Tarrant Hinton
| Tarrant Hinton | |
| Dorset | |
|---|---|
 Tarrant Hinton | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST937110 |
| Location: | 50°53’56"N, 2°5’24"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 160 (2013 est.) |
| Post town: | Blandford Forum |
| Postcode: | DT11 |
| Dialling code: | 01258 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Dorset |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
North Dorset |
Tarrant Hinton is a village in Dorset, sitting in the Tarrant Valley in the north of the county, about five miles north-east of Blandford Forum. In 2013 the estimated population of the parish was 160.
The village's name appears in mediæval sources. In 935, King Æthelstan granted land at Tarrant Hinton to the nuns of Shaftesbury Abbey under condition that they would pray hard for the king.[1]
The village no longer has a public house, shop or post office, but it has a mediæval parish church and a newly rebuilt village hall.
Parish church
The parish church is St Mary, built in the 14th century, with a 15th century west tower. It is a Grade I listed building.[2]. It contains an unusual Easter Sepulchre, of which there are fewer than thirty in the country: in St Mary's it is an arched recess in the north wall of the chancel. It is described as 'one of the most important church monuments of Dorset'. It consists of a recess with a 4-centred head flanked by columns with composite columns with inverted volutes and enriched with arabesques etc. These carry an entablature with inscription.[2]
In 2001 the parish was grouped with nine neighbouring parishes to form the Chase Benefice in the Diocese of Salisbury.
Events and media
Tarrant Hinton is best known as the location of the Great Dorset Steam Fair, which is annually visited by some 200,000 people.
There is a local church benefice newsletter published regularly called the Tarrant Times.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Tarrant Hinton) |
References
- ↑ Studies in the Early History of Shaftesbury Abbey. Dorset County Council, 1999
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 National Heritage List 1118497: Church of St Mary