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Prime Location Dorset Area Guide

Dorset has long been an important area, as it has played a large role in the history of the country. The first recorded Viking raid occurred in Dorset in the 8th century, and the black death came to England through Melcombe Regis. Shaftesbury was the site of a big victory for Cromwell’s forces during the Civil War, and Lyme Regis saw the Duke of Monmouth launch the Monmouth rebellion. Farm workers in Tolpuddle helped kick start the trade union movement, and Portland and Poole were embarkation points for D-Day.

Before any of this, though, there were the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic periods when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. These eras are on display to anyone walking along the coastline of Dorset, which has been named the Jurassic coast because of its many fossil sites and geological features that span the ages. The county town of Dorset is Dorchester, and though Poole and Bornemouth have their own separate councils, they are within the borders of the county. Much of the population of Dorset is concentrated in the south of the county because of this, keeping the rest of the area rural with a low population density.

Demographics

In 2009 Dorset had an estimated population of 710,100, but over 60% of the people live in the South East Dorset conurbation of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch. Dorset is not very ethnically diverse, with about 97% of the population describing their ethnicity as white.

The county has a higher proportion of older residents than the national average. Over one-quarter of the population of Dorset is at retirement age, compared to about 19% nationally. Moreover, the birth rate is lower in Dorset than the national average. Despite this, the county is growing, as people are moving into the area. Between 1991 and 2010, the population grew by 12.2%, and a further 12.7% is predicted to occur between 2008 and 2033.

Education

Despite the rural nature of the county, there are a large number of schools that have been rated outstanding by Ofsted. Primary schools rated outstanding include St Mary the Virgin Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School in Gillingham and The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester. In the South East Dorset conurbation, outstanding primary schools include Queens Park Infant School and Mudeford Junior School.

There are fewer top-rated secondary schools, but there is still a large selection. Outstanding secondary schools in the more rural areas include The Gryphon School in Sherborne and All Saints' Church of England School, Weymouth. In the South East Dorset conurbation are Twynham School and Parkstone Grammar School, amongst others. There are also a wide range of independent fee-paying schools in the county. Some of these, like Canford School, St Mary's School and Sherborne School are boarding schools that accept day pupils. The county has two universities, Bournemouth University and The Arts University Bournemouth.

Transport

Dorset is one of the few counties to not have a motorway. It does have a large number of trunk roads and dual carriageways, and the main ones include the A31, A350 and A338. The north of Dorset is linked to London via the West of England Main Line, which goes through Gillingham and Sherborne. Likewise, the southern part of the county is connected to the capital through South Western Main Line, which goes through Bournemouth, Poole and Dorchester and terminates in Weymouth. Dorset also has the Heart of Wessex Line, which goes from Bristol to Weymouth, and the Swanage Railway, a steam and diesel line that runs between Norden and Swanage.

Dorset is served by 14 independent bus services, many of which link rural areas with larger towns and villages. The South East Dorset conurbation is of course served by many buses linking the towns and cities there. Dorset also benefits from two seaports and an airport. Ferries from Poole go to the Channel Islands and Cherbourg and St Malo in France. From Weymouth, ferries run to Guernsey, Jersey and St. Malo. Bournemouth Airport has flights to destinations including Dublin, Corfu and Gran Canaria, mostly through budget airlines.

Amenities and shopping

Shopping in Dorset is mostly an exercise in seeking out small, independent shops run by local artisans and craftspeople. Sherborne and Sturminster Newton have a large number of independent shops selling unique gifts.

Dorchester is great for antiques, and Bridport has a large selection of ceramic homewares. Farmer’s markets are scattered across the county, with notable ones in Poundbury and Christchurch. The best selection of high street shops and department stores can be found in Bournemouth.

Whilst every effort has been taken to ensure the above information is up to date, some inaccuracies may occur. If you notice any inaccuracies please contact editor@primelocation.com

All information was correct at time of publication and is provided in good faith.

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