Margaret Marsh

	Margaret Marsh is a very small parish five miles north east from Sturminster Newton. To the north west is Stour Provost, to the north east is Shaftesbury St James, Fontmell Magna forms the east boundary with East Orchard and West Orchard in the south east and Marnhull on the South West boundary. The church of St Margaret is a stone built structure in the Early English style and comprises a chancel nave, south porch and square embattled western tower containing five bells and a clock. The nave roof is said to be a very fine example of Tudor style.
Although the 1895 Kelly's directory states that the registers date from 1559, there are only registers dating from 1682 at the Dorchester History Centre, it must be presumed that earlier registers are lost. The area of the parish is only 460 acres and it is mainly laid to pasture. There does not appear to have ever been a shop, post office or school in the parish. Children used to attend the school at East Orchard. The population in 1891 was 60 persons.
The Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for Margaret Marsh is Cassandra Gotham You can contact Cassandra by clicking on the above link. Please place the words 'OPC Margaret Marsh' as your subject for e-mails
Census	Census for 1841, 1851, 1861 & 1871 are now on-line, other being transcribed.
Parish Registers	The parish registers date from 1682. All the Bishop's Transcripts available have been transcribed by me. Baptisms 1774-1880 Marriages 1795-1847 Burials 1773-1880
Protestation Returns	Names from the 1641 Protestation Returns
Monumental Inscriptions	Further details of the Monumental Inscriptions in the churchyard Monumental Inscription Index for St Margaret's Burial Ground [Brian Webber]
Maps	The 1891 Ordnance Survey maps of the parish can be seen at the old-maps site, just enter 'Margaret Marsh' under place search. For a 1920s map of the area click on the thumbnail on the left.