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Julia - Beaminster's market cross
The Georgian character of the town is due to fires burning the much older buildings
Beaminster's 16th century church
Georgian houses of all shapes, sizes and colours

Beaminster Dorset Hotels B&B Accommodation

Beaminster is a small town in West Dorset. It's character has been shaped by a series of fires that led to it being wholly rebuilt in the Georgian period leaving some beautiful cottages and town buildings.

The town comes alive with the annual music festival which features jazz, folk and classical music as well as a range of exhibitions and literary events. Beaminster is surrounded by the Beaminster Downs and is popular for countryside walks. Nearby is the home of the Earl of Sandwich, Mapperton House, which is open to visitors along with the gardens.

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Beaminster Dorset Tourist Information

Beaminster looks like a typical Georgian Dorset market town but it is actually older than its architecture looks. Unfortunately due to three fires during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the first due to the Royalist sweep through the West Country for Monmouth supporters in 1644, very few buildings dating from before the eighteenth century have survived. However, there are over two hundred listed buildings in Beaminster which are predominantly Georgian with a few Tudor cottages scattered around. The Bastard brothers were responsible for the Georgian revamp of the town and although the town's market cross, Julia, looks historic it only dates from 1906. Thomas Hardy used the town as a backdrop for Tess of the D'Urbervilles in which he calls it Emminster.

To find out more about the town's turbulent history and its old industries like sail and sackcloth manufacture, try the town's museum. You can find out all about the local history of the area including the story of Thomas Hine who originated from Beaminster and went on to form the Hine Cognac Brandy company in France.

Beaminster Museum is housed in one of the town's oldest buildings, the old Congregational Chapel which was built in 1149. Beaminster Museum, Whitcombe Road, Beaminster Dorset DT8 3BU. Tel: 01308 863623. Open Easter to End of September Tue, Thurs Sat & Bank Holidays: 10.30am-12.30pm, 2.30-4.30pm. Sundays: 2.30-4.30pm.

The Yarn Barton Centre is a community learning centre in the town, just off The Square. Tourist Information leaflets are available from here as is internet access and photocopying. Yarn Barton Centre, Fleet Street, Beaminster DT8 3DU. Tel: 01308 863047. Email: admin@yarnbarton.eclipse.co.uk

Beaminster Festival

Beaminster is probably best known for its annual Festival. Early summer sees the kick off of a nine day festival of music and arts including jazz, folk and classical music as well art exhibitions and literary events. Various venues across the town host events in the evenings and during the day. Well known authors and musicians are often involved in the event as guest speakers as well as local musicians and school theatre groups.

You need tickets for the events which you can obtain from the Box Office in person or by post from The Yarn Barton Centre, Fleet Street, Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3DR. Tel: 01308 862943. Tickets only go on sale to the general public from May.

Check the link right for up-to-date information of this year's festival programme and details of obtaining tickets.

Mapperton House and Gardens - Home of the Earl of Sandwich

On the outskirts of Beaminster is Mapperton House and Gardens. This is an historic Elizabethan manor house dating that includes obvious seventeenth and eighteenth century architectural additions. It is now home to the Earl and Countess of Sandwich but opens its doors for public visits during the year. Inside you can see a variety of Tudor decor including oak panelling and the original Tudor ceiling in the Drawing Room.

The gardens are popular for visits too spreading out from the house through the great lawn to formal topiary gardens and out to the woodland garden. There is much to see including a whole host of interesting plants, pools and an orangery - all added at different periods of its history often in memory or as a legacy of past owners. A Garden ticket also gives you access to the medieval All Saints Church.

There are various entry options if you want to visit the House and Gardens or just the Gardens on their own. You can also book on to guided garden tours. For groups, you'll need to book in advance. Check the link right for more information.

Mapperton Gardens, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3NR. Tel: 01308 862645. Fax: 01308 863348. Email: office@mapperton.com