STALBRIDGE, a market-town and parish in the
hundred of BROWNSHALL, Sturminster division of the
county of DORSET, 7 miles (E. by N.) from Sherborne,
and 111 (W. S.W.) from London, containing, with the
tythings of Gomershay, Thornhill, and Weston, 1571 inhabitants.
The name of this place, in Domesday-book, is
written Staplebridge, and at the time of the Conquest it
belonged to the abbey of Sherborne. The town and the
greater part of the parish are situated upon a rock,
which supplies building materials for the neighbourhood;
the streets are not regularly paved, but are partially
lighted by subscription, and the inhabitants are well
supplied with water. From the south end of the main
street another diverges, and at the intersection is an
ancient stone cross, thirty feet in height, including the
pedestal (ornamented on the sides with sculptured emblematical
figures), from which rises the frustum of a
pyramid, twelve feet high, with fluted angles, and decorated
on one of the faces with a figure of our Saviour
with a lamb at his feet, and at the bottom with shields
of arms, and surmounted with canopied shrines, in one
of which is a representation of the Crucifixion; above
these are enriched canopies, terminating in a crocketed
pinnacle, formerly surmounted by a cross, the whole
being supported on three octagonal flights of steps,
which dimmish in the ascent. In the park formerly belonging
to the manor-house the Anglesea cricket club is
held: a building has been erected for the accommodation
of the members, who meet weekly during the season,
but the rest is converted to agricultural purposes,
and is surrounded by a wall five miles in circumference.
Stalbridge was formerly noted for the manufacture of
stockings; several of the inhabitants are now employed
in winding silk. A branch of the river Stour, and the
Dorsetshire and Somersetshire canal, pass through the
parish. In the reign of Edward I., a grant of a market
and fair was made to the abbot of Sherborne; the present
market is on Tuesday, and on every alternate Tuesday
is a great market for cattle; fairs are held May 6th and
September 4th. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry
of Dorset, and diocese of Bristol, rated in the
king's books at £27. 4. 7., and in the patronage of the
Senior Bachelor of Christ's College, Cambridge, The
church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is a spacious
and ancient structure, with a lofty embattled tower
on the capitals of the pillars supporting the chancel are
figures of angels holding scrolls inscribed with texts of
Scripture; it contains some ancient monuments. There
is a place of worship for Independents. A National
school for children of both sexes is supported by subscription.