Martinstown village notices

Published: 20 January 2020

Last Updated: 20 January 2020

New Sheep Wash Pool sign erected

A new sign has been erected in the village. Margaret Hearing has donated profits from the sale of her 'Book of Martinstown' to pay for the installation of a sign to the Sheep Wash Pool. 

The actual fingerpost has been made by ‘The Mens’ Shed’ in Dorchester and the arrangements with them were handled by Anne Bennett which we thank her for. 

Thanks also to Roger Wiltshire who fitted the fingerpost into a new post which he then replaced into the position of the original post. 

Above is a photo of the fingerpost with the Public Bridleway and Pick up your 💩replaced.

Published: 11 January 2020

Last Updated: 11 January 2020

Published: 09 November 2019

Last Updated: 09 November 2019

Published: 28 September 2019

Last Updated: 28 September 2019

New Sign for Martinstown Washing Pool

The Washing Pool renovation has been partly funded by the Parish Council, Dorset Ridgeway Team and the Dorset AONB. Historical information, photo graphs etc courtesy of Margaret Hearing and co-ordination of the project by Martinstown Parish Council. 

The Washing Pool is unique in its size and state of preservation.  It is one of the rarer structures in this part of the country. A quick internet search throws up approx. another half dozen or so in various states of repair, none of the same original quality. In Dorset I believe there to be one only one other in Littlebredy near Bridehead but not in the same league. 

As a small village, with a long history in the farming community, the Parish council thought that the Sheep Washing Pool renovation to be an important historic investment for the village and a visitor attraction. Already, the Pool has been visited by a group from New Zealand. The new information board will only add to that visitor experience and shortly we hope to erect a new finger post to tempt people to explore further than the Brewer's front door.

Martin Usherwood

Published: 18 September 2019

Last Updated: 18 September 2019

Published: 27 September 2018

Last Updated: 27 September 2018

Martinstown are Winners of Dorset Best Village 2018 - Large Village, Previous Winners category

At the presentation evening this week for Dorset Best Village 2018 organised by Dorset Community Action, sponsored by Magna Housing and supported by Dorset Echo, Martinstown was the winner in the category of Large Village - Previous Winner (i.e. there is a category for villages that have been previous winners so that the same village can’t win every time).

The Dorset Echo reports that: “Judges travelled more than 900 miles across Dorset this summer as they inspected villages taking part. While looking out for well-kept greens and finger posts, tidy churchyards and rubbish-free playgrounds, they also note the work going on in communities behind the scenes to look after their villages.”