Marnhull

Marnhull
237px Parish church of St Gregory
Marnhull  Marnhull shown within Dorset
Population	1,998
OS grid reference	ST782188
Civil parish	Marnhull
District	North Dorset
Shire county	Dorset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Police	Dorset
Fire	Dorset
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	North Dorset
List of places UK England Dorset

Marnhull /ˈmɑːrnəl/ is a village and civil parish in the county of Dorset in southern England. It lies in the Blackmore Vale in the North Dorset administrative district, 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the small town of Sturminster Newton. The resort towns of Bournemouth and Weymouth are approximately 30 miles (48 km) to the south. Marnhull is sited on a low ridge of Corallian limestone above the valley of the River Stour, which forms the northern and western boundaries of the parish. In the 2011 census the parish had 962 dwellings, 905 households and a population of 1,998.

Description

Marnhull consists of several conjoined hamlets, connected by a network of minor roads. The village presents a mix of architectural styles, with post-war developments existing alongside properties dating back to Tudor times and earlier. It has three churches (Anglican, Roman Catholic and Methodist), two primary schools, two public houses, a GP surgery, a village hall and a recreation ground, as well as various small shops and services. The parish church of St Gregory has a 15th-century tower which is a landmark and has been described as "the finest in the Vale."

History

Saxon charters show that Marnhull existed as a village in the 10th century, although the village's site has seen human occupation as early as the Iron Age, and a Roman settlement was established at Ashley Wood in the east of the parish. The Domesday Book of 1086 does not mention Marnhull by name, though the constituent settlements of Walton Elm, Burton and Kentleworth were probably recorded under the entry for Sturminster Newton as the eight hides of land owned by Waleran, Roger and Chetel. The eastern part of Marnhull parish used to be a separate parish, named Thorton, until the 16th century.

Governance

Marnhull civil parish forms its own electoral ward, which is part of the constituency of North Dorset, currently represented in the UK parliament by the Conservative Simon Hoare.

Geography

Marnhull civil parish covers about 3,800 acres (1,500 ha) at an altitude of about 50 to 90 metres (160 to 300 ft). The western boundary of the parish is formed by the River Stour and the eastern by the Key Brook, a tributary of the Stour. The central part of the parish is drained by Chivrick's Brook, a tributary of the Key Brook. These watercourses all drain north to south. From west to east the geology of the parish comprises a thin strip of Oxford clay around the Stour, a long ridge of Corallian sand and limestone between the Stour and Chivrick's Brook, then lower-lying Kimmeridge clay between Chivrick's Brook and the eastern boundary. Marnhull village is sited on the ridge of Corallian beds, which form the highest part of the parish and are the source of the building stone extensively used throughout it.

Filmography

File:The Crown or The Pure Drop - geograph.org.uk - 32684.jpg

The Crown Inn, Marnhull

The television adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles was filmed in the village. Marlott was Hardy's name for Marnhull and The Pure Drop Inn was his name for The Crown Inn.

Notable residents

• Catherine Parr the last of Henry VIII's wives was given the original manor of Nash Court in 1544. From her it passed to Edward VI and then to Elizabeth I after which it passed through the families of several noblemen and eminent civilians.
• Giles Hussey was born here and lived at Nash House before studying art in Italy.
• Sir Peter Harding, GCB, (born 2 December 1933) is a retired Royal Air Force Chief of the Air Staff, and Chief of Defence Staff.

External links

• The Marnhull Village Parish Plan 2006