| Sturminster Marshall | |
|---|---|
| Village and civil parish | |
 St Mary's Church | |
  Sturminster Marshall Location within Dorset | |
| Population | 1,969 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SY946998 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WIMBORNE |
| Postcode district | BH21 |
| Dialling code | 01258 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
Sturminster Marshall is a village and civil parish in the east of Dorset in England, situated on the River Stour between Blandford Forum and Poole. The parish had a population of 1,895 at the 2001 census,[1] increasing to 1,969 at the 2011 Census and includes the village of Almer (50°47′N 2°07′W / 50.78°N 2.12°W) west of Sturminster Marshall, near Winterborne Zelston and the hamlet of Henbury to the south-east of the village. The village is twinned with the French commune of Sainte-Mère-Église in Normandy. The appropriate electoral ward is called 'Stour'. From Sturminster Marshall the ward goes east to Pamphill, with a total population of 2,582.[2]
King Alfred the Great, in his will of 899, a copy of which can be seen at the British Library, left the village to his youngest son Æthelweard (c.880-922).
Sturminster Marshall has a 13th century church, St. Mary's. Its predecessor contributed to the village's name; 'Sturminster' meaning "church on the River Stour". The second part of the name came from William Marshall.[3] Until 1857, St. Hubert's Church in Corfe Mullen acted as a chapel of ease to Sturminster Marshall.[4] St. Mary's pre-reformation chalice, dating to 1536, has survived although the stem has been replaced.[5] It is on loan to Dorset Museum.[6]
- ^ "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Sturminster Marshall CP (Parish)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
- ^ "Stour Ward 2011". Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- ^ Welcome to the Bridge Benefice at bridgebeneficedorset.org. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ St Huberts History at parishofcorfemullen.com. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 2, South east. Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1970. pp. 283–290.
- ^ The Sturminster Marshall chalice (Museum label). Dorset Museum first floor: Dorset Museum. 2023.