Welcome to Beaminster
CLICK FOR 2021 CENSUS DATAIntroduction
Beaminster ( BEM-in-stər) is a town and civil parish in Dorset, England, situated in the Dorset Council administrative area approximately 15 miles (24 km) northwest of the county town Dorchester. It is sited in a bowl-shaped valley near the source of the small River Brit. The 2013 mid-year estimate of the population of Beaminster parish is 3,100. Beaminster is the product of the Anglo-Saxon age, dating back to around the 7th century, when it was known as Bebingmynster, meaning the church of Bebbe although the date of origin of the town is unknown. The place name and historic evidence indicates that it was probably the site of a primary Saxon minster church and was at the centre of a large episcopal estate. These are likely to have acted as a focus for a settlement, but evidence of its formation is lacking.In its history Beaminster has been a centre of manufacture of linen and woollens, the raw materials for which were produced in the surrounding countryside. The town experienced three serious fires in the 17th and 18th centuries; the first of these, during the English Civil War, almost destroyed the fabric of the town. Beaminster parish church is notable for its architecture, particularly its tower.
Parish Information
Parish statistics
Area |
2,097 hectares |
---|---|
Population |
3,178 (2021) |
Density |
152 people/km2 |
Mean age |
48.8 |
Ward |
Beaminster |
District |
West Dorset |
Postcodes |
DT8 |
ONS ID |
E04003498 |
Council
Contact details for Beaminster Parish Council, including current councillors, precept data and election results.
Education
View educational establishments in Beaminster Parish. Data includes OFSTED rating and current appointed governors.
Business
Business directory listing local businesses operating within Beaminster Parish.
Planning
View recent planning applications submitted for Beaminster Parish.
Property
Price paid data for all property sold in Beaminster Parish since 2018. Includes average prices for each property type.
Heritage
Local heritage sites, historic churches, heritage pubs plus local heritage initiatives for Beaminster Parish.
Local News
Hosted and licensed by Bridport & Lyme Regis News
Lifeline bus service in west Dorset given £16k funding boost | Bridport and Lyme Regis News
Published: 18th Apr 2024
Hosted and licensed by Greatest Hits Radio
Council grant secures future of West Dorset rural bus service
Published: 16th Apr 2024