Sturminster, or Sturminster-Newton-Castle

STURMINSTER, or STURMINSTER-NEWTON-CASTLE, is a parish and small market town, 10 miles N.W. from Blandford, 8 S.W. from Shaftesbury, 20 N. from Dorchester, and 110 W.S.W. from London, standing principally upon the north bank of the river Stour, from whence the first syllable of its name, Stur, is derived, Minster from its ancient church, and Newton-Castle from a suburb, having a castle on the opposite side of the river, to which hamlet it is united by a stone bridge of six arches.

The town is of great antiquity, as many of its low-built, ill-contrived dwellings seem to demonstrate; about the market place, however, a few of the houses are of a different class, being either modernized or of more modern build, and exhibit a pleasing contrast, when their uniformity is placed in comparison with the gable ends and pointed roofs of the older unimproved edifices. The market house is a convenient building, the upper part of it forming warehouses, and the basement is partly occupied by the butchers' shambles. At one period woollen goods were made here, but at the present time no manufactures exist; it has however, the best market in the county for horned cattle. Petty sessions for the hundred are held here, and manorial courts annually, when constables and other officers are appointed. The parish church, (St. Mary) was some few years since entirely rebuilt, except the tower (and this was repaired and heightened), at the entire cost of the Rev. T. H. Fox, the present vicar; it is a handsome cruciform structure, in the Norman style of architecture. The original building was constructed by John Selwood, a monk of Glastonbury. Here is a place of worship for Wesleyans, and there are public schools for instructing poor children of each sex. Sturminster, with 19 parishes, forms a union under the poor law amendment act, and about a ¼ of a mile from the town a suitable workhouse has been erected. Fairs are held on May 12th, and October the 24th, and an excellent market for cattle on every alternate Thursday. In 1841 the parish contained 1910 persons. On the Newton side of the river are the remains of the ancient castle; it is supposed this strong hold was originally constructed by the Romans, and afterwards used as the regal residence of the West Saxon Kings.

POST OFFICE, at Henry Burbidge's. Letters despatched to all parts, at 6 25 p.m. and delivered at 1 a.m.

All the names without addresses are at Sturminster Newton.

Aitchison Mrs. Mary, Newton
Baverstock Mrs. Sarah
Bleathman Mr. Andrew, Newton
Davis Mrs. Selina
Fox Rev. Thos. Henry Lane, (vicar)
Newman Miss Louisa
Tulk Mrs. Susan
Adams Charles, beer retailer
Adams Chas. carpenter & wheeler
Baker George, hair cutter and stationer
Best John, tin plate worker
Bleathman Thos. dairyman, Newton
Brice Edward, veterinary surgeon
Bright Daniel, baker
Brown John, 'Swan Inn'
Burbidge Hy. watch & clock maker
Burden John, grocery dlr. Newton
Cheesewright William, surgeon
Cluett Thos. beer retailer, grocery, &c. dealer and blacksmith
Colbourne and Potter, grocers, &c.
Conway John, watch & clock mkr
Cowley John, stonemason
Curtis James, boot and shoemaker
Dashwood Thomas, solicitor and agent to West of England F. & L. office
Dorset bank (Branch) manager, Colbourne William, jun. (draw upon Williams and Co.), distributor of stamps, and agent to the Imperial Fire and Standard Life office
Duffett Samuel butcher and farmer, Newton
Foot James, 'Bull Inn' Newton
Fudge Jonathan, blacksmith, Newton
Good John, surgeon
Goodfellow Ann, dressmaker
Goodfellow Richard, tallowchandler
Goodridge John, surgeon
Gould Jane, milliner, &c.
Green Joseph, baker
Hames Rt. master of free school
Hammond John, super. of police
Hancock Thomas, ironmonger
Harris Martha, grocer and printer
Harvey Robert Ridout, solicitor and clerk to magistrates
Hawkins Thos. agent to the Royal Farmers' Fire and Life office
Hayward Robert, cooper, Newton
Hutchins Alex. grazier, Newton
Hutchins Sarah, mistress of Infant school
Inkpen Thomas, carpenter, Newton
Isaac Henry, draper and hatter
Isaac Catharine, tanner
Jackson Edwd. grocery, &c. dealer and druggist
Jackson Joseph, beer retailer
Kennell Robert, grazier, Newton
Knott Ambrose, farmer
Knott William, grocery, &c. dealer
Lambert William, farmer
Long Samuel Walter, solicitor, clerk to the board of guardians, and agent to Norwich Union Fire and Life office
Longman Samuel C. chemist and grocer, agent to the Monarch Fire and Life office
Lucas Silvester, boot and shoemaker, Newton
March Stephen, blacksmith
Melmoth Thomas, saddle maker
Newlyn Nicholas S. 'Crown Commercial Inn ' and Posting House
Newman John, miller
Newman Joseph, tailor
Newman Richard, bricklayer
Parry Robert, solicitor
Paviour Richard, surveyor of roads
Paviour Thomas B. linen draper
Percy Robert, farmer, Newton
Phillips Edwin, plumber & glazier
Pile William, brushmaker, Newton
Rake Martin, miller
Read Joseph, cheesefactor, Newton
Roberts Richard, manager at the National and Provincial bank (draw upon the London Joint Stock), and agent to the Globe Fire and Life office, and the Clerical life
Rose Benjamin, tailor
Rose Daniel, farmer and baker
Rose Edward, grocery dealer
Rose Harriet, milliner and dressmaker
Rose Henry, carpenter
Rose James, farmer
Rose James, farmer, Newton
Rose James, tailor
Rose Job, farmer, Newton
Rose Joseph, butcher, Newton
Rose Samuel, farmer, Newton
Rose Thomas, beer retailer
Rossiter John, auctioneer, appraiser and corn merchant, and agent to Pelican Life and Phœnix Fire offices, and Property Protection Society
Rowland Thos. boot & shoemaker
Ryall Elizabeth, milliner
Sherring Richard, cooper
Short Aaron, grocery dealer
Short Edmund, butcher
Short John, butcher, Newton
Spencer Rt. brick maker, Newton
Spicer James, blacksmith, Newton
Spinney Thomas Edward, music master, and agent to Church of England Fire and Life office
Stickland James, beer retailer and carrier
Strange James, farmer
Strange James, jun. grocer
Strange John, currier and leather cutter
Strange John, farmer
Strange Joseph, farmer
Stroud Henry, farmer, Newton
Sweet Mary, mistress of Free School
Symes George, veterinary surgeon
Tapper Eliza, 'White Hart'
Topp Richard and Henry, farmers
Tuck Mark, grocer and baker
Tuffin James, butcher, Newton
Tuffin Sylvester, confectioner
Union Workhouse, master, Clough William Kemp; mistress, Clough Caroline
Young Edward, boot & shoemaker
Young John, boot and shoemaker
Young Robert, tailor and woollen draper

CARRIERS to BLANDFORD, Ford and Co., Tues. Thur. and Sat. at 7 p.m., also, Stickland, Sat. 8 a.m., likewise the Post cart daily, at 6 25 p.m.BRISTOL, Dodimead, Tues. Wed. and Fri. at 1 p.m.POOLE, Dodimead, Mon. Wed. and Fri. 1 p.m.SHAFTESBURY & STALBRIDGE, Ford & Co. Tues. Th. & Sat. at 2 p.m.WEYMOUTH, Stickland, Mon. 8 a.m.