Dorchester

Dorchester is a market town in southern central Dorset, England, situated on the River Frome and A35 road 20 miles west of Poole and five miles north of Weymouth. In 2001 the town had a population of 16,171 and a catchment population of approximately 40,000. There were 7,386 dwellings in 2001 and 205 shops in 1991. Dorchester has been the County town of Dorset since 1305.

Related Topics:
Market town - Dorset - England - River Frome - A35 road - Mile - Poole - Weymouth - 2001 - Catchment - County town - 1305

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A market is held in the town on Wednesdays and Sundays.

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The town has two railway stations, which connect the town to London, Southampton via the South Western Main Line and to Westbury, Bath and Bristol via the Heart of Wessex Line. Dorchester South railway station on the South Western Main Line, once an idiosyncratic structure where trains running in one direction would reverse and then rejoin the through line, was rebuilt in 1989, but Dorchester West railway station on the Heart of Wessex Line is still the original Great Western Railway structure designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Related Topics:
Railway - London - Southampton - South Western Main Line - Westbury - Bath - Bristol - Heart of Wessex Line - Dorchester South railway station - Dorchester West railway station

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In the late 1980s Dorchester was bypassed.

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Charles, Prince of Wales has recently built the self-contained village of Poundbury on the western fringes of the town.

Related Topics:
Charles, Prince of Wales - Poundbury

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On December 15, 2004, Dorchester was granted Fairtrade Town status.

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