Cranborne

"CRANBORNE, a parish, partly in the hundred of Cranborne, and partly in the hundred of Monckton-up-Wimborne, both in the East Shaston division of the county of Dorset, 37 miles N.E. of Dorchester, and 9 N.E. of the Ringwood railway station. This place derived its name from the Saxon gren, a crane, and burn, a river. A Benedictine monastery was founded here in 980, by Aylward de Meau, who then possessed the manor. In 1102 the abbot and his brethren retired to Tewkesbury, where a magnificent abbey had been founded by Robert FitzHamon, when this became a cell. The parish contains the tythings of Blagdon, Monckton-up-Wimborne, Beveridge, Alderholt, Holwell, and Verwood. This is the largest parish in Dorsetshire, being 30 miles in circuit, including part of Cranborne Chase. Before this chase was disafforested it extended to Salisbury, and King John had his hunting-seat at Tollard Royal. It is now chiefly the property of Lord Rivers of Rushmore, who holds a court-leet at the manor-house. The village, formerly a market town, is pleasantly situated in the midst of a fine champagne country. Most of the houses are well built, and have a plentiful supply of water. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Salisbury, value with the curacies of Boveridge and Verwood annexed, £151, in the patronage of the Marquis of Salisbury. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, formerly belonged to the priory. It is a large and very ancient structure, partly in the Norman style of architecture. It contains a carved pulpit and several monuments. The charities amount to £92 per annum. There are two Wesleyan chapels, several almshouses, and a lunatic asylum. Here is also a National school for both sexes. The Marquis of Salisbury is lord of the manor, and takes from this place the title of viscount. Bishop Stillingfleet was born here in 1635, and at the Revolution was raised to the see of Worcester.