The market centre for the Stour farmlands. A graceful six-arched 15th century bridge over the river carries the dire warning of ‘Transportation for life’ for those who damage it. The 17th century town mill is still working, churning its waters into white-flecked foam. The wooden porticoed Mill House on the road to Blandford Forum faces a thatched house of character. A little further on is Newton House; its Georgian façade, with a curious medallion frieze over the front door, hides its much greater age.
William Barnes, Dorset’s 19th century poet who wrote ‘Linden Lea’ and is noted for his use of the pure dialect of his county, was born at nearby Pentridge Farm. Thomas Hardy wrote The Return of the Native in a greystone mansion, Riverside, on the outskirts of town.
Sturminster Newton is made colourful by many bow-windowed buildings of brick, stone and cob. There are also good thatched, timber-traced houses leading up to the pretty market square where, on Monday mornings, crowds of farmers and dairymen overflow into the station yard and surrounding streets. The Thatched White Hart Inn is 18th century, and modern artists have enriched the Perpendicular church.
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