The best walks and hikes around Sturminster Marshall

I expect it makes a great crossing and cuts off a HUGE diversion along a main road. Typical council neglecting their duites to repair this bridge.

All Saints Church at Langton Long Blandford is a beautiful Victorian-era parish church that has an interesting history connected to the local gentry. Victorian Rebuilding (1861-1864): The church you see today is not medieval, but a complete rebuild of an earlier church that stood on the same site. It was designed by the notable Victorian architect Thomas Henry Wyatt (1807-1880). The Farquharson Family: The rebuild was generously financed by the Farquharson family, who owned the nearby Langton Long House (a large mansion, since demolished in 1949). The large size of the church, compared to the tiny hamlet of Langton Long, reflects that it was built to serve the mansion and its many servants. Architectural Style: It is built in a distinctive Gothic Revival style, specifically referencing the Perpendicular style of earlier English churches. Materials: The exterior is notable for its use of banded flint and stone (ashlar bonding courses and chequer patterns), which gives it a striking appearance. Features: It has a cruciform (cross) plan with a nave, chancel, north aisle, and north and south transepts. The most impressive exterior feature is the tall, three-stage west tower, which is adorned with an embattled parapet and prominent crocketed pinnacles.

The stretch of the old Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR) line at Spetisbury and Blandford area provides a tangible connection to the past and is a key part of the modern landscape. This crucial cross-country route connected the English Channel at Poole/Bournemouth with the Bristol Channel and Bath, allowing direct passenger and freight services from the Midlands and the North to the South Coast. Track Doubling: While initially a single track, the line at Spetisbury was upgraded to double track around 1901. This required the construction of the second platform (the 'Up' platform) and a signal box to manage the crossover points. Down Line: Trains travelling towards Bailey Gate, Wimborne, and Bournemouth used the Down platform (the original platform). Up Line: Trains travelling towards Blandford, Templecombe, and Bath (Green Park) used the Up platform (the new platform). The Scenery: The line through Spetisbury was known for its gentler curves and gradients compared to the difficult northern section over the Mendip Hills, allowing for fast running. It offered picturesque views over the River Stour Valley, which you can still enjoy today. Closure: The tracks at Spetisbury saw their final passenger services (the main S&D line closure) in March 1966. The rails were lifted a few years later in 1970.

The North Dorset Trailway Connection Today, Spetisbury Station is a popular access point for the North Dorset Trailway. Trailhead: The section of the Trailway running from Spetisbury north to Sturminster Newton, largely following the old railway bed, is a well-maintained, traffic-free path for walking, cycling, and riding. Visitor Stop: The former station site makes a perfect place to stop, rest, and picnic while exploring the Trailway, offering fine views over the Stour Valley. It's a wonderful example of local history being preserved and repurposed for community and recreation!

The Spetisbury Station Project Unlike the bridge at Blandford, which remains a preserved structure, the Spetisbury station site is being actively restored by volunteers. The Project: The Spetisbury Station Project Group was formed in 2012 by dedicated volunteers to clear and preserve the abandoned site. What You Can See: While the original station buildings were demolished shortly after the 1956 closure, the project has cleared the site to reveal the foundations of the station buildings, the booking office, and the signal box. Ambience: The site is now a peaceful, landscaped green space featuring picnic areas, benches, and information boards. Volunteers have added replica signage and restored the platforms to recreate the atmosphere of the former country station. Wildlife Haven: The site is also managed to be a haven for local wildlife, with features like a wildlife pond, bat boxes, and specific flower borders.

The Railway and Closure Original Line: Spetisbury Station was located on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR), which connected Bath to Bournemouth. Opening: It originally opened on November 1, 1860, as part of the Dorset Central Railway's line from Wimborne to Blandford. It initially had a single platform. Double Track: Around 1901, the line was doubled through the station, and a second platform and a signal box were added to handle the increased traffic. Downgrade: Like many rural stations seeking to cut costs, it was downgraded to an unstaffed "halt" in 1934. Passenger Closure: The station closed completely to passengers on September 17, 1956, one of the early closures on the S&D line. Line Closure: Although the station itself was closed, the main S&DJR line through the site continued to operate passenger services until the whole route closed in March 1966. Goods traffic ceased in 1969, and the track was lifted in 1970.

Historical Interpretation: This find has led archaeologists to suggest the site was a "war cemetery," possibly victims of a major attack, perhaps by the invading Roman army around the time of the conquest in the 1st century AD. It parallels a similar, highly significant discovery made at the much larger Maiden Castle hillfort. Today, the site is a popular spot for walkers, and the summit of the ramparts is marked by an Ordnance Survey trig point which offers excellent views of the surrounding area.

Spetisbury Rings, also historically known as Crawford Castle, is a significant Iron Age hillfort and Scheduled Monument in Dorset, England. It is one of a chain of important Iron Age earthworks in the area, which also includes sites like Hod Hill and Badbury Rings. The "War Cemetery" Discovery Spetisbury Rings is perhaps most famous for an important and somewhat dramatic archaeological discovery made during the construction of the railway line in 1857-1858. Mass Graves: Workers found two mass graves within the ditch fill on the north-eastern side. The discoveries amounted to over 100 skeletons in total (at least 80 in the first find, and a further 40 the following year). Violent End: Evidence on the remains indicated a violent end for some of the individuals; at least two skulls were perforated, and a spearhead was found still embedded in one of them. Burial Goods: Grave goods found alongside the skeletons included: Weapons (spear heads, an iron sword) Personal ornaments (brooches, finger rings, a torque) Other objects (a copper alloy cauldron, pottery, bone needles, a comb).