Wareham
Wareham
The historic market town of Wareham in Dorset is located on the River Frome and is well known for its Saxon walls which date back to the 9th century. The town has a number of interesting shops and cafes as well as a weekly market. Wareham is also home to several museums including the Dorset County Museum and the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum.
The town of Wareham is located in the county of Dorset in England. It is situated on the River Frome and is approximately 8 miles (13 km) from the coast. The town has a population of around 9,000 people.
The history of Wareham goes back to the Saxon period when it was founded by Alfred the Great in 876 AD. The town was originally called Weohham and was located on the site of an existing Roman settlement. The town grew in importance during the medieval period and was defended against attack by a set of walls which were built in the 9th century.
During the English Civil War, Wareham was occupied by Parliamentary forces. In 1644, a Royalist army attempted to retake the town but was defeated at the Battle of Lostwithiel.
The town continued to grow throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and became a centre for market gardening and agriculture. Today, Wareham is a popular tourist destination and is home to several museums including the Dorset County Museum and the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum.
If you are visiting England, then make sure you include a trip to the historic town of Wareham in your itinerary. You will not be disappointed!
Created: 20 October 2022 Edited: 29 November 2023
Wareham
Local History around Wareham
There are some historic monuments around including:
Bell barrow on Stoborough Heath 380m NNE of Hill ViewBowl barrow on Knowle Hill, 660m north east of St Peter's ChurchFour bowl barrows 70m east of Seven Barrows FarmBowl barrow 470m WNW of Peaked Close House: part of a dispersed round barrow cemetery on Corfe CommonHillfort at Bulbury CampBowl barrow known as Povington Barrow, 300m west of Povington FarmTwin barrow on Westholme Heath, 850m west of Hurst MillThree bowl barrows in Holme Lane Plantation, 200m south west of Squirrel's CottagesBowl barrow 500m north east of The Drinking Barrow, forming part of the Grange Heath round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 250m north-west of Rookery CottagesRound barrow cemetery on West Holme Heath, 850m north-west of Hurst MillHeavy Anti-aircraft battery on Arne HillBowl barrow on Farm Heath, 470m south east of Hill CottagesBowl barrow on Morden Heath, 282m north-east of Decoy HouseBowl barrow on Creech Heath 720m ESE of Dodson's Farm, forming part of the Creech Heath round barrow cemeterySection of Battery Bank on South HeathCorfe Castle: a large enclosure castle, and 18th century Vineyard BridgeWoolsbarrow, a hillfort on Bloxworth HeathThe Drinking Barrow, forming part of the Grange Heath round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow on Farm Heath, 450m south west of Worgret Heath FarmBowl barrow 930m WNW of Peaked Close House: part of a dispersed round barrow cemetery on Corfe CommonBowl barrow on Knowle Hill, 630m north east of St Peter's ChurchRound barrow cemetery on Lulworth Heath known as `Five Barrows': 400m north-east of The CatSection of Battery Bank on Binnegar Plain, 830m north east of Stokeford FarmMedieval settlement at AfflingtonBowl barrow on Creech Barrow hillBowl barrow on Trigon Hill, 880m north east of Trigon HouseBowl barrow on East Holme Range, 880m north west of Povington FarmBowl barrow at the eastern end of Stonehill Down, 270m SSW of East Creech FarmThe northern of two bowl barrows on Holme MountBell barrow and two bowl barrows 170m north east of Holmebridge Post OfficeRound barrow cemetery on Povington Heath 550m north-east of Whiteway FarmLinear earthwork on Wareham Common, 350m north west and 420m north east of Little FarmBowl barrow 850m WNW of Peaked Close House: part of a dispersed round barrow cemetery on Corfe CommonBowl barrow 200m south east of East OrchardBell barrow and seven bowl barrows, forming a dispersed round barrow cemetery on Worgret Heath, 645m north west of Worgret Manor FarmCross dyke on Knowle Hill, 470m SSE of East Creech FarmBowl barrow on Farm Heath, 480m south east of Hill CottagesBowl barrow on Arne Hill 270m south west of Arne Dairy HouseThe southern of two bowl barrows on Holme MountBowl barrow on Arne Hill 200m south of Arne Dairy HouseSt Martin's ChurchGroup of six pillow mounds 470m north west of Barnston FarmBowl barrow 450m north-west of Rookery CottagesBowl barrow on Stonehill Down, 250m south of East Creech FarmThe Rings: a ringwork and bailey and a Civil War battery 400m south west of Corfe CastleBowl barrow on Northport Heath, 200m south east of Forest LodgeBowl barrow on Stoborough Heath 700m south of Icen HouseThe Icen Barrow on Creech Heath, forming part of the Creech Heath round barrow cemeteryRomano-British villa 560m north east of East Creech FarmGroup of four bowl barrows 250m WNW of Peaked Close House: part of a dispersed round barrow cemetery on Corfe CommonTwo bowl barrows on South Heath, 290m and 370m east of Binnegar HallLight Anti-aircraft battery on Holton Heath, 650m south east of Sandford HouseThree Lords' Barrow, 450m south east of Doreys FarmBowl barrow in Morden Park 350m south west of Hunting BridgeBowl barrow on Stokeford Heath 720m WNW of Binnegar FarmLight Anti-aircraft battery on Holton Heath, 210m west of Sandford HouseBowl barrow on Stoborough Heath 240m NNE of Hill ViewFormer Royal Naval Cordite FactoryGroup of linear earthworks on Worgret Heath'Three Barrows': Group of three round barrows on the southern edge of Middlebere Heath, 240m NNE of Halfway InnIron Age settlement and associated field system on Smedmore HillThe Harp StoneBowl barrow on Worgret Heath, 390m west of Little FarmBowl barrow 1120m WNW of Peaked Close House: part of a dispersed round barrow cemetery on Corfe CommonBowl barrow 350m south-west of Rookery CottagesBowl barrow in Bartlett's FirsBowl barrow in Pomfrey's PlantationBowl barrow 500m west of Worgret Manor Farm, forming an outlier of the Worgret Heath round barrow cemeteryFour bowl barrows 150m north east of Seven Barrows FarmBowl barrow on East Holme Range 690m north-east of Whiteway FarmBowl barrow 900m WNW of Peaked Close House: part of a dispersed round barrow cemetery on Corfe CommonBowl barrow and cross dyke on Knowle Hill, 500m NNE of St Peter's ChurchThree bowl barrows on Povington Heath, 400m south-west of Hurst MillThorn Barrow: a bowl barrow on East Holme Range, 650m north-east of Whiteway FarmGroup of three bowl barrows on Creech Heath 650m ESE of Dodson's Farm, forming part of the Creech Heath round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow on Stoborough Heath 80m north west of Hill ViewGroup of three bowl barrows on West Hill, 650m NNE of The Glebe HousePart of the defences of the Anglo-Saxon fortified centre of Wareham and part of the motte and bailey castle with shell keepBell barrow on Grange Heath, 600m north of The Drinking Barrow, forming part of the Grange Heath round barrow cemeteryHilltop enclosure and a pillow mound on Knowle HillThree bowl barrows on Northport Heath, 940m and 985m north east of Alpha FarmBowl barrow 40m south east of The Drinking Barrow, forming part of the Grange Heath round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow on Worgret Heath, 320m north west of High TorBowl barrow 650m WNW of Peaked Close House: part of a dispersed round barrow cemetery on Corfe CommonCross dyke on Knowle Hill, 430m south of East Creech FarmBowl barrow 500m north east of Afflington FarmDecoy pond and associated overnight shelter on Decoy HeathTwo bowl barrows on Great Ovens Hill, 650m and 570m NNW of Sandford BridgeOval barrow at the western end of Stonehill Down, 800m south west of East Creech FarmThe King's Barrow 230m east of Bartlett's Firs.Wildlife in and Around Wareham
Mammals found in Wareham
There have been 42 species of mammals recorded in the wareham area.
| American Mink (Neovison vison) |
| Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus) |
| Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) |
| Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) |
| Common Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) |
| Badger (Meles meles) |
| Bechstein's Bat (Myotis bechsteinii) |
| Brown Long-Eared Bat (Plecotus auritus) |
| Chinese Barking Deer (Muntiacus reevesi) |
| Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) |
Tap here for more mammals found in and around Wareham
Birds found in Wareham
There have been 242 species of birds recorded in the wareham area.
| (Anthus spinoletta/petrosus agg.) |
| Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) |
| Bar-Tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) |
| Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) |
| Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus) |
| Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) |
| Bar-Headed Goose (Anser indicus) |
| Barn Owl (Tyto alba) |
| Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) |
| Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) |
