History of Dorchester

In 1833, the Tolpuddle Martyrs founded the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers. Trade unions were legal but because the members swore an oath of allegiance, they were arrested and tried in the Shire Hall which is preserved as it was at the time. Beneath the courtroom are cells where the prisoners were held while waiting trial. Dorchester Prison was constructed in the town during the 19th century and was used for holding convicted and remanded inmates from the local courts until it closed in December 2013.

Dorchester remained a compact town within the boundaries of the old town walls until the latter part of the 19th century because all land immediately adjacent to the west, south and east was owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. The land composed the Manor of Fordington. The developments that had encroached onto it were:

The Marabout Barracks, to the north of Bridport Road, in 1794

The Dorchester Union Workhouse, to the north of Damer's Road, in 1835

The Southampton and Dorchester Railway and its station east of Weymouth Avenue, in 1847

The Great Western Railway and its station to the south of Damer's Road, in 1857

The waterworks, to the north of Bridport Road, in 1854

A cemetery, to the west of the new railway and east of Weymouth Avenue, in 1856

The Dorset County Constabulary police station in 1860, west of the Southampton railway, east of Weymouth Avenue and north of Maumbury Rings.

The Duchy land was farmed under the open field system until 1874