John Speed map 1611

Dorchester, Dorset

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset and the seat of local government. It is situated 16 miles south-west of Blandford, 15 miles east of Bridport and 8 miles north of Weymouth, and built on the river Frome. The town was founded by the Romans who named it Durnovaria after their victory over the iron age hill fort of Maiden Castle close by. Their strongest town in the south it lay on the great Roman road Via Iceniana. Remains of the town wall they built suggests this enclosed some 80 acres but a great part of the remains were leveled or destroyed in constructing the present ‘walks’ around the town.

From ‘Fire from Heaven – Life in an English Town in the 17^thcentury’  by David Underdown 1992

Prior to the great fire of 6 August 1613:

Three parishes – churches of Holy Trinity (demolished and rebuilt in 1824), St Peter’s (still functioning)  and All Saints (All Hallows/Alhalens) All Souls? (now a museum) all on the High Street.

in 1613, it had a population of about 2000, a parliamentary borough with 2 representatives to Westminster. A regional market town, centre of county government. Site of the county gaol and Assizes.

Three summer fairs: Trinity Sunday (8 weeks after Easter), St John’s Day (June 24), St James’s Day (July 25)

One winter fair: Candlemas (February 2)

The George Inn on High West St, next to St Peter’s and the Antelope round the corner on South  St, and a dozen others.

The fairs attracted traders and buyers from throughout the county. Also weekly market days.

Dorchester had its butchers, bakers, chandlers, candle stick makers, shoemakers and tradesmen of all varieties, the shops filling the busy streets, stalls in the market, butchers shambles containing meat market and slaughterhouse