Dorset derives its name from the county town of Dorchester. The Romans established the settlement in the 1st century and named it Durnovaria which was a Latinised version of a Common Brittonic word possibly meaning “place with fist-sized pebbles”.
What are Dorset people called?
Therefore it is as Brian Galpin tells us it is and also meaningfully correct for the folk of Dorset to be called Dorset, although for modern ears perhaps Dorsets or singularly a Dorset would do as well.
What is the biggest town in Dorset?
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is the largest town in Dorset with a population of 187,000 with Poole being the next largest at 154,000. These towns along with Christchurch form the South East Dorset conurbation where over half of the population of Dorset live.
What is Dorset UK famous for?
First Natural World Heritage site in England
The Jurassic Coast was the first natural site in England to make it onto the World Heritage List as selected by UNESCO. The Jurassic Coast received this status due to the variety of geological periods that it depicts; Jurassic, Cretaceous and Triassic.
When did Bournemouth become Dorset?
1 April 1974
At the time of the 1974 local government re-organisation, it was considered desirable that the whole of the Poole/Bournemouth urban area should be part of the same county. Bournemouth, therefore, became part of the non-metropolitan county of Dorset on 1 April 1974.
What percentage of Dorset is white?
In the predominantly rural county, the population is 97.9% white.
What is the nicest part of Dorset?
8 of the most beautiful places in… Dorset
- Durdle Door, Wareham. Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth.
- Abbotsbury Swannery.
- Lulworth Cove.
- Sherborne Castle and Gardens.
- Swanage Bay.
- Bournemouth’s gardens.
- Corfe Castle.
- The south shore of Brownsea Island.
What is the prettiest village in Dorset?
BEST VILLAGES IN DORSET – 10 PRETTIEST LOCATIONS
- Corfe Castle.
- Shaftesbury.
- West Lulworth.
- Abbotsbury.
- Worth Matravers.
- Milton Abbas.
- Chedington.
- Briantspuddle.
What is the oldest town in Dorset?
Christchurch, Dorset – the oldest town in England and Wales.
What accent do people from Dorset have?
Dorset is a medium-sized county in the South West of England which has a distinct accent and dialect. Some of the distinct features of the accent include: H-dropping, glottalisation, rhoticity and accentuated vowel sounds.
Who owns most of Dorset?
Richard Drax MP
He is said to be the largest individual landowner in Dorset, owning around 13,870 acres.
What food is Dorset famous?
Perhaps the most well-known of Dorset’s exports is Dorset Blue Vinny. This traditional, crumbly cheese is named for some Dorset slang, the word ‘vinew’ which means mouldy. Blue cheese from Dorset has actually been granted Protected Geographical Status, so only cheese made in the region can use the name.
Is Dorset a wealthy area?
DORSET is the second richest county in the UK for property wealth.
What is the smallest town in Dorset?
Stalbridge
Stalbridge. Stalbridge is the smallest of all the Dorset towns, tucked away in the Blackmore Vale close to the Somerset border.
What did Weymouth used to be called?
The modern town of Weymouth originated as the two settlements of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, on opposite sides of Weymouth Harbour in Dorset.
Why is it called Pokesdown for Boscombe?
It was originally named Boscombe, which was altered on 1 October 1891 to Pokesdown (Boscombe), since the station was closer to Pokesdown than Boscombe. On 1 May 1897, when Boscombe station was opened, the station was renamed again to just “Pokesdown”.
What is the whitest county in the UK?
The highest county is Lincolnshire (93%) followed by Nottinghamshire, Norfolk and Worcestershire, all above 92%. Within the London region, Havering has the highest White British percentage with 83.3%, followed by Bromley with 77.4%, Bexley with 77.3% and Richmond upon Thames with 71.4%.
What is the best place to live in Dorset?
Promoted Stories
- Bridport. The ‘cheapest’ of the desirable locations, Muddy Stilettos states that Bridport is “Sometimes known as London-by-the-sea, the town has a vibrant community, rich cultural scene, indie shopping and eateries.”
- Shaftesbury.
- Dorchester.
- Sherborne.
- Wimborne.
- Lyme Regis.
- Christchurch.
Is Dorset the only county without a motorway?
There are 9 counties with no motorways (London, Isle of White, Rutland, Cornwall, Norfolk, Dorset, Northumberland, Suffolk and East Sussex) The first motorway service station was at Watford Gap on the M1 which opened… just in case you were struggling to sleep!! The M1, M4, and M11 all start in Greater London.
What is the safest town in Dorset?
Christchurch
There are safer parts of Dorset, starting with Christchurch which ranks as the safest area in Dorset, followed up by Poole in second place, and Weymouth in third place.
Dorset Crime Summary.
| Crime | Count | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Theft From the Person | 265 | 0.34 |
| Vehicle Crime | 3,572 | 4.62 |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 20,621 | 26.65 |
What is the steepest hill in Dorset?
Bathford Hill
It’s the steepest stretch, heading up to 22 per cent for some 400m, and butters you up for the rest.