Beaminster (pronounced ‘Beminster’) is a delightful little Dorsetshire market town, who's origins can be traced to the 7th century when it was know as Bebingmynster. Bebingmynster which translates as the church of Bebbe. Yes a church has been here for over 14 centuries. The present church, which is St Mary's dates from the 13th century.It was also in the 13th century, that town was granted a Royal Charter. This charter included the right to hold Thursday market plus an annual fair. At this time, Beaminster must have been quite an important place to gain such a charter. Beamister prosperity due to successful woolen cloth manufacturing business, and other related textile industries. Yes it  was indeed a thriving prosperous town. However unfortunatly many of the fine old buildings were destroyed by Royalist forces in an act of revenge during the English Civil War. In retaliation for the town's unswerving support for Parliament, and the rights of the English people which were  enshrined in the document first signed by 1215 by King John, and endorsed in 1225 by John's son Henry III.  That document was the Magna Carta. The strange thing was the Magna Carta was a last ditch attempt to stop a civil war. King John found these terms unacceptable, as they restricted an acient law called The Right of Kings and war soon followed. After Henry III became king, the rebellious barons were defeated with the help of a man called Hubert de Burgh. Law and order were restored. However opponents of the Crown periodically seized upon key sections of the charter in defense of their 'rights'. During one such crisis in 1297, Magna Carta was formally recognized as the law. And it was these 'rights' that the people of England and their Parliament defended in a bloody civil war against the Royalist forces of Charles the 1st. Yes like the later American Civil War this one also pitched farther, against son, and brother against brother.

Today most of the buildings you see in the town date from the 18th and 19th century. The town does have some very fin Victorian, and Georgian buildings plus some nice picturesque 17th century cottages. A saving grace, being that now all of the town's historic center is a dedicated Conservation Area with over 200 buildings listed.  There are some very historic house's dotted around the surrounding countryside, one of particular note is Mapperton, the home of the Earls of Sandwich, the house is an Elizabethan manor house, and has a very attractive valley garden. The house has been the ancestral home of the Earls of Sandwich since the Restoration of King Charles II. The house plays host to various events, and concerts. Beaminster  situated at the head of the very historic Vale of the River Brit known as Dorset's 'Hidden Valley. The valley has not changed for centuries and remains a very secluded place populated by rare flowers bloom, and Brock the badger. It is truly a magical place and well worth visiting. Beaminsters most famous son is Thomas Hine, who's name happens to appear on a fine vintage bottle of French  Cognac, yes Cognac Hine, bears the name of an Englishman. Thomas Hine was born in Beaminster in 1775, but in 1782, he departed to find fame and fortune in France, In Jarnac. he found employment  in the brandy  business Thomas being Thomas recognized opportunity when he saw it and promptly married his bosses daughter. However after the Napoleonic Wars, he faced hostility, and persecution, for being English, by the naturaly upset French people. Thomas died in 1822, his name however lives on the labels of  the company he gave his name to.

Midsummer each year, Beaminster host the well known Festival of Music and the Visual Arts. The festival lasts for ten days and includes a wide range of festivities and events. The town also has its own local history museum museum featuring the history of Beaminster and neighboring villages. The varied special exhibitions change throughout the season. Beaminster is an ideal center from which to explore the many other Dorset attractions, and for walkers and nature lovers there are many lovely walks around the area. In the town itself there is a range of small shops and cafés. Broadwindsor Farm is now a craft and design complex of shops and workshops and boasts its own award winning restaurant. It is a delight just to stroll through the beautiful West Dorset countryside, it is easy to see why Dorset's most famous son Thomas Hardy loved the county so much. The Llama experience offers a guided walk through the Dorset countryside with llamas and alpacas – not the sort of experience one might expect in a West Country town. Nearby Beaminster is the town of Bridport and West Bay Which is not only on the Jurassic Coast, but is the starting point for the beautiful scenic eleven mile walk along the valley of the River Brit.  Yes Beaminster has a awful lot going for it in the places to holiday stakes

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