England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Wimborne Minster St Cuthburga

The Parish

The parish of Wimborne Minster is located in eastern Dorset close to its border with neighbouring Hampshire. Wimborne Minster is an ancient market town founded in pre-Roman times with a long history. The town is located about 5 miles north of the port of Poole and sits on the former route of the A31 road, Wimborne Minster is thankfully bypassed to the south nowadays. Wimborne Minster is sited on the northern bank of the broad River Stour which flows eastwards towards Christchurch Harbour and the sea. This is one of the principal rivers of Dorset and Wimborne Minster marked one of its major crossing points. Wimborne Minster was known to the Romans as Vindogladia and was an important base on routes to the west. Its status was enhanced when a nunnery was establish by Cuthburga in the early 8th century although this was sacked by the Danes in the 10th. Matters were restored by King Edward the Confessor who established a college of secular canons and a "free church" in 1318, in common with much it was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1537. Wimborne Minster is a compact town centered on the northwards running B3078 which forms the narrow and winding High Street. The town has all the facilities and amenities you would expect of market town with plenty of shops, pubs, hotels and, of course, the Friday market. The town is sited only at 20 metres above sea-level and there are pastures to the south in the plain of the Stour. The parish was large and extensive and supported a large population in excess of 4,000 parishioners. As you would expect of a market town Wimborne Minster receives a large mention in Domesday Book where it was held by the King, the town supported no fewer than 45 ploughs along with 8 mills and extensive meadows, pasture and woodland.

The Church

St Cuthburga's church, or Minster, is sited at the heart of Wimborne Minster adjacent to the north-south running High Street. It is very much the focal point of the town which it has been for centuries. The building dates largely from the Norman period with much that was built in the 12th century. Pevsner finds the building not to his taste describing it as "imposing but not beautiful", he especially dislikes the stone used which is noticeably spotty. The building is cruciform in shape with the core of the building being 12th century, however there are pieces which are later. The eastern end is from the mid-13th, the nave late 13th and the western tower is mid 15th centuries. The church is located on a sharp bend in the High Street, the road turning in front of the site to head north. The site has shops and other buildings to east and north and is enclosed by a rather low wall with access through wrought-iron gates. Much of the area immediately around the church is paved and the graveyard rather restricted to the north. The building is certainly impressive and much loved by the populous, it is a dominating feature of the town.