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'''Dorchester''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɔr|tʃ|ɛ|s|t|ər}} {{respell|DOR|ches-tər}}) is the [[county town]] of [[Dorset]], England. It is situated between [[Poole]] and [[Bridport]] on the A35 trunk route. A historic [[market town]], Dorchester is on the banks of the [[River Frome, Dorset|River Frome]] to the south of the [[Dorset Downs]] and north of the South Dorset Ridgeway that separates the area from [[Weymouth, Dorset|Weymouth]], {{convert|7|mi|km|0}} to the south. The civil parish includes the experimental community of [[Poundbury]] and the suburb of [[Fordington, Dorset|Fordington]].
 
The area around the town was first settled in prehistoric times. The [[Roman Britain|Romans]] established a garrison there after defeating the [[Durotriges]] tribe, calling the settlement that grew up nearby '''[[Durnovaria]]'''; they built an [[Roman aqueduct|aqueduct]] to supply water and an [[amphitheatre]] on an ancient British earthwork. After the departure of the Romans, the town diminished in significance, but duringDuring the medieval period Dorchester became an important commercial and political centre. It was the site of the "[[Bloody Assizes]]" presided over by [[George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys|Judge Jeffreys]] after the [[Monmouth Rebellion]], and later the trial of the [[Tolpuddle Martyrs]]. As well as having many [[listed building]]s, a number of notable people have been associated with the town. It was for many years the home and inspiration of the author [[Thomas Hardy]], whose novel ''[[The Mayor of Casterbridge]]'' uses a fictionalised Dorchester as its setting.
 
In the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]], the population of Dorchester was 19,060, with further people coming from surrounding areas to work in the town which has six industrial estates. The [[Brewery Square, Dorchester|Brewery Square redevelopment project]]It is takinga placecentre infor phasesemployment, witheducation, otherretail, developmentleisure projectsand planned.healthcare Thefor townthe hassurrounding a land-based collegearea, [[Kingstonwith Maurwardsix College]],industrial [[The Thomas Hardye School]]estates, three middle schools and thirteen first schools. Thethe [[Dorset County Hospital]], offersa anweekly accident and emergency servicemarket, and thea townhigh isschool servedand byfurther twoeducation railway stations. Through vehicular traffic is routed round the town by means of a bypasscollege. The town has a football club and a rugby union club, several museums and the biannual Dorchester Festival. It is twinned with three towns in Europe. As well as having many [[listed building]]s, a number of notable people have been associated with the town. It was for many years the home and inspiration of the author [[Thomas Hardy]], whose novel ''[[The Mayor of Casterbridge]]'' uses a fictionalised version of Dorchester as its setting.
 
==History==
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==Government==
Dorchester is represented by two tiers of government, Dorchester Town Council and [[Dorset (unitary authority)|Dorset Council]], both of which are based within the town. Dorchester elects five councillors to [[Dorset Council (UK)|Dorset Council]] from [[List of electoral wards in Dorset|three wards]] ([[Dorchester East (ward)|Dorchester East]], [[Dorchester Poundbury (ward)|Dorchester Poundbury]] and [[Dorchester West (ward)|Dorchester West]]) <ref>{{Cite web |title=List all area profiles - Dorset Council |url=https://gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/insights/AreaProfiles/List |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk}}</ref> There are four [[electoral wards]] for Dorchester Town Council (North, South, East and West). Historically, Dorchester was a [[municipal borough]] from 1836 to 1974, and then part of [[West Dorset]] district from its creation in 1974 to its abolition in 2019.
 
For elections to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|parliament]], Dorchester is in the [[West Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|West Dorset constituency]]. Historically it was in [[Dorchester (UK Parliament constituency)|Dorchester constituency]] from 1295 to 1868, and then [[South Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|South Dorset constituency]] until 1918.
=== Parliamentary ===
From 1295 to 1868, [[Dorchester (UK Parliament constituency)|Dorchester]] was a parliamentary constituency. This was abolished by the [[Redistribution of Seats Act 1885]],<ref name=HoP>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/constituencies/dorchester|title=Dorchester|publisher=History of Parliament Online|access-date=17 September 2016|archive-date=24 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424135029/http://historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/constituencies/dorchester|url-status=live}}</ref> after which Dorchester was placed in the new [[South Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|Dorset South constituency]] and in 1918 it was transferred to [[West Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)|Dorset West]], where it has remained ever since. Dorchester is represented by two tiers of government. Dorchester Town Council and [[Dorset (unitary authority)|Dorset Council]], both of which are based within the town. The [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for West Dorset was [[Oliver Letwin]] from 1997 to 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Dcommons2.htm|title=Dorset West|date=18 August 2016|work=Constituencies beginning with a "D"|publisher=The House of Commons|access-date=17 September 2016|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011182617/http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Dcommons2.htm|archive-date=11 October 2017}}</ref> Since the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], the local MP has been [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Chris Loder]].
 
The town's coat of arms depicts the old castle that used to stand on the site of the former prison. The royal purple background represents Dorchester's status as part of the monarch's private estate, a position held since before the [[Domesday Book]] was published. The shield is divided into quarters, two depicting lions and two [[fleur-de-lis]]. These are, copied from the shields of the troops from Dorset who took part in the [[Battle of Agincourt]] in 1415. The fleur-de-lis have a scattered arrangement which shows that permission for the armorial bearings was given before 1405, after which date the rights were varied by [[Henry VI of England|King Henry VI]]. The inscription 'Sigillum Bailivorum Dorcestre' translates as 'Seal of the Bailiffs of Dorchester'. The mayor has a similar seal of office, but this has the inscription ''Dorcestriensis Sig: Maioris''.<ref name="Seal">{{cite web|url=http://www.dorchester-tc.gov.uk/About+Us/Civic+History/The+Town+Seal|title=The Town Seal|year=2007|publisher=Dorchester Town Council|access-date=17 September 2016|archive-date=29 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929093513/http://www.dorchester-tc.gov.uk/About+Us/Civic+History/The+Town+Seal|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
=== Local ===
Since the [[2019 structural changes to local government in England]], Dorchester has elected five councillors from [[List of electoral wards in Dorset|three wards]] to [[Dorset Council (UK)|Dorset Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=List all area profiles - Dorset Council |url=https://gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/insights/AreaProfiles/List |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk}}</ref>
 
* [[Dorchester East (ward)|Dorchester East]]
* [[Dorchester Poundbury (ward)|Dorchester Poundbury]]
* [[Dorchester West (ward)|Dorchester West]]
 
There are four [[electoral wards]] in Dorchester for town council (North, South, East and West) showing a combined population of 19,060. The town has been growing steadily with 11,620 residents in 1951, 13,740 in 1971 and 15,100 in 1991.<ref name="Dorsetforyou">{{cite web |title=Dorchester town profile: Population |url=https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/article/343563/Dorchester-town-profile |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815235053/https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/article/343563/Dorchester-town-profile |archive-date=15 August 2016 |access-date=17 September 2016 |publisher=Dorsetforyou}}</ref>
 
=== Other governance ===
▲The town's coat of arms depicts the old castle that used to stand on the site of the former prison. The royal purple background represents Dorchester's status as part of the monarch's private estate, a position held since before the [[Domesday Book]] was published. The shield is divided into quarters, two depicting lions and two [[fleur-de-lis]]. These are copied from the shields of the troops from Dorset who took part in the [[Battle of Agincourt]] in 1415. The fleur-de-lis have a scattered arrangement which shows that permission for the armorial bearings was given before 1405, after which date the rights were varied by [[Henry VI of England|King Henry VI]]. The inscription 'Sigillum Bailivorum Dorcestre' translates as 'Seal of the Bailiffs of Dorchester'. The mayor has a similar seal of office, but this has the inscription ''Dorcestriensis Sig: Maioris''.<ref name="Seal">{{cite web|url=http://www.dorchester-tc.gov.uk/About+Us/Civic+History/The+Town+Seal|title=The Town Seal|year=2007|publisher=Dorchester Town Council|access-date=17 September 2016|archive-date=29 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929093513/http://www.dorchester-tc.gov.uk/About+Us/Civic+History/The+Town+Seal|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On 15 December 2004, Dorchester was the first town in Dorset to be granted [[Fairtrade Town|Fairtrade]] status.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unitedchurchdorchester.org.uk/about-us/fair-trade.html|title=Fair Trade|publisher=United Church Dorchester|access-date=17 September 2016|archive-date=19 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919173821/http://unitedchurchdorchester.org.uk/about-us/fair-trade.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In 2011, Dorchester was one of more than 20 towns across the country to apply for [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] to mark the [[Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/8802714.Dorchester_applies_for_city_status|title=Dorchester applies for city status|author=Pearce, Lucy|publisher=Dorsetecho.co.uk|date=20 January 2011|access-date=17 September 2016|archive-date=21 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921044002/http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/8802714.Dorchester_applies_for_city_status/|url-status=live}}</ref> although in March 2012 it was revealed that Dorchester's bid had been unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web|title=Results of Diamond Jubilee Civic Honours Competition announced|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/results-of-diamond-jubilee-civic-honours-competition-announced|publisher=Cabinet Office|access-date=17 September 2016|date=14 March 2012|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917200144/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/results-of-diamond-jubilee-civic-honours-competition-announced|url-status=live}}</ref>
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Dorchester town centre is sited about {{convert|55|to|80|metres|ft}} above sea-level on gently sloping ground beside the south bank of the [[River Frome, Dorset|River Frome]].<ref>Ordnance Survey (1978), 1:25,000 Second Series, Sheet SY 69/79 (Dorchester)</ref> Measured directly, it is about {{convert|7|mi|km}} north of [[Weymouth, Dorset|Weymouth]], {{convert|18|mi|km}} SSE of [[Yeovil]] in [[Somerset]], and {{convert|20|mi|km}} west of [[Poole]].<ref>John Bartholomew & Son Ltd (1980), 1:100,000 National Map Series, sheet 4 (Dorset), {{ISBN|0-7028-0327-8}}</ref> The town's built-up area extends south, west and southeast of the town centre; to the north and northeast growth is restricted by the [[floodplain]] and [[watermeadow]]s of the river.<ref>Ordnance Survey (2010), 1:25,000 Explorer Map, sheet 117 (Cerne Abbas & Bere Regis); {{ISBN|978-0-319-24122-6}}</ref>
 
The land immediately south and west of the town is part of the Dorset [[AreaDorset ofNational Outstanding Natural BeautyLandscape]] area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://explorer.geowessex.com/?layers=4805&basemap=27&x=376944.16&y=99635.35&epsg=27700&zoom=10 |title=Dorset Explorer |publisher=Natural England |access-date=26 November 2015 |archive-date=6 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006075621/http://explorer.geowessex.com/?layers=4805&basemap=27&x=376944.16&y=99635.35&epsg=27700&zoom=10 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is traversed by the [[South Dorset Ridgeway]], part of the [[South West Coast Path]]. There are over five hundred ancient monuments along the chalk hills that form the ridgeway, including [[Long barrow|barrows]], [[stone circle]]s and [[hillfort]]s; many archaeological finds from the area are on view at the Dorset Museum in Dorchester.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dorsetaonb.org.uk/our-work/south-dorset-ridgeway/outstanding-natural-beauty|title=South Dorset Ridgeway: Outstanding places|publisher=Dorset AONB|access-date=26 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205031545/http://www.dorsetaonb.org.uk/our-work/south-dorset-ridgeway/outstanding-natural-beauty|archive-date=5 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
The geology of the town comprises [[bedrock]] formed in the [[Coniacian]], [[Santonian]] and [[Campanian]] ages of the [[Late Cretaceous]] epoch, overlain in places by more recent [[Quaternary]] [[Drift (geology)|drift]] deposits. The bedrock is [[chalk]] of various formations. The drift deposits comprise a cap of [[Clay-with-Flints|clay-with-flints]] on the western edge of the town around [[Poundbury]], [[alluvium]] in the river's floodplain, and several narrow ribbons of poorly stratified [[Head (geology)|head deposits]], found particularly around the town's northeastern and southwestern boundaries but also elsewhere.<ref>British Geological Survey (2000), 1:50,000 Series, England and Wales Sheet 328 (Dorchester); {{ISBN|978-0-7518-3310-2}}</ref>
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==Transport==
[[File:Dorchester South railway station 2005-07-16 01.jpg|thumb|[[Dorchester South railway station]]]]
The town has two [[railway station]]s:
The town has two [[railway station]]s: [[Dorchester South railway station|Dorchester South]] is on the [[South West Main Line]] to [[Bournemouth railway station|Bournemouth]], [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton]] and [[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]], and is operated by [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]]. [[Dorchester West railway station|Dorchester West]], designed by [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]], is on the [[Heart of Wessex Line]], operated by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] and connects with [[Yeovil Pen Mill railway station|Yeovil]], [[Bath Spa railway station|Bath]], [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol]] and [[Gloucester railway station|Gloucester]]. As part of the regeneration at the Brewery Site in the town centre, Dorchester South railway station will become the first solar powered railway station in the UK.<ref name=Brewery/>
* [[Dorchester South railway station|Dorchester South]] is on the [[South West Main Line]] between {{rws|London Waterloo}}, {{rws|Bournemouth}}, {{rws|Southampton Central}} and {{rws|Weymouth}}. Services are operated by [[South Western Railway]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=South Western Railway |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=15 July 2024 |url= https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/timetables |quote=}}</ref> As part of the regeneration at the Brewery Site in the town centre, it will become the first solar-powered railway station in the UK.<ref name=Brewery/>
* [[Dorchester West railway station|Dorchester West]], designed by [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]], is on the [[Heart of Wessex Line]], operated by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]. It connects the town with [[Yeovil Pen Mill railway station|Yeovil]], [[Bath Spa railway station|Bath]], [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol]] and {{rws|Gloucester}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Train Times |work=Great Western Railway |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=15 July 2024 |url= https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times |quote=}}</ref>
 
The town is on the the [[A35 road|A35]], a trunk road connecting to Poole in the east and [[Honiton]] in the west; the [[A37 road]] north to Yeovil; the [[A352 road]] north to [[Sherborne, Dorset|Sherborne]]; and the [[A354 road]] south to Weymouth. [[Mowlem]] completed a [[Bypass (road)|bypass road]] to the south and west of the town in 1988, diverting through traffic away from the town centre.<ref>Draper (1992)</ref> The A35 is often subject to severe traffic congestion due to it being one of the main routes towards the south-west.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
 
Buses are operated by [[First Hampshire & Dorset]]. Notable services include route 10, a frequent service to Weymouth via Upwey, and route X51 to Bridport. [[Go South Coast|Damory Coaches]] and [[South West Coaches]] also operate local and regional services. [[National Express]] and [[Megabus (Europe)|Megabus]] operate long-distance coach journeys stopping at Dorchester with destinations including [[Victoria coach station|London Victoria]] and Weymouth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dorchester Bus Services |work=Bus Times |date=2024 |access-date=15 July 2024 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/dorchester}}</ref>
 
==Media==
Local radio stations serving Dorchester include [[Greatest Hits Radio Dorset]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18688309.wessex-fm-becomes-greatest-hits-radio/|title=Wessex FM becomes greatest hits radio|publisher= Dorset Echo|access-date=21 June 2022|archive-date=15 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315160225/https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18688309.wessex-fm-becomes-greatest-hits-radio/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[BBC Radio Solent]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radiosolent|title=BBC Radio Solent|publisher=BBC Radio Solent|access-date=24 September 2016|archive-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927072236/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radiosolent|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[community radio]] station Keep 106, which grew from the County Hospital's [[hospital radio]] station.<ref>https://keep106.com/about/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> Local television news coverage is by ''[[BBC South Today]]'' in [[Southampton]], ''[[ITV Meridian]]'' in [[Whiteley]], ''[[BBC Spotlight]]'' in [[Plymouth]] and ''[[ITV West Country]]'' in [[Bristol]]. Dorchester's regular print media comprises the [[Dorset Echo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk|title=Dorset Echo website|publisher=Dorset Echo|access-date=25 September 2016|archive-date=22 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922205643/http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Many homes in Dorchester have access to [[fibre broadband]] services provided by private companies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dorsetforyou.com/broadband/availability/west-dorset|title=Fibre broadband coverage in West Dorset|publisher=Dorset County Council|work=dorsetforyou.com|date=29 May 2015|access-date=7 June 2015|archive-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403193442/https://www.dorsetforyou.com/broadband/availability/west-dorset|url-status=live}}</ref> The town is part of the second phase of Superfast Dorset, a project to increase fibre broadband availability within the county, which has been completed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2014/06/superfast-dorset-uk-reveals-phase-2-fibre-broadband-rollout-areas.html|title=Superfast Dorset UK Reveals Phase 2 Fibre Broadband Rollout Areas|publisher=ISPreview.co.uk|date=18 June 2015|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-date=7 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407183038/https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2014/06/superfast-dorset-uk-reveals-phase-2-fibre-broadband-rollout-areas.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
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