Beaminster
Encyclopedia
Beaminster is a small town and civil parish in the West Dorset
district of Dorset
in South West England
, at the head of the valley of the River Brit
. Beaminster is 45 miles (72 km) south of Bristol
, 38 miles (61 km) west of Bournemouth
, 35 miles (56 km) east of Exeter
and 15 miles (24 km) northwest of the county town of Dorchester. The 2001 Census
recorded a parish population of 2,936.
the town declared for Parliament and was sacked by Royalist forces in 1644. The town suffered accidental fires in 1684 and 1781. The town did not get a railway and thus remained relatively small.
Horn Park, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north-west of Beaminster, is a neo-Georgian
country house
of five bays
and two-storeys designed by architect T. Lawrence Dale
and completed in 1911. Inside the house the central corridor is barrel vault
ed and leads to a drawing room whose groin vault
is reminiscent of the work of Sir John Soane
(1753-1837). The drawing room includes Jacobean
re-used from a 16th century country house at nearby Parnham, which was being altered and restored at about the time that Horn Park was being built. Horn Park is Listed Grade II. Its gardens are occasionally open to the public as part of the National Gardens Scheme
.
Course at Beaminster has hosted the British Open Disc Golf Championship on a number of occasions and the European Disc Golf Championship in 2005. Clipper Teas Ltd is based in Beaminster.
is 30 miles (48 km) to the west. The main road through the town is the A3066, which leads to Bridport
to the south and Mosterton
and Crewkerne
to the north.
Beaminster secondary school
is a small school with about 700 pupils, from year 7 to year 11. It has a combined sixth form
with the Sir John Colfox secondary school, in the nearby town of Bridport
.
Now Beaminster Technology College, it "is a good school that is well-led and managed" (Ofsted
report 2008) and is set to receive Bridport's Mountjoy Special School into its curtilage when the latter moves in the near future. More future plans include a new emphasis on training for facets of sustainable agriculture.
, and was where singer PJ Harvey
went to school. Mat Follas
has his restaurant The Wild Garlic in the town square. Beaminster is also home of Lynne Reid Banks
, author of The L-Shaped Room
and The Indian in the Cupboard
. The American sociologist Talcott Parsons
(1902-1979) could trace his family roots back to Beaminster on the mother's side of the family tree.
West Dorset
West Dorset is a local government district and parliamentary constituency in Dorset, England. Its council is based in Dorchester. The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, and was a merger of the boroughs of Bridport, Dorchester and Lyme Regis, along with...
district of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
in South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
, at the head of the valley of the River Brit
River Brit
The River Brit is a river located in west Dorset, England which flows into the English Channel. It rises just to the north of Beaminster and then flows south to Bradpole and Bridport, where it is joined by its tributaries, the River Simene and River Asker...
. Beaminster is 45 miles (72 km) south of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, 38 miles (61 km) west of Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, 35 miles (56 km) east of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
and 15 miles (24 km) northwest of the county town of Dorchester. The 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
recorded a parish population of 2,936.
History
In the English Civil WarEnglish Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
the town declared for Parliament and was sacked by Royalist forces in 1644. The town suffered accidental fires in 1684 and 1781. The town did not get a railway and thus remained relatively small.
Horn Park, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north-west of Beaminster, is a neo-Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
country house
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
of five bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
and two-storeys designed by architect T. Lawrence Dale
T. Lawrence Dale
Thomas Lawrence Dale, FRIBA, FSA was an English architect. Until the First World War he concentrated on designing houses for private clients...
and completed in 1911. Inside the house the central corridor is barrel vault
Barrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design...
ed and leads to a drawing room whose groin vault
Groin vault
A groin vault or groined vault is produced by the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults. The word groin refers to the edge between the intersecting vaults; cf. ribbed vault. Sometimes the arches of groin vaults are pointed instead of round...
is reminiscent of the work of Sir John Soane
John Soane
Sir John Soane, RA was an English architect who specialised in the Neo-Classical style. His architectural works are distinguished by their clean lines, massing of simple form, decisive detailing, careful proportions and skilful use of light sources...
(1753-1837). The drawing room includes Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
re-used from a 16th century country house at nearby Parnham, which was being altered and restored at about the time that Horn Park was being built. Horn Park is Listed Grade II. Its gardens are occasionally open to the public as part of the National Gardens Scheme
National Gardens Scheme
The National Gardens Scheme, was founded in 1927 in England with the aim of "opening gardens of quality, character and interest to the public for charity". Originally, the money was raised to provide pension support for district nurses; 609 private gardens were opened and £8,191 was raised.Over...
.
Economy & society
The town hosts the Beaminster Festival, an annual nine-day music and art festival. Whitcombe Disc GolfDisc golf
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
Course at Beaminster has hosted the British Open Disc Golf Championship on a number of occasions and the European Disc Golf Championship in 2005. Clipper Teas Ltd is based in Beaminster.
Transport
The nearest railway station is 5 miles (8 km) north of the town at . Exeter International AirportExeter International Airport
Exeter International Airport is an airport located at Clyst Honiton in the District of East Devon close to the city of Exeter and within the county of Devon, South West England....
is 30 miles (48 km) to the west. The main road through the town is the A3066, which leads to Bridport
Bridport
Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England. Located near the coast at the western end of Chesil Beach at the confluence of the River Brit and its Asker and Simene tributaries, it originally thrived as a fishing port and rope-making centre...
to the south and Mosterton
Mosterton
Mosterton is a village in west Dorset, England, three miles south of Crewkerne. The village has a population of 626 .Home of the Admiral Hood pub, Eeles Pottery, Parrett and Axe Primary School and St...
and Crewkerne
Crewkerne
Crewkerne is a town in Somerset, England, situated south west of Yeovil and east of Chard in the South Somerset district close to the border with Dorset. The civil parish of West Crewkerne includes the hamlets of Woolminstone and Henley...
to the north.
Education
St Mary's Church of England Primary SchoolBeaminster secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
is a small school with about 700 pupils, from year 7 to year 11. It has a combined sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
with the Sir John Colfox secondary school, in the nearby town of Bridport
Bridport
Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England. Located near the coast at the western end of Chesil Beach at the confluence of the River Brit and its Asker and Simene tributaries, it originally thrived as a fishing port and rope-making centre...
.
Now Beaminster Technology College, it "is a good school that is well-led and managed" (Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
report 2008) and is set to receive Bridport's Mountjoy Special School into its curtilage when the latter moves in the near future. More future plans include a new emphasis on training for facets of sustainable agriculture.
Notable people
Beaminster is the hometown of actor Martin ClunesMartin Clunes
Alexander Martin Clunes is an English actor and comedian. Clunes is perhaps best known for his roles as Gary Strang in Men Behaving Badly, Doctor Martin Ellingham in Doc Martin and the title character in Reggie Perrin....
, and was where singer PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
went to school. Mat Follas
Mat Follas
Mat Follas, 44, was the winner of the BBC's MasterChef programme in 2009. He was born in the UK, to New Zealand parents and grew up in New Zealand. He moved to the UK when in his 20s and is now the father of three children....
has his restaurant The Wild Garlic in the town square. Beaminster is also home of Lynne Reid Banks
Lynne Reid Banks
Lynne Reid Banks is a British author of books for children and adults.She has written forty books, including the best-selling children's novel The Indian in the Cupboard, which has sold over 10 million copies and has been successfully adapted to film. Her first novel, The L-Shaped Room, published...
, author of The L-Shaped Room
The L-Shaped Room
The L-Shaped Room is a 1962 British drama film, directed by Bryan Forbes, which tells the story of a young French woman, unmarried and pregnant, who moves into a London boarding house, befriending a young man in the building...
and The Indian in the Cupboard
The Indian in the Cupboard
The Indian in the Cupboard is a children's book by British author Lynne Reid Banks, and illustrated by Brock Cole. It was first published in 1980, and has received numerous awards, as well as being made into a film in 1995....
. The American sociologist Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons was an American sociologist who served on the faculty of Harvard University from 1927 to 1973....
(1902-1979) could trace his family roots back to Beaminster on the mother's side of the family tree.