It is now a civilian port and recreation area which will be used for the sailing events in the 2012 Olympic Games. Also notable is Purbeck marble, which is quarried in Dorset. Still looking to find out more about Dorset’s unique history and heritage? A part-volume covering the religious houses of the county. You will be stunned when you arrive at Dorset’s coastline! "Cheddar Man is my long-lost relative", By Sean O'Neill. The first known settlement of Dorset was by Mesolithic hunters, who returned to Britain at a time when it was still attached to Europe by a land-bridge, around 12,500 BC. The lovely Georgian buildings, to be found mostly off the main street, give the town a very elegant feel. Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. By continuing to use this site you accept this policy. Dorset's high chalk hills have provided a location for defensive settlements for millennia, with a large number of late Bronze Age but mostly Iron Age hill forts, such as Maiden Castle, Hod Hill, Badbury Rings and Hambledon Hill. The Cerne Abbas Giant is an ancient chalk hill figure which is visible for miles around. Lines through Dorset include the South Western Main Line, from London to Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester and Weymouth; the Heart of Wessex Line from Bristol to Sherborne, Dorchester and Weymouth; the West of England Main Line from London to Exeter, with stations at Sherborne and Gillingham; and the now dismantled Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway from Bath to Bournemouth. In the grounds of the County Council offices is a Roman house with well preserved mosaic floors and an aqueduct fed by waters of a tributary of the Frome impounded behind an earthen dam, with a covered timber-lined channel of some nine km; the dam gave way and the aqueduct was abandoned unexpectedly early, in the mid-2nd century. Various tours are available. The University of London sites uses cookies. Dorset History Centre offers an exhibit including hundreds of scanned postcards photographs, and posters featuring Dorset during the early 1900’s. This region offers rental accommodations to suit all expectations including upscale resorts near the coastline, simple cottage rentals in the countryside, and bed and breakfasts all over the country. He ordered the hanging of 74 men. Armed only with clubs and a variety of farming implements, they were easily dispersed. The historic town of Dorchester, in the south, is the county seat. Dorset History Centre offers an exhibit including hundreds of scanned postcards photographs, and posters featuring Dorset during the early 1900’s. Facts about Dorset Population: 745,000 Famous for: Jurassic Coastline, sandy beaches, Maiden Castle Distance from London: 2 hours Local delicacies: Apple cake, cream teas Airports:…, The history of the Dorset Ooser, an ancient (and rather grotesque!) One of the key battles (Mount Badon) between the Britons and Saxons may have been fought at Badbury Rings, though this is disputed. Town Walking Tour – takes between 1 and 2 hours and includes ancient and Roman sites, Dorset celebrities and a visit to the Old Crown Court and Cells. By the Late Iron Age, the inhabitants of Dorset were minting their own coinage and thriving on trade with Northern Gaul (Armorica, now known as Brittany). Many were taken prisoner and this was effectively the end for the organisation. Its history can be traced back to the Iron Age, like nearby Maiden Castle. Areas such as Bournemouth and Poole have been especially popular. Max Gate Tel: + 44 (0) 1305 262 538 The local museums highlight accomplishments of the area as well as preserving images of the region throughout its development. Page 134. Ecclesiastical History. Version 5.0. Aldhelm was the first bishop of the Diocese of Sherborne, created in 705 AD. Museums There are many ancient sites throughout Dorset, including ancient monuments and the famous 180ft high male figured carved from chalk in the hills of Cerne Abbas. In the 15th century, Henry VII decreed that all hemp within a 5-mile radius of the town was to be reserved for the navy. The Swanage Railway has been reopened as a heritage railway. Discover life-size reconstructions of dinosaurs, experience live action in military vehicles or delve into the history of some of Dorset’s amazing towns. The next century or so until the Roman conquest saw a long drawn-out period of economic retrenchment in Dorset, in parallel with a rising population and a decline in soil quality (much of it had been in cultivation for 4,000 years).