Monument record MDO43467 - Medieval Town, Sturminster Newton

Medieval Town. Fairs were granted in 1218-19 and in 1226-27 and there were market grants in 1274-5 and in 1278. Sturminster Newton never acquired burghal status but remained an ecclesiastical manor. Leland described the town in 1540 as having a 'very good market'. The town was engaged in the leather and cloth trade.

(ST78601400 sited to Sturminster Newton from OS 1:10000 1982)<1.1>

The early history of the town is obscure and it may have grown from the original tun by the church into a market centre with a market-place by a cross roads just west of the church. Hutchins mentions the grant of a fair in 1218-19 and in 1226-27. There were market grants in 1274-5 and in 1278. The existence of a small town by the later 13th century is suggested by a number of property transactions. Sturminster Newton never acquired burghal status but remained an ecclesiastical manor. Sturminster was probably engaged in the cloth and leather industries and the lay subsidy of 1332 records the names of Chaluner, Webbe, and Tanner at Colber, le Touker and le Taillur at Bagber, and at Sturminster, Skynner. The lay subsidy of 1525 recording 64 taxpayers, might suggest a modest town and Leland circa 1540 described Sturminster Newton as 'a very good Market' <1>

<1> Penn, K J, 1980, Historic Towns in Dorset, 101-5 (Monograph). SWX1202.

<1.1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 scale map, 1982 (Map). SDO17396.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 897885 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 3:15PM