Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/799

Rh DORSETSHIRE. 789 DORSETSHIRE. the E. side of Weyraouth Bay forms a series of cliffs, which decrease at ivimineridge Bay, and recommence at St. Alban's or St. Aldhelm's Head, the height of which is 344 feet. A branch of the same range also runs across the centre of the Isle of Purbeek, terminating at the Foreland, the eastern extremity of Ballard's Down, which separates Swanage from Studland Bay. Pillesdon Point, tlic highest hill in the county, W. of Beaminster, does not belong to this range, being of the greensand forma- tion. Its height is 034 feet. The character of the coast varies considerably at different points. The Hampshire i lill's enter Dorset, but soon are replaced by sand, which extends in a tongue of about a mile in length across i arbour. This harbour, which is about 5 or 6 miles cither way, contains several smaller bays, as ay, Lytchet Bay, Arnes Bay, and others. The centre of the harbour is occupied by Brownsea Island, about 1 mile long. Round the Isle of Purbcck to Wey- laouth Bay the coast is again rocky, and forms several bays, viz. Studland, Swanage, Kimmeridge, AVorbarrow,
 * nd 1 lingstcad baj-s. In Weymouth Bay the coast is flat,

but OH the other side of the estuary to Sandsfoot Castle dill's again rise. S. of this, Portland Isle projects from the mainland, being connected with it by the ( 'hcsil Bank, an extraordinary ridge of pebbles, com- mencing at Burton Castle, about 2 miles E. of Bridport Harbour, and running for about 6 miles to near Abbots- bur)-. Here it is separated from the land by an arm of ailed the Fleet, and continues in a straight line for 10 miles until it joins the Isle of Portland. The bank consists of blue clay, covered with pebbles of cal- careous spar, quartz, chert, jasper, &c., to a depth varying from 4 to 6 feet. The island measures about 4 miles by 1J, and is surrounded by lofty cliffs. It contains two castles one, very ancient, called Rufus's Castle, or Bow- and-AiTOw Castle ; the other, built by Henry VIII., to defend Portland Road. At the Bill two lighthouses have been erected as a protection against the dangers of Portland Race. At the W. of the isle a breakwater is in course of construction, which will convert Portland Road into a harbour of refuge. The stone employed is that quarried on the isle, and the convicts in the large prison to the E. of the isle are engaged in its construction. The pasturage is good, and the corn particularly.fine, so that it is in general request for seed. The remainder of the coast of Dorset consists entirely of cliffs, remarkable for tho quantity of fossils which they contain. The chief rivers are the Stour, the Piddle or Trent, and the Frome. The Stour enters tho county near Silton, passes Gillingham, Sturminster Newton, andWimborne, leaving the county at West Parley, and falling into the si-a at ( lirist Church. Its length is 65 miles, and as far as Sturminster Newton it is navigable. Its tributaries ar& the Shreen "Water, tho Call, the Lidden, and the Wim. The Piddle rises near Alton, passes Piddletrent- hide, Piddlehinton, and Piddletown, and falls into Poole Bay near AVareham. It is joined by a small stream which flows through Bore Regis. The length of the Piddle is 22 miles. The Frome rises N.E. of Beaminster, and passes Maiden Newton, Frampton, Stratton, Dor- chester, Tincleton, Moreton, and Wareham, and after a course of 35 miles, during which it receives the Chum Bourne or Cerne, from Cerne Abbas, the South Winter Bourne, and other smaller streams, flows into Poolo Bay, a short distance S. of the mouth of the Piddle. Other small rivers in Dorset are the Ly me, at Lyme Regis ; the Char, entering the sea at Channouth ; the Brit, about !) miles, the mouth of which forms Bridport Harbour ; the Bredy, 7 miles, running from Little Bredy to Burton Bradstock; the Wey, 6 miles, falling into 'Weymouth Bay ; the Purbeck, 7 miles, from Corfe Castle to Swan- age ; and the Corfe from Corfe Castle to Poole Bay. Between the chalk ranges mentioned above are the upper formations of pipe clay, potter's clay, and plastic clay, with sand, known as the Poolo trough. Beneath the potter's clay in Purbeck Isle and other places, a crumbly bituminous coal is found resembling Bovey ' -oal. In Purbeck and Portland the white fonnations are found, and in tho S., chalk, marl, greensand, weald clay, and ironsand. In tho N. W. and W. of the county greeusand takes tho place of chalk. No metallic ores are found, but tho Portland and Purbeck stone-quarries are largely worked. In Purbepk the stone consists of argillaceous limestone, alternating with schistose marl. A variety of this is known as Purbeck marble. Tho Portland stone is a calcareous freestone. It is largely employed for building in London. The soil in the W. and most other parts of the county is a rich loam, suit- able for wheat and barley. The most fertile district is the Vale of Blackmore. Round Bridport and Bea- minster hemp and potatoes arc principally produced. Irrigation is largely practised on the meadow lands; lime and seaweed form the chief manures. Full three- fifths of the surface are pasture land. The downs aro covered with sheep in tho summer, which in the winter are brought down to tho sheltered valleys. The South Down are largely bred. In Purbeck and near Weymouth there is a much smaller breed, resembling forest sheep. Butter and skim-milk cheese is sent up in large quan- tities to tho London markets. Dorset is divided into the 9 following divs., containing 34 hunds. and 22 libs. North Blandford, containing Coombsditch, Pimperne, and Rushmore hunds., and Dewlish lib. ; South Bland- ford, containing tho boroughs of Corfe Castle and Ware- ham, the hunds. of Bere Regis, Hundreds Barrow, Ilasilor, Rowbarrow, and Winfrith, and the libs, of Bindon, Overmoygne, and Stowborough ; Bridport, con- taining the boroughs of Bridport and Lyme Regis, the hunds. of Beaminster, Beaminster Forum, Eggerton, Godderthorn, and Whitchurch Cauonicomm, and tho libs, of Broad Windsor, Frampton, Lothers, and Poor- stock ; Cerne, containing Buckland Newton, Cerne, and Whitcway hunds., and Alton-Pancras, Piddletrenthide, and Sydling St. Nicholas libs. ; Dorchester, containing tho boroughs of Dorchester and Melcomb Regis, united with Weymouth, the hunds. of Culliford-Tree, George, Tollesford, Piddletown, and U'ggescombe, and the libs, of Fordington, Piddlehinton, Isle of Portland, Sutton Poinlz, Wabyhouse, and Wyke Regis ; East Shaftesbury or Shaston, containing Badbury, Cogdean, part of Cran- borne, Knowlton, Loosebarrow, Monkton-up-Wim- borne, part of Sixpenny Handley and Wimborne St. Giles hunds. ; Shaftesbury, or Shaston West, containing tho borough of Shaftesbury, parts of the hunds. of Cran- borne and Sixpenny Handley, and the libs, of Aleester and Gillingham ; Shorborne, containing Sherborne and Yetminster hunds., and Halstock and Ryme Intrinseua libs. ; and Sturminster, containing Brownshall, Rcdlane, and Sturminster Newton Castle hunds., and the lib. of Stower or Stour Provost. The pars, number 269, ex- clusive of 8 in Dorchester, Wareham, and Shaftesbury. There are also parts of 2 others, and 4 ext. par. places. Cranborno is the largest par. in the CO., and contains 13,730 acres. The following 19 are market towns: Dorchester, the county town, Shaftesbury, AVareham, Blar.dford, Wimborno Minster, Beaminster, Sherbome, Bridport, Weymouth with Meleombe, Poole, Cerne Abbas, Sturminster, Lyme Regis, Corfe Castle, Stalbridge, Cran- borne, Bere Regis, Swanage, and Milton Abbas ; of these the last 4 have discontinued holding markets. The county is divided into 12 Poor-law Unions, being tho first 12 of the places mentioned above. The first 5, with Brid- port and Weymouth, are County Court districts. Dorset returns 14 members to parliament 3 for the county, 2 each for Dorchester, Bridport, Poole, and Weymouth with Meleombe Regis, and 1 each for Lyme Regis, Shaftesbury, and AVareham, which includes Corfe Castle. The polling places for the county are Dorchester, AVimborne, Wareham, Blandford, Beaminster, Sher- borne, Shaftesbury, and Chesilton. The local govern- ment is vested in a lord-lieutenant and custos, high sheriff, about 60 deputy-lieutenants, and 210 magistrates. The county is in the south-western military district and the western circuit, and is under the Exeter bankruptcy jurisdiction. Sherborne was formerly the assize town, but the assizes are now always held at Dorchester, where the county gaol and shire-hall are. Quarter sessions are held at Dorchester, Blandford, Sherborne, Shaftesbury, =