Dorset

Lore & Background

In 789 AD, the first recorded Viking attack on the British Isles occurred on the Portland coast. The Black Death entered England at Melcombe Regis in 1348. During the English Civil War, an uprising of Clubmen vigilantes was crushed by Oliver Cromwell's forces near Shaftesbury. The Monmouth Rebellion began at Lyme Regis in 1685, leading to the Bloody Assizes in Dorchester. The Tolpuddle Martyrs, six farm labourers, were instrumental in the formation of the trade union movement in 1834. During the Second World War, Dorset was heavily involved in preparations for the Normandy invasion, with Portland and Poole serving as embarkation points.

Reader's Guide

Dorset's significance lies in its geological and historical contributions. The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site showcases geological and palaeontologic features such as Lulworth Cove, the Isle of Portland, Chesil Beach, and Durdle Door. The county's early history includes Neolithic monuments, Iron Age hill forts, and Roman settlement. The first recorded Viking raid on the British Isles and the arrival of the Black Death in England both occurred in Dorset. The county was a site of civil unrest during the English Civil War, the Monmouth Rebellion, and the Tolpuddle Martyrs' case, which helped shape the trade union movement. Agriculture was historically the major industry, but tourism has grown in importance. The county's administrative structure now comprises two unitary authority areas: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and Dorset.

Did You Know?

• The first recorded Viking attack on the British Isles occurred in Dorset in 789 AD.
• The Black Death entered England at Melcombe Regis in Dorset in 1348.
• The Tolpuddle Martyrs, six Dorset farm labourers, were instrumental in the formation of the trade union movement.
• The majority of Dorset's coastline is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.