Sturminster Marshall

	Sturminster Marshall is a village and parish on the river Stour, 4 miles west from Wimborne. The parish had a population of 1,969 at the 2011 Census and includes the village of Almer west of Sturminster Marshall and the hamlet of Henbury to the south-east of the village. The name Sturminster means 'large church on the river Stour'. At one time the parish was a 'Royal Peculiar' with certain rights, it was then much larger taking in the chapelries of Corfe Mullen, Lytchett Minster and Hamworthy. This status was abolished in 1857. The first church was built in Norman times (12thC), during the 13th & 14th century additions and improvements were made. There was little further work until 1802 when the tower fell down and was rebuilt. A restoration took place in 1859-60.
The registers date from 1563. Congregationalist and Wesleyan Chapels were established in the 19thC. A mixed Board School was built in 1842 for 144 pupils and there used to be a railway station here. The land area is 3,851 acres and the chief crops used to be wheat and barley, the soil being light loam. The population in 1891 was 606 persons. Photograph courtesy of Terri Davies © 2002, more photographs via the link below.
The new Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for Sturminster Marshall is Mo Mytton Mo is busy transcribing new information which will be added from time to time. Mo does not live locally to the Parish but may be contacted if you are looking for help in the area
Most of the material online has been contributed by the former OPC, Terri Davies, whose contributions over the years have been invaluable
Census	The following are avalable online: 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891
Parish Registers	The following are avalable on line: Baptisms 1563-1599 Baptisms 1600-1628 Baptisms 1813-1845 Baptisms 1846-1880 The Registers of Sturminster Marshall, 1563-1812 (opens in new window)
Postal & Street Directories
Bastardy Bonds	A list of references for available Bastardy Bonds 1740-1834
Photographs	A selection of photographs of Sturminster and earlier residents of the parish. A catalogue of photographs related to Sturminster collected by Rev Cross
Militia Lists
Land records	Landowners 1873 are on line.
Churchwardens Accounts
Other Records	Protestation Returns 1641 The interesting story of the Trial of George Boyt who married in Sturminster Marshall A Precocious Poisoner - The Life of Flora Everett (by Terri Davies)
Maps
	For a 1920s map showing the area click on the thumbnail on the left [166kb]
	View Larger Map
Records held at the Dorset History Centre [Ref PE-SML]	Registers Christenings 1562/3-1646, 1695-1933. Marriages 1562/3-1643/4, 1695-1963. Burials 1563-1645, 1678-1933.
Registration District (for the purpose of civil registration births, marriages & deaths)	1 Jul 1837-31 Mar 1937: Wimborne 1 Apr 1937-30 Jun 1956: Blandford 1 Jul 1956-31 Mar 1997: Poole 1 Apr 1997-17 Oct 2005: East Dorset

OPC PAGE

Visitors to Dorset OPC