Winterbourne St Martin

“WINTERBORNE ST. MARTIN, (or Martinstown), a parish in the hundred of George, county Dorset, 3 miles S.W. of Dorchester, and 8 N.W. of Weymouth. The village is situated in a valley, and had formerly a market granted by Henry III., but long since disused. The parish includes the tything of Ashton. Here is Maiden Castle, one of the strongest Roman camps in the W. of England, covering 115 acres, with a treble ditch and ramparts oval in shape, and commanding an extensive prospect. According to Ptolemy, it was the castra æstiva of the garrison of Dunium, afterwards called Durnovaria, the capital of the Durotriges. At a little distance from the eastern gate of the camp passes the vicinal road leading from Dorchester to Weymouth, and on the W. extends a branch of the Via Iceniana. On Four Barrow Hill and Clandon are many tumuli. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Salisbury, value £73, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is dedicated to St. Martin. There are National and Sunday schools, built in 1841. A fair is held on St. Martin's day for cattle.

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from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868