Dorchester: the county town of Dorset
Dorchester is the county town of Dorset. It sits on the south bank of the River Frome, between Poole and Bridport on the A35. Its built-up area, which includes Poundbury and Fordington, had 21,360 residents at the 2021 census. Weymouth lies about 7 miles to the south in a straight line.
The town has deep roots. For example, the Romans founded a town here called Durnovaria. Most of its walls have since given way to pathways known as The Walks, which form a square inside the modern town. Meanwhile, Maiden Castle, a large Iron Age hill fort, stands about 2 miles south-west of the centre.
Fires, Georgian rebuilding and Thomas Hardy
Dorchester suffered several serious fires in the 17th and 18th centuries. The worst came in 1613, when 300 houses and two churches burned down. As a result, only a few early buildings survive, including Judge Jeffreys’ lodgings and a Tudor almshouse. Many of the Georgian buildings that replaced them use Portland stone.
The Shire Hall is one of them, built in 1797. Its courtroom hosted the trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs in 1834, and it opened as a museum in 2018. Thomas Hardy also lived in the town for many years. In fact, his novel The Mayor of Casterbridge uses a fictional Dorchester as its setting.
Listed buildings and newer streets
Historic England lists 293 structures in the parish, including five at grade I. Among them are Max Gate, Hardy’s former home, and the Roman town house on Northernhay. It is the only visible Roman town house in Britain.
Dorchester stayed within its old walls until the late 19th century, because the Duchy of Cornwall owned the land around it. Then estates grew outside the walls, such as the Prince of Wales Estate from 1880 and Victoria Park from 1897. Since 1993, Poundbury has grown as the town’s western extension on Duchy land. It follows urban village principles and should eventually hold about 2,500 homes.
What an installation here tends to involve
In the historic centre, siting the outdoor unit is usually the main question. Since the conservation area covers much of the centre, a visible wall may need a check with Dorset Council first. The Article 4 Direction adds extra controls on some changes there.
Therefore, it is worth confirming your home’s status early. Inside the Article 4 area, air conditioning in listed buildings is a sensible first read.
Outside the old walls, homes range from Victorian estates to the newer streets of Poundbury. However, a home’s age and wall type still shape where a unit can go. Whatever the property, only an F-Gas certified engineer may legally handle refrigerant.
Getting there from Poole
Dorchester is about 24.3 miles by road from Poole, around 35 minutes’ drive. In a straight line, the gap is about 19.8 miles. A bypass to the south and west has taken through traffic away from the centre since 1988. Dorchester South and Dorchester West stations serve the town.
The A354 runs south from Dorchester to Weymouth, covered on our Weymouth air conditioning installation page. Our Chickerell installation page and our Isle of Portland installation page cover the coast beyond it. Notably, the first recorded Viking raid took place at Portland around 790.
Getting matched in Dorchester
Send one enquiry and we match your address with one pre-qualified installer who works here. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Get in touch through the contact form with your address and a little about the job. Mention if the home sits within the old centre or in Poundbury. You can also read how installation usually works before you send it. How much fitting air conditioning costs gives a starting figure.
Planning check: Dorchester
- CheckConservation areaMore often needs a planning application
- CheckListed buildingsCheck consent before any unit goes on the wall
- CheckArticle 4 directionCan remove permitted development rights