreys lodging house, restaurant, in high west street


early modern

town populous, tho not large, streets broad, buildings old, , low; however, there company , deal of it; , man coveted retreat in world might agreeably spend time, , in dorchester, in town know in england . – daniel defoe, in tour thro whole island of great britain (1724–1726).

in 17th , 18th centuries dorchester suffered several serious fires: in 1613, caused tallow chandler s cauldron getting hot , setting alight; in 1622, started maltster; in 1725, begun in brewhouse; , in 1775, caused soap boiler. 1613 fire devastating, resulting in destruction of 300 houses , 2 churches (all saints , holy trinity). few of town s buildings have survived present day, including judge jeffreys lodgings , tudor almshouse. among replacement georgian buildings many, such shire hall, built in portland stone. town hall erected in 1791 , had marketplace underneath.

in 17th century town @ centre of puritan emigration america, , local rector, john white, organised settlement of dorchester, massachusetts. first colonisation attempted @ cape ann, fishermen rejoin fishing fleet when vessels returned next year, tried self-sufficient. however, land unsuitable, colony failed , moved salem. in 1628 enterprise received royal charter , massachusetts bay company formed 3 hundred colonists arriving in america year , more following year.

for efforts on behalf of puritan dissenters, white has been called unheralded founder of massachusetts bay colony. (some observers have attributed oversight fact white, unlike john winthrop, never went america.)

in 1642, before english civil war, hugh green, catholic chaplain executed here. after execution, puritans played football head. town heavily defended against royalists in civil war , dorset known southern capital of coat-turning , county gentry found expedient change allegiance , swap sides supported on several occasions. in 1643, town attacked 2,000 troops under robert dormer, 1st earl of carnarvon. defences proved inadequate , surrendered spared plunder , punishment might otherwise have received. remained under royalist control time, recaptured puritans.

in 1685 duke of monmouth failed in invasion attempt, monmouth rebellion, , 300 of men condemned death or transportation in bloody assizes presided on judge jeffreys in oak room of antelope hotel in dorchester.

modern

shire hall in high west street, trial of tolpuddle martyrs took place

in 1833, tolpuddle martyrs founded friendly society of agricultural labourers. trade unions legal because members swore oath of allegiance, arrested , tried in shire hall. beneath courtroom cells prisoners held while awaiting trial. dorchester prison constructed in town during 19th century , used holding convicted , remanded inmates local courts until closed in december 2013. plans have since been made erect 189 dwellings , museum on site.

dorchester remained compact town within boundaries of old town walls until latter part of 19th century because land adjacent west, south , east owned duchy of cornwall. land composed manor of fordington. developments had encroached onto marabout barracks, north of bridport road, in 1794, dorchester union workhouse, north of damer s road, in 1835, southampton , dorchester railway , station east of weymouth avenue, in 1847, great western railway , station south of damer s road, in 1857, waterworks, north of bridport road, in 1854, cemetery, west of new railway , east of weymouth avenue, in 1856, , dorset county constabulary police station in 1860, west of southampton railway, east of weymouth avenue , north of maumbury rings.

the duchy land farmed under open field system until 1874 when enclosed – or consolidated – 3 large farms landowners , residents. enclosures followed series of key developments town: enclosing of poundbury hillfort public enjoyment in 1876, fair field (new site market, off weymouth avenue) in 1877, recreation ground (also off weymouth avenue) opening in 1880, , eldridge pope brewery of 1881, adjacent railway line southampton. salisbury field retained public use in 1892 , land purchased in 1895 formal borough gardens, between west walks , cornwall road. clock , bandstand added in 1898.

a 1937 map of dorchester

a permanent military presence established in town completion of depot barracks in 1881. high west street drill hall created, converting private house, around same time.

land developed housing outside walls including cornwall estate, between borough gardens , great western railway 1876 , prince of wales estate 1880. land victoria park estate bought in 1896 , building began in 1897, queen victoria s diamond jubilee year. lime trees in queen s avenue planted in february 1897.

poundbury western extension of town, constructed since 1993 according urban village principles on duchy of cornwall land owned prince charles. being developed on 25 years in 4 phases, have 2,500 dwellings , population of 6,000. prince charles involved development s design.

dorchester became dorset s first official transition initiative in 2008 part of transition towns concept. transition town dorchester community response challenges , opportunities of peak oil , climate change.