Adventure and adventurers > Black's guide to Dorsetshire

DOKSETSHIRE.
GENERAL SUMMARY.
Dorsetshire—the ancient home of the Durotriges, or
“ dwellers by the waters ”—is one of the least fertile hut most
romantic of the English counties. If it cannot boast of rich
farms and luxurious pastures, it has its glorious ocean-views, and
abrupt mountainous ranges to be proud of, and the wayfarer will
constantly meet with the most admirable scenes.
Statistics.-—Its area is computed at 987 square miles, 01
632,025 acres, of which about 200,000 are arable, 390,000
meadow, 10,000 woodland, and the remainder downs, waste lands,
and commons. Its greatest length is 52 miles, greatest breadth
37 miles, average breadth 21 miles. Population (89,204 males,
and 95,003 females) 184,207 ; t.e., 186 persons to a square mile,
and one person to 3-4 acres. Inhabited houses, 36,138; £ e., 1
house to 5-l individuals. The stock of sheep (chiefly South-
downs) is about 700,000, yielding from 10,000 to 12,000 wool
packs yearly. Flax averages 600 to 900 lbs., and hemp 500 to
800 lbs. per acre. There are 269 parishes, and 4 extra parishes,
containing 14 market towns, viz :—
distance
Market Days.
Pop.
Beaminster....
Blandford
Bridport
Ceme Abbas.,
Dorchester...
Evershot
Gillingham....
Lyme Regis..
Poole
Sherborne.....
Stalbridge ...
Stourminster.
Wareham....
Wimborne....
Thursday
Saturday
Wednesday and Saturday.
Wednesday
Saturday
Saturday
Friday
Tuesday, Friday
Monday, Thursday
Thursday, Saturday
Alternate Tuesday
Alternate Thursday
Tuesday
Friday
2832
4315
4653
1343
1837
3516
9255
5242
7566
1916
7218
5254
144
104
137
129
120
129
105
144
131
117
112
115
115
100