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History
of Wareham
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Wareham
dates back over 2000 years. The town was once a stronghold for King
Alfred the Great, who had built the huge earthen walls around three
sides of the town to defend it against the Vikings. The Saxon church
of St Martins (the oldest in Dorset) houses early medieval wall
paintings and an effigy of Laurence of Arabia (originally intended
for Westminster Abbey).
The Purbeck Information and Heritage Centre is a mine of information,
as is the small but fascinating Wareham museum. The Rex Cinema is
also worth a visit as it is the only gas-lit cinema in the country.
Thursday is market day, which dates back over 500 years. The oldest
auction based market in the country and features a fruit and produce
auction, the only one in England. In addition there is now a new
market on Satudays based on the Quay.
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| The
old South Bridge, replaced in 1927 by the present one |
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John
Calcraft's map of Wareham
Taken from Hutchins 'History of Dorset' |
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