Sturminster Marshall
Sturminster Marshall is a village and parish on the river Stour, 4 miles west from Wimborne. The name Sturminster means 'large church on the river Stour'. At one time the parish was a 'Royal Peculiar' with certain rights, it was then much larger taking in the chapelries of Corfe Mullen, Lytchett Minster and Hamworthy. This status was abolished in 1857. The first church was built in Norman times (12thC), during the 13th & 14th century additions and improvements were made.
There was little further work until 1802 when the tower fell down and was rebuilt. A restoration took place in 1859-60. The registers date from 1563. Congregationalist and Wesleyan Chapels were established in the 19thC.
A mixed Board School was built in 1842 for 144 pupils and there used to be a railway station here. The land area is 3,851 acres and the chief crops used to be wheat and barley, the soil being light loam. The population in 1891 was 606 persons.