Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury is a town in North Dorset, England, situated on the A30 road near the Wiltshire border 20 miles west of Salisbury. The town is built 750 feet (over 200 metres) above sea level on the side of a chalk and greensand hill, which is part of Cranborne Chase, the only significant hilltop settlement in Dorset. It is one of the oldest and highest towns in Britain.

Related Topics:
Town - Dorset - England - A30 road - Wiltshire - Mile - Salisbury - Feet - Metre - Chalk - Greensand - Hill - Cranborne Chase - Britain

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In 2001, the town had a population of 6,665 with 3,112 dwellings, only a small increase from 1991. There are currently 4 first schools, a middle school and an upper school, but this is soon to change to 5 primary schools and an enlarged secondary school. Major employers include Dorset Chilled Foods, Stalbridge Linen (a commercial laundry), HMP Guy's Marsh, Wessex Electrical and the Royal Mail.

Related Topics:
2001 - Population - 1991 - Dorset Chilled Foods - Stalbridge Linen - HMP Guy's Marsh - Wessex Electrical - Royal Mail

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Many of the older buildings in the town are of the local greensand, while others built from the grey Chilmark limestone, much of which was salvaged from the demolished Shaftesbury Abbey, and have thatched roofs. Tourism is one of the main industries in the town.

Related Topics:
Chilmark - Limestone - Thatch - Tourism

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The town looks over the Blackmore Vale, part of the river Stour basin. From different viewpoints, it is possible to see at least as far as Glastonbury Tor to the north-west, and the Isle of Purbeck to the south.

Related Topics:
Blackmore Vale - Stour - Glastonbury Tor - Isle of Purbeck

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The town is famous for Gold Hill, a steep cobbled street featured on the cover of countless books about Dorset and rural England. The town is also famous for its ruined Abbey and nearby Wardour castle.

Related Topics:
Gold Hill - Wardour castle

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A market is held in the town on Thursdays. The Blackmore Vale is Thomas Hardy's Vale of the Little Dairies, and until 2004 Shaftesbury was the location of one of the last remaining livestock markets in Britain. The site has since been redeveloped as a Supermarket.

Related Topics:
Market - Thomas Hardy - 2004 - Livestock market

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The town features in Thomas Hardy's Wessex as Shaston, of particular significance in Jude the Obscure.

Related Topics:
Thomas Hardy - Wessex - Jude the Obscure

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