Beaminster

Church of the Virgin Mary, Beaminster	Beaminster is generally referred to as a market town. It is a large parish in the west of the county and starting in the north east and going clockwise it is adjacent to Corscombe, North Poorton, Netherbury, Stoke Abbot, Broadwinsor, South Perrot and Cheddington. The town suffered from a disastrous fire in 1644 and smaller fires in 1684 and 1781. In 1849 Beaminster was separated from the mother parish of Netherbury. The church of the Virgin Mary is noted for its memorials and fine architectural features. In 1849 Holy Trinity was built as a chapel of ease to the parish church of St Mary's, and was consecrated on 17 June 1851. Holy Trinity was declared redundant by the Church of England on 1 May 1978 and later converted into a dwelling, called Trefoil House. There are chapels for Wesleyans and Congregationalists.
Petty sessions used to be held in the police station on alternate Mondays. A market used to be held every Thursday for meat and provisions. The market house and other buildings were pulled down in 1886 leaving the market place clear. The workhouse for Beaminster Union [comprising 26 parishes] was one mile from the town in the parish of Stoke Abbot, it held 230 inmates. The Beaminster & Netherbury school was originally founded in 1684, there was a National School built in 1870. The population in 1891 was 1915 persons. The hamlets of Langdon, Newton and Buckham are in the parish. In the latter part of the 19th century Beaminster had its own racecourse on Beaminster Downs, by kind permission of the Lord of the Manor, it was also known as the West Dorset racecourse. It began hosting races on Tuesday 24th September 1867 with a six race card. The course had a deep valley on the opposite side to the grandstand and welcomed a crowd of over 4000 to the first meeting. Although flat and hurdle racing was on the card in 1867, National Hunt steeplechases first started in 1868. The meetings lasted for 3 years before a final card was held on Wednesday 7th September 1870.	Greyhound Inn in the Market Square 2003
The post of Online Parish Clerk (OPC) is currently vacant If you would like to volunteer for the role, please contact the OPC Project Co-ordinator Contributions of additional resource materials for the site are always welcome
Much of the material on this page was donated to the OPC Project by Zoe Martin, who was OPC for Beaminster for many years. We are deeply indebted to her for her support and contributions.
Census	1841 Census [in 3 parts/5 districts] 1841 Census of Beaminster Workhouse in the parish of Stoke Abbott 1851 Census District 1a District 1b District 1c District 1d District 1e [Terry Smith] 1861 Census [in 5 parts] 1871 Census [in 5 districts] 1881 Census 1891 Census District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 [John Ridout] 1891 Census of Beaminster Workhouse in the parish of Stoke Abbott 1901 Census
Parish Registers	*At St Mary's* Baptism registers date from 1585, on line are: 1585-1620, 1680-1685, 1691-1700, 1701-1710, 1711-1720, 1721-1730, 1731-1740, 1741-1750, 1750-1759, 1760-1774, 1775-1799, 1800-1812, 1813-1820, 1821-1830, 1831-1840, 1841-1850, 1851-1860, 1861-1870, 1871-1880, 1881-1890, 1891-1900, 1901-1910 Marriages 1585-1688, 1686-1760, 1761-1812, 1813-1836, 1837-1869, 1869-1881, 1882-1899, 1900-1905, 1906-1912 Burials date from 1585, on line are: 1585-1620, 1680-1684, 1690-1699, 1700-1710, 1711-1720, 1721-1730, 1731-1740, 1741-1750, 1751-1760, 1761-1770, 1771-1780, 1781-1812, 1813-1832, 1833-1837, 1838-1860, 1861-1880, 1881-1900 Banns where bride is of another parish At Holy Trinity Baptisms 1861-1870, 1875-1903 Burials 1851-1875, 1875-1901, 1902-1910 Burials at Knowle
Non-Conformist Records	East Street Independent Baptisms 1796-1836 [Kim Parker]
Electoral Registers	A list of Voters for 1843/1844 Absent Voters List 1918
Postal Directories	Extract from Holden's County Directory 1811 Extract from Pigot's Directory 1830 Extract from Post Office Directory 1859 Extract from Kelly's Directory 1939
Emigration	Transcription of documents relating to the Emigration of Jane Frampton
Photographs	Photographs of the village circa 1900
Other Records	Dorset’s First Chief Constable and the Cox family of Beaminster [Richard Smith] Town Criers & Bill Posters from 1865 Those paying the poor rate 1758 Men & Women in Workhouse 1819 16 April 1819 Men, Women & Children in Workhouse 27 March 1835 Alehouse Recognizances 1760 Alehouse Recognizances 1766 A Survey of Beaminster 1775 [owners & head of household] Removal Orders Beaminster Apprenticeship Papers Church Warden Accounts 1735 Confirmations in the 1850s Confirmations in the 1860s Overseers of the Poor Bastardy Orders 1774 Bill of Fare for the Workhouse Jury List 1825
Wills	Beaminster PCC wills (includes links to the transcribed wills of William Chubb (1758-1831), Thomas Abington (1676), John Cox (1766) and Elizabeth Hodder (1722)).
Maps
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Records held at the Dorset History Centre PE/BE (St Mary's) PE/BE(HT) (Holy Trinity)	Registers Christenings 1585-1940. Marriages 1585-1993. Burials 1585-1899, 1916-1954. Banns 1835-1988. Transcripts Christenings 1632-1837. Marriages 1585-1837. Burials 1677-1837. Registers Christenings 1857-1943. Burials 1851-1916.
Registration District (for the purpose of civil registration births, marriages & deaths)	1 Jul 1837-31 Mar 1937: Beaminster 1 Apr 1937-31 Mar 1997: Bridport 1 Apr 1997-30 Sep 2001: West Dorset 1 Oct 2001-17 Oct 2005: South & West Dorset

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