Sturminster Newton Through Time

Sturminster Newton, known to the locals as 'Stur', is a traditional market town situated at the heart of Dorset's rural Blackmore Vale.

It grew up on the banks of the River Stour to serve the agricultural community of the surrounding area and until recent years was famous for its livestock market and Milk Factory.

It is also celebrated for its literary connections - the novelist Thomas Hardy and the dialect poets William Barnes and Robert Young all lived there. Join Roger Guttridge and Steve Case on this photographic journey through this beautiful part of Dorset.

Using nearly 200 full colour images, they show just how Sturminster Newton has changed over time.

It is essential reading for anyone who knows and loves the area, and is an important and intriguing insight into a typical English town.