Hinton St Mary is a village and civil parish in the county of Dorset in southern England. It is sited on a low Corallian limestone ridge beside the River Stour, one mile (1.5 kilometres) north of the market town Sturminster Newton. In 2001 the parish had 97 households and a population of 221.[1] In 2013 the estimated population of the parish was 260.[2]
| Hinton St Mary | |
|---|---|
 Parish church of St Peter | |
  Hinton St Mary Location within Dorset | |
| Population | 260 |
| OS grid reference | ST786162 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Sturminster Newton |
| Postcode district | DT10 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
Although well connected to Sturminster Newton, the village is just outside and therefore wnjoys a peaceful tranquility.
The parish church, dedicated to St Peter, has a 15th-century tower.[3] The manor house next to the church was once owned by the nuns of Shaftesbury Abbey.[3] The Manor House is the predominant building in the village and boasts beautiful grounds.
As an idyllic small village with numerous outstanding vantage points, this has become a popular destination for those in the area. The Avenue of beech trees is reminiscent of the Dark Hedges in Ireland and the views span miles of beautiful countryside.
The local pub, The White Horse, serves the community and its guests as a local dining and drinking destination and has a very excellent reputation. The building itself is over 400 years old.
Roman mosaic
In 1963 a Roman building of unknown type, possibly a villa or a church, was discovered in the village. On the floor of one room was laid a large 4th-century mosaic depicting Bellerophon and the Chimera (illustrating good defeating evil) and a portrait bust that may be a depiction of Christ.[4] The bust is now on display in the British Museum. The rest is kept in storage.
Millennium Garden
The village has a community garden constructed in an episode of the BBC series Charlies Garden Angels, hosted by Charlie Dimmock. The garden was made during 1999, with local people and businesses helping to create it. It is now known as the Millennium Garden as it was built to celebrate the new millennium.
Cutt Mill
Cutt Mill, sited on the River Stour to the northwest of the village, was burned down in 2003 by vandals. The building remains unused as the structure is now unsafe.
Walks
Links
The village website is www.hintonstmary.com
References
- ^ "Parish Headcounts". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. 28 April 2004. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ "Parish Population Data". Dorset County Council. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ a b North Dorset District Council, Official District Guide, Home Publishing Co. Ltd., c.1983, p35
- ^ British Museum | The Hinton St Mary Mosaic
External links
Village website www.hintonstmary.com